The issue of the salmon tax could create unexpected drama at the Conservative Party’s national meeting.
Conservative politicians along the coast have long believed that the party should say no to ground rent tax on salmon farming. There is a special tax on the profits of the salmon companies.
But a number of politicians opened up for a form of salmon tax on Thursday, including party leader Erna Solberg.
The compromise proposal then read as follows:
“Reject the government’s proposal on ground rent tax on aquaculture that has been submitted for consultation.”
Cold feet
The wording created calm in the ranks before the national meeting started on Friday, and coastal politicians were satisfied.
– Such an impact shows that it is useful for the coast to stand together on important issues for the districts, said Conservative mayoral candidate Monica Molvær in Ålesund.
She has stepped into the breach for the coastal rebellion, and now sees the devil in the details of the Conservative Party’s national meeting.
– The coastal counties have talked a bit during the day today. We see that there is one thing that can be interpreted as a small loophole here. That is why we will tighten up on saying no to everything the government proposes, she says to NRK.
The coastal politicians want to remove “which has been sent for consultation”, and put an end to the party’s rejection of the government’s proposal for land rent tax.
The compromise may therefore be unraveling. The coastal politicians fear the wording “which has been sent for consultation” slams open the door for a Conservative version of the salmon tax.
But keeping such an opening is precisely the point of the formulation, according to Høyre’s central board member, Hanne Velure.
– I am not in favor of saying “no” in principle to a basic interest tax. I think quite a few of us are beginning to realize that this is a good way to tax if we are to have both a fair and business-friendly tax. So that we can also have a welfare society and vibrant districts in the future.
– You want the compromise to be an opening for introducing basic rent?
– Exactly. If it is set up correctly, so that it kicks in when you have super profits, it is reasonable to pay when the input factors are those of the community, says Velure.
Conservative politician Hanne Velure sits on the party’s powerful central board, and represents Innlandet.
Photo: Lars Erik Skrefsrud / NRK
– We cannot vouch for that
Molvær in Ålesund warns the national assembly that the tax is hostile to business.
– Investments stop, there are thousands of people who risk losing their jobs. We cannot vouch for that, she says.
– What do you fear this loophole could lead to, if it is adopted?
– It is that you can open up to enter into negotiations. Now we see that SV has gone really hard on the field today and is proposing both to increase the minimum deduction, to increase the tax and to include other industries in this. This is completely the wrong way to go. Investments stop, she says.
But the disagreement does not worry Peter Frølich, who heads the resolution committee of the Conservative Party. He wrote the formulation and announced on Thursday that various parts of the party had gathered. A majority will vote in favor, according to him:
– I am completely safe. I can’t say it in any other way, he says to NRK.
Unsettled by SV requirements
Molvær refers to the fact that SV came out with tough demands on Friday ahead of expected negotiations with the government in the Storting on the salmon tax, according to DN.
While the government has advocated a 40 per cent special tax on the profits of salmon farmers, and a floor deduction that spares farmers who raise less than 5,000 tonnes, SV will go further:
- They believe that the minimum deduction must be lowered, so that even smaller breeders have to pay more tax.
- They will also introduce stricter environmental requirements.
- The tax rate should be up to 48 percentage points.
It is expected that the government will present its final proposal for a new ground rent tax on aquaculture during the coming week. It is necessary if the Storting is to deal with the matter properly before the summer, as the government wants.