The police have now concluded the investigation into Prime Minister Erna Solberg’s birthday celebration in Geilo.
Prime Minister Erna Solberg has been fined NOK 20,000 for her role in carrying out the dinner in Geilo on Friday, February 26.
Solberg herself did not participate in the dinner in Hallingstuene. Still, the police believe she was involved in the decision that led the family to eat out, that she knew how many people would participate, and that she chose which restaurant they should book a table at.
The police justified the decision by saying that it is appropriate to impose a fine in order to maintain the public’s trust in the infection control rules.
“Even though the law is the same for everyone, not everyone is the same,” police chief Ole B. Sæverud said when the police informed the public about the case on Friday.
Her husband, Sindre Finnes, hasn’t been fined.
Family gathering
Solberg herself has said that her family went to a restaurant on February 26 in the belief that it was the best way to respect infection control rules. She did not attend the dinner. The next day, the extended family of 14 people gathered, including Solberg, in the apartment she had rented, where they ate sushi.
Regardless of the investigation, Solberg has already apologized for the gatherings held with more than ten family members in the two days and admitted that she did not have enough knowledge about the regulations.
“I, who every single day stand in front of the Norwegian people and tell them about infection control, should have known the rules better. But the truth is that I have not checked the rules well enough and thus haven’t realized that a family going out together with more than ten people is considered an event,” Solberg said when Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) reported on the case.
Source: © NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayNews
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