Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has left a tough working week behind him when TV 2 meets him in the Rufus second hand shop in Kolbotn at Nordre Follo.
It started with a crisis meeting in the APS central board after historically poor measurement. There was agreement that the party should get closer to people’s daily lives to regain trust.
The following day, all OSP members in government and Storting refused to talk about poverty in the NRK debate.
At the children’s clothing thrift store, Støre had a surprise meeting on Friday with the spunky Amalie, who spoke openly about her difficult financial situation on the show.
The meeting makes an impression
She is on work clearance but now occasionally gets shifts at work inclusion company Rufus through a NAV scheme.
It is a coincidence that she is at work on this particular day and the surprising encounter makes an impression on Støre.
– This place is very good, both because it sells very good clothes at a reasonable price, but also because young people like Amalie, whom I met here, can try their hand at a full-time job. It’s the beginning of an important part of life, so more!
– Now the Labor Party is doing poorly in the polls. Does that make you a little more defensive than standing?
– The answer is no. We have to be present everywhere and discuss, and we have a lot to be aggressive about. It was a mistake not to have participated in the Debate, and sometimes we make a human mistake. We must be everywhere where politics and real life are discussed. Then we must learn to listen to him and welcome him. We do it all over the country and will do it even more, says Støre.
Buying gifts for grandchildren
Project manager Nora Charlotte Isachsen shows Støre the store. Lots of people buy and sell used clothes for kids – there’s a lot to save on a tight schedule.
Burtikk’s manager accepts new clothing donations from Sofie Kalland and Vito Thavatasah, parents of three, who are passing by.
– Hello, Jonas, say hello to Vito, and deliver, among other things, a box of winter boots that have become too small.
– These shoes cost NOK 1,000 in a regular mall store, so whoever buys them is lucky. It’s first come, first served, Isachsen says.
Støre finds a fleece sweater for her 3-year-old nephew and hands it over to the counter.
– It was very good, you can be satisfied with it, says Amalie.
– Now I get good help from Amalie and I think I made a good purchase. NOK 90 is very good, and that box of Pokemon is for one in seven, Støre smiles and kindly thanks the exchange with a handshake.
RECYCLING: Jonas Gahr Støre together with Amalie Engen and store manager and project manager Nora Charlotte Isachsen. Photo: Odd Arne Hartvigsen / TV 2
– When people get worse advice and hear it firsthand, then it must be hard to convince them that things have gotten better under your government?
– It’s difficult with expensive times because everything gets more expensive, whether it’s electricity, fuel, food, clothes, and we have to explain that. And what do we do about it, this is a huge international phenomenon.
– It’s impacting people’s lives here and now, and we work to be able to help those who are most exposed, so that they get through, and we need to do that in different ways. And then it’s to lower the prices again so that it becomes normal. We have to put all this together, and then there is the need to do new things like here then, where, among other things, hubs make it easier for people to get to work, and work is the way to get by even when times are expensive like now.
The people before the king and queen
The PM himself revealed at the press room seminar at the Storting on Thursday that he invited the royal couple for an informal dinner when AUF leader Astrid Hoem settled down with local team leader Trond Giske last week.
Støre’s wife cooked chicken stew according to an old recipe, while he provided the rice.
– He is now out among the common people, but you also have visits from the king and queen at home. What do you like most?
– No, I like this part of the job more, because this is real life. But when you’re prime minister, you have to do a lot of things and in one day you can have a lot of agenda items that have a very large contrast. It’s exciting, but that’s what I like the most, because here you see the results of the policy. When we start recycling and see young people coming to work, it’s a good day at work.
Video: Here Støre visits the thrift shop in Kolbotn:
Never doubt yourself
There was another poor AP poll this week, with a support of 16.7 in Sentio’s November poll for Nettavisen.
At the same time, the Ap and Sp have had some of their own mayors against them in the salmon tax dispute.
But even when the storm is at its peak, he doesn’t doubt it was right for him to become prime minister, he says.
– Never. I don’t even do it on bad days, so I think it’s a wonderful opportunity in life to take. After all, I work with so many people on things that can make a difference in people’s lives. Those who are here at Rufus are happy to be in their team, says Støre.
