Støre’s calculation suggests Norway can pick up 150 refugees from Greece – VG

A few hours before Støre opened the Labor Party national board meeting on Tuesday, several party veterans came and demanded that the Labor Party quantify how many relevant to receive, after last week’s fires at Moria camp in Lesbos.

– It becomes a bit pointless to say a number. We must find out together with the other European countries. The 50 ceiling does not make sense when Norwegian municipalities say they have room for the heart and for housing, Støre said in his prepared speech to the Labor Party national board on Tuesday afternoon.

Germany collects 1500

But when informed that Chancellor Angela Merkel and the German government are now considering receiving 1,500 from Greece, he tells VG this:

– Germany is ten times bigger than Norway. Then you can give a hint. Then it may be that we can take a little more than the math suggests, says the Labor leader.

A tenth of Germany’s opening for 1500 should indicate that the Labor Party can get support to pick up at least 150 immigrants from Greece.

50 is too low

Støre emphasizes that he does not want to lock himself in a number, because it will depend on what comes out of the negotiations with other European countries.

– But is it 50, the number that the government has decided to collect, too low in the opinion of APS?

– We are ready for more than 50, says Støre.

– Set a limit. We think it may be too low and the number may be higher, he adds.

A bonfire of will

Støre said that he had noticed involvement in several of the larger municipalities to bring more refugees to Norway after the Moria fires.

“There is a fire that burns the will,” Støre said.

– But there’s no use picking up people who want to be sent directly home. They must be the ones who need protection, he emphasized.

– Obsessed with wealth tax

In his speech to the national board on Tuesday afternoon, Støre also attacked the Conservatives and the recent decision by the party’s national assembly to eliminate the estate tax entirely.

The Labor Party leader used his speech to the Labor Party national board to draw well-known lines in politics between the Conservatives and the Labor Party. In a week, the Labor Party will release the draft of its program, for which the party will go to the polls in 2021.

– Where did the national meeting of the Conservative Party against increasing inequality set foot? Yes, they have to eliminate all wealth tax. Conservatives are obsessed with the estate tax, Støre said.

The right is in favor of eliminating the estate tax entirely

Støre served up three samples of the show, in the form of promises to voters: Work for all, a stronger welfare state, and “purely fair climate policy that cuts emissions and creates jobs.”