KrF leader and outgoing minister Kjell Ingolf Ropstad is set to meet the press on Saturday after the newspaper Aftenposten revealed that he took active steps to avoid paying taxes.
Saturday’s press conference will be Ropstad’s second since it became known that he has avoided paying taxes by stating that he had expenses associated with his parents’ house.
According to Aftenposten, the KrF leader should repay a total of NOK 175,000 in tax.
Kjell Ingolf Ropstad also held a press conference on Friday morning. He apologized and admitted that he had made a mistake, and said he would continue as both party leader and minister.
Several local party officials in the KrF have since expressed great disappointment with their leader. Group leader Erik Næs in Skien KrF has said that he no longer has confidence in the party leader. According to the newspaper Dagen, Vestland KrF had an emergency meeting on Friday night, and Ropstad was the main topic.
Support from some party colleagues
Ropstad has also received support from several colleagues. Among KrF’s party officials and ministers, in addition to Ropstad, only the party’s second deputy leader, Ingelin Noresjø, has so far commented on the Ropstad case.
Noresjø told the newspaper Vårt Land on Friday that the party had been informed that there would be news related to Ropstad’s housing case.
Prime Minister Erna Solberg (H) had to answer many questions from the press about the case on Friday.
In contact with the Tax Administration
The revelation on Friday came in addition to previous information that Ropstad was registered with his parents in Agder and thus got free (state-funded) commuter housing in Oslo.
Now, Ropstad is in contact with the Tax Administration to pay what he owes the state. Økokrim announced on Friday that they are also in contact with the Tax Administration.
On Friday afternoon, Økokrim chief Pål Lønseth stated that the agency would contact the police if necessary.
If they do, Økokrim and the Oslo Police District will make an assessment of further steps.
Source: © NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayNews
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