Thorbjørn Jagland, Council of Europe | Jagland defends zero taxes for Norway: – My wife lost ten years of income

AKERSGATEN, OSLO (Nettavisen): Thorbjørn Jagland is too well known. Especially for being prime minister, but also for the ultimatum of 36.9 percent support, the hen costume stunt of comedian Bård Tufte Johansen or his role on the Nobel Committee and later Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

The one we meet in a small meeting room in Akersgaten is laid back and laid back. It feels as if the powerful man of the party has assumed the role of retiree with great joy.

See the video above: – My wife lost ten years of income

Today he published the book “You will own it yourself.” A book full of criticisms of the development of society and that displays all the slanders and intrigues of the great eagle in Norwegian politics, the Labor Party.

Read more: “Those people have screwed me up to the point of misery. This is not real. It is pathetic behavior»

Strong labor slowdown

– 36.9 percent is probably one of the most famous of his political era. Today, the Labor Party is at 20 percent. Can the Labor Party once again become the great eagle of Norwegian politics?

– My story is a story about partially steep ascents and descents, but we’ve always come back. Now it is a steep decline. But social democracy as a way of organizing society is very strong. I am convinced that the Labor Party will also return this time, Jagland tells Nettavisen.

He is convinced that the way back to the hegemony of the party passes through the reunion with the roots of the party. It should be the ordinary voters who have the power. Not the communications industry and bureaucrats.

Read Erik Stephansen’s Comment: Even an honest and loyal fighter can appear bitter and complaining

– What should the Labor Party do?

– I have seen the new program and it contains some keys. What the Labor Party says now is what it wanted with Det norske hus, says Jagland.

It is one of his most famous projects, which tried to build society through a collaboration between the State and private capital.

– In parts of the book, a hard line is taken against the development of the state with more and more political advisers and large communication apparatus. Much of this has happened under the supervision of APS. What should be done?

– I don’t want to share the blame. But I think that, first of all, you have to realize the problem. There has been a shift in power away from ordinary people’s ballots, until now people can buy their way forward with the help of consulting agencies, says Jagland.

Also read: Jagland, Stoltenberg and Solheim have millions in salaries abroad; pay this in taxes to Norway

This development was completely remote in the late 1990s, when Jagland was prime minister.

– The entire undemocratic system has caused a change of power. At the same time, the state apparatus has only gotten bigger with more boards and bureaucrats.

Attack the lobbyists

He believes that democracy is at stake when politicians move between the communications industry and political positions.

– This traffic between consulting firms and the state apparatus. I feel like this is undermining democracy.

While the cover of Hadia Tajik’s new book, “Freedom,” has sparked controversy and fierce debate, the danger of the same happening with this book is small. In the front we see a simple boy from Lier who loves to hike in the mountains. No one can accuse Jagland of a “sexualized” book cover, at least.

Read more: Here are the millions of salaries of Jagland, Stoltenberg and Solheim

– I come from simple conditions. It is very typical of Norway that it was possible. I couldn’t have become what I became without the State Educational Loan Fund, to give an example. I am very grateful to those who made this possible, says Jagland.

– In the book, you are tough on the press. Do you feel that the press has been looking for you?

– There I have come to a new understanding. It was natural in the situation I was in for so long and receiving such harsh criticism. To conclude that it was a press campaign. But I’ve been through all of history and it wasn’t like that.

Also read: Jagland’s book can create problems: – I think many are concerned

– Talking to Stoltenberg

Rather, the blame goes to the party comrades who used the press to promote criticism of Jagland. It was especially stressful with Jens Stoltenberg, who actively tried to eliminate Jagland.

– The problem was not the press. It was the internal conditions of my own party. As Stoltenberg says, he used the press.

Also read: Jagland receives harsh criticism: – He kneels before Putin

– Are you bitter with Stoltenberg?

– No. I think everyone who has read my book will say that it is free from bitterness. It is not possible to be sitting down and bitter after everything I have done in life.

– Are you talking to Stoltenberg?

– Yes I am. But we’re very far apart, so it’s not natural for us to have contact all the time, she says with a smile.

For ten years, Jagland was Secretary General of the Council of Europe. In 2016, he received a salary equivalent to just over three million crowns. At the same time, he did not pay taxes to Norway.

When asked if this was consistent with the view that everyone should contribute to the state treasury to ensure well-being, Jagland is very tough.

– It comes as a result of a convention that Norway has ratified and by which it is bound. But I can tell you two things. As soon as I arrived in Strasbourg, I started a pay freeze that lasted for ten years. So the Council of Europe’s salaries fell significantly compared to other international organizations.

Also read: Jagland defends 36.9

– The other was the one my wife was with. He lost ten years of income and ten years of service in the National Insurance System. She took her sewing machine with her and sewed curtains for our residence four meters high under the ceiling. It was to save the Council of Europe money, he says.

He prefers to kick the press for covering the case.

– But it was never reported in the press. It was never reported that he lost ten years of income and ten years in the National Insurance Plan.

– But regardless of your politics as secretary general, isn’t it problematic that former top politicians end up with sky-high salaries without paying a penny in taxes to Norway?

– But you forget that I had no rights. While he was Secretary General of the Council of Europe, he had no rights in Norway. I paid a very large sum a month to have my rights through the Council of Europe, says Jagland.