Provoked by PM’s visit to the KrFU Convention

Krfu Tønnesen Plan BThe leader of the Young Christian Democrats, Martine Tønnesen

Provoked by the PM’s visit to the KrFU National Convention

The Norwegian Prime Minister, Erna Solberg (Conservatives), appeared at the KrFU National Convention the day before the delegates vote on cooperation with the Government. That provokes the deputy elects in the Young Christian Democrats (KrFU).

 

Solberg’s surprising visit to KrFU’s National Convention on Friday evening helped to deepen the entrenchments in the political organization before Saturday’s debate on the choice of road for the Christian Democrats (KrF) leading up to the general election.

The leader of the KrFU, Martine Tønnessen, wants the Christian Democrats to enter into the Government. That view is seconded by the two departing deputy leaders of the KrFU. The two deputies to be, have, in turn, warned against entering a Government where the Progress Party (Frp) is participating.

Provoking influence

– I react very strongly. It is a case of blatant lobbying to make us enter into her Government, says the Deputy Leader, Nikolai Berlund Skogan, to NRK.

He says that he is being provoked because there are very diverging views in the organisation – and because the outcome of the vote on Saturday is in the blue.

– It has a very large influence if she attends and feeds our National Convention with the Government’s ideology, Skogan says.

The Prime Minister’s appearance was neither mentioned in the National Convention’s program nor in the Prime Minister’s official calendar. According to NRK, she has never visited the National Conventions of the Progress Party Youth or Young Liberals (Unge Venstre).

Clout

In the opening speech, Tønnessen argued in favour of her view.

– I know for certain that there will be a lot of different views in the assembly. But for me personally, the matter is simple. I believe that we must enter the Government, she states according to Vårt Land.

The clarification did not come as a surprise. Friday morning she revealed her colours in NRK.

– I think KrF will have the most clout in Government. It’s the only way that we can have a hand on the steering wheel and participate in the day-to-day decisions, she informs.

Hareide open

The KrFU has three representatives in the Christian Democrats’ National Assembly, which will convene on Friday, September 28th. The same body will meet again on November 9th – and in that timeframe, it is expected that the Party Leader, Knut Arild Hareide, is ready to convey his recommendation to the choice of path for the Christian Democrats.

According to NRK commentator, Lars Nehru Sand, NRK is aware that Hareide is far from being negative to seeking Government power together with Labour (Ap) and possibly the Centre Party (Sp) as well. Together with the Socialists (SV), those parties would have a majority in the Parliament.

Socialist Leader, Audun Lysbakken, says to NTB that he does not want to participate actively in any courting of the KrF because he respects the internal processes of the political party. But he adds that the Socialist Party will negotiate with political parties that are willing to do that.

Below the barrier limit

Political Editor in Bergens Tidende, Frøy Gudbrandsen, writes that if Hareide advises the party to seek cooperation with Labour before the next general elections, the consequence can rapidly be that the Solberg Government will resign.

The major obstacle is that large parts of KrF’s voter mass identify themselves as bourgeois. Polls have shown that a large proportion of the KrF voters prefer Erna Solberg to Jonas Gahr Støre as Prime Minister, a sentiment shared by the general population.

Prior to the parliamentary elections last autumn, the KrF decided that the party would seek Government power and to support Solberg as Prime Minister but did not want to sit at the King’s table together with the Progress Party.

The party received 4.2 per cent support from the voters and lost two parliament seats the last time around.

Since then, Hareide has felt a persistent draught from the barrier limit. The average of five polls so far in September is at a meagre 3.6 per cent support. That is sufficient for a toehold of 3 MP’s in the Parliament, according to Poll of polls.

Geographically divergence

The National Convention of KrFU landed on a nay to join the Government with a very slight majority when they considered the question in August.

Our country writes that it is the strongest yes support from the delegates from Rogaland and Agder, aka the bible belt, who boasts the most delegates at the National Convention, while the delegates from the rest of the country are showing their thumbs down. The day before the debate starts, nobody dares to predict the outcome, according to the newspaper.

 

© NTB scanpix / #Norway Today