The door is open for the FRP to return to government

Prime Minister Erna Solberg promises the FRP “significant influence” in the state budget and wants the party to return to government. – The door is open to anyone who wants to participate in civic cooperation, says Solberg.

Two days before the Conservatives’ national meeting, Conservative leader Erna Solberg denies having started the countdown as prime minister.

– No. Sage from past experience, there is no reason for that. The latest poll showed a margin of 80-85. The limit of the barrier will be quite decisive. It doesn’t take much. There is no reason for us to say that we do not believe we can win an election.

– Is it extremely rare for someone to win an election three times in a row?

– If that is. But that does not mean that we should not fight for the fact that right now we can be the exception. Regardless, the most important thing is what policy we will follow in the future.

– I think this is the most important communication with the voters. Not how many elections he has won, but who has the answer to the challenges facing voters, Solberg says.

– Happy in all bourgeois governments

She makes it very clear that the FRP is still part of her plans to retain power.

– I love all bourgeois governments. And then I would like to have as many as possible so that we have a good bourgeois majority.

– FRP will not support a government in which they do not feel?

– That was also said in 2013. Our starting point is that we also heard the rest of what they said: That they are concerned about achieving the greatest possible impact for their policy.

– I think you get the greatest impact from your policy if you contribute to civic cooperation. The door is open to anyone who wants to join this collaboration.

Wants power behind the lawsuits

– Do you perceive that the FRP wants to re-enter the government?

– Not now. I experience that the FRP, first and foremost, wants to strengthen its position among the voters so that it can put power behind their demands. And then they’ll probably make an assessment of whether he’s in government or not.

– The Liberal Party and the KrF above or below the limit of the barrier means near life and death for a continued government of Solberg. What do you want to do to push them across the border?

– I want to help show the good contribution they make when they are in government and the good influence they have on politics.

– In an election campaign, it is the job of each individual party to secure enough voters for their party. I am absolutely sure that both KrF and the Liberal Party have many undecided voters and great opportunities to overcome it. They are not that far from.

– Are you going to recommend that conservatives vote tactically for KrF or the Liberal Party?

– No. Conservatives must vote for Conservatives. If you want a conservative policy, you must vote for the conservatives, Solberg responds.

But it recognizes that the support of the other bourgeois parties determines the difference between government power and impotence.

Must negotiate with Frp

– It is important, as the polls look now, that Frp makes a slightly better choice, that the Liberal Party and KrF exceed the limit of the barrier. But I think they have great potential to improve themselves.

– He has led four different Solberg governments in seven years. Does this show that “civil cooperation” is a misleading or empty concept?

– No, we have delivered seven state budgets, seven reviews of those state budgets with the same majority behind and the same direction in politics.

– KrF and Venstre had a great influence on the politics of the Conservatives and the Liberal Party when they sat in the Storting and we in the government. In the same way, the FRP will have a significant influence on the policy that this government follows because we will have a majority and budgets through the FRP.

– In which areas will the FRP have a great influence?

– We must negotiate with Frp on this. Our starting point is that we agreed on Granavolden, and Frp smiled more widely when the platform was introduced. What was edible in Granavolden must be edible even today, when Frp’s advances are also respected.

– What do you think of the electoral slogan “Erna is Stjerna”?

– I don’t think it’s a good electoral slogan. Our electoral motto will be “Create more, include more.”

– Does the crew of the Conservative House use it?

– It was used in 2017.

– Have you banned this year?

– I have not imposed a ban. But I think it’s important for us that we produce on our important political issues, and not just on people. The most important thing will always be the political issues:

– I believe that employment, the creation of more jobs, will be the most crucial for Norway in the future. Norway will be more similar to the other European countries. The highly profitable oil and gas industry will generate less for employment and development. We must have a better competitiveness in the coming years.

– He is 59 years old and has been the leader of the party for 16 years. Will this be the last parliamentary election run by the Conservatives?

– I don’t mean it will be. I have said that the person who will take over after me is barely born, at least has just started high school. We have to make one choice at a time, I say now.

– What is your red-green horror scenario?

– It is a pity that Norway has a government with a strong influence from the extreme left. The sum of those who want to turn back, stop and not use all the good forces, will be great. Already now the rhetoric of the left influences the Labor Party.

– In practice, it will be a step backwards for patients in Norway, for the use of public services, if one is over-ideologized towards free treatment and user choice.

– And then it will lead to a business policy with fewer jobs, fewer opportunities for the future, and we will spend more money in public with less effect, Solberg concludes.