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ULLENSAKER (Dagbladet): After a heated round of debate in which up to 40 delegates asked to speak, the national meeting of the Liberal Party made a historic decision.
As the first parliamentary party in Norway, they go from “no” to “yes” on the question of Norway’s membership of the EU. Unlike her predecessor Trine Skei Grande, who was thanked on Saturday, Guri Melby is an avid supporter of the EU.
– I am very happy that the Liberal Party has become a very clear yes to the EU party and that we now clearly state that Norway should become an equal member of the European community, he told reporters after the decision of the National Assembly.
– the best we have
She says that greater international cooperation has always been something the Liberal Party has worked for.
– It is more important than ever, especially to solve our greatest challenges such as the climate crisis and migration. The EU is currently the best we have to solve these challenges, he believes.
In its principled program, the Liberal Party is now in favor of “long-term” EU membership.
“The membership must be decided after a referendum and the elected representatives of the Liberal Party must respect the result.” stated in the decision.
Warning
The EU question has been difficult for the Liberal Party for at least 50 years. In 1972, it was triggering that part of the Liberal Party exploded and did not return to the party until 1988.
This time too, the temperature was high during the EU debate.
– Do we really want to tear up our party now again? Asked Lene Landsverk Sande of Møre og Romsdal Venstre, who argued against the EU decision from the rostrum.
– I am afraid of my job as a farmer and local politician if this decision is passed, said farmer and local politician John Arvid Eik from Rogaland Venstre.
However, it was adopted by an overwhelming majority of the 200 delegates.
Disappointed
Liberal leader Odd Einar Dørum advocated a different outcome. The former party leader has participated in EU debates at national Liberal Party meetings in 1991, 1994, 2005, 2009, 2013 and 2017.
– Of course I’m not happy, he admits.
Although he’s disappointed, he says he can live with the fact that most mean something other than him.
TO KEEP THE MONARCHY: Abid Raja Photo: Jil Yngland / NTB
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– It is in party politics as in marriage, you live together in good and bad days and I have decided to do that. What makes it useful for the Liberal Party is that it says “long term,” he says.
Vote for the monarchy
Melby: – A magical moment
In the new program, the Liberal Party is also in favor of abolishing the monarchy through a referendum.
It has also been clear in the past that the principle view of the Liberal Party is that in a liberal state no positions should be inherited, but now the wording has been refined.
“Any liquidation of the kingdom must be anchored in a referendum”, was said in the previous program. Now the party rallied around the phrase ‘The dissolution of the monarchy must anchor in a referendum. »
– It is illiberal that we still have a monarchy in Norway and we should support this ending at the first opportunity, is stated in the justification, for which Guri Melby also voted.
– I believe in principle that in a democracy the positions should not be inherited. I think it is a position that the Liberal Party has really had from the beginning, also in the program of principles. Now the wording may have gotten even sharper, he says.
Raja for the royal house
On the EU issue, the new deputy party leaders Sveinung Rotevatn and Abid Raja are at odds with Guri Melby.
However, when it comes to the royal house, Abid Raja breaks with the others.
– Unfortunately, I was out of the room at the time, so I couldn’t participate in the debate. I voted for the Norwegian monarchy in the Storting and I had also voted this time, he tells Dagbladet.
