– Then they will go bankrupt then – VG

Less than 20 minutes ago

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Every day the 900 SAS pilots go on strike, the company loses NOK 100 to 150 million.

The strike could mean the end for SAS, which has already applied for – and received – bankruptcy protection in the United States.

One possibility is that Norway will help them through the crisis – but the government has already said last week no to inject money into SAS.

Conservative Peter Frølich thinks it is irrelevant.

– What we now see is the verdict of history, says Frølich to VG.

He believes SAS will remain the textbook example of how wrong state ownership can go.

– We have avoided billions in losses by selling out – against accusations at the time that they almost sold the bedrock in Norwegian business, he says.

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– Then they will go bankrupt

Frølich believes that joining SAS now would be to gamble with the community’s money.

In 2018, Norway sold itself completely out of SAS – and was left with around NOK 600 million for the shares. Today, those shares would be worth much less.

– Had we done as the Center Party in particular wanted and bought ourselves up even more, we would have had a loss of well over a billion kroner now, Frølich says and refers among other things to statements from Sverre Myrli (Labor Party) and Marit Arnstad (Sp) i 2020.

– It shows how quickly political daydreams of buying into companies can go beyond the community

– But what if SAS goes bankrupt then?

– Then they can go bankrupt, he says and adds:

– We do not want companies to fail, but as responsible politicians we must accept bankruptcy as part of life’s harsh realities when companies prove not to have the right to life.

He thus stands behind Sveinung Rotevatn (V) who said the same thing on Wednesday Aftenposten.

In the pandemic year 2020, the Labor Party, the Socialist People’s Party, the Socialist People’s Party and the Red Party were positive to a state solution for SAS. The Center Party wanted the state to buy into SAS.

Now it is only Red which says the same thing.

The task of politicians, Frølich believes, is first and foremost not to be irresponsible with community funds.

– Buying up in SAS would be a castle in the air driven by failed analyzes. If there is one thing I would not be very confident in, it is that ambitious business politicians on the left can make better business economic calculations than the market itself can.

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Minister of Trade and Industry Jan Christian Vestre (Labor Party) has opened up to convert the crisis loan the company received during the pandemic into shares, and thus become a temporary owner.

Frølich understands that, as long as it is temporary.

– If it is a notch better to be an owner, than a lender, it is an assessment they must make. Here it is no longer a question of establishing new state industrial adventures, this is a rescue operation for the last remnant of the community’s money, says Frølich.

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– Tragic for very many

When asked if Frølich supports the SAS management, who say they must save and have therefore set up two companies that the pilots believe weaken working conditions, he has no comment.

– They get to know the responsibility, both parties, so we politicians stay away.

– Do you agree with the pilots that this threatens the Scandinavian model?

– I can not comment on the characteristics they use. Going in and commenting on certain allegations is not appropriate now.

– What will be the consequence of a potential SAS bankruptcy?

– It would be tragic for very many, both employees, owners, creditors and customers, but then we have to keep in mind the responsibility. Instead of clinging to well-known brands, a bankruptcy can sometimes lead to the emergence of new companies with other offers, says Frølich and adds:

– But the easiest thing would be if the parties agreed, but they can find out without the state’s help.

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