The Center Party withdraws from the negotiations on the long-term plan of the Armed Forces – VG

– The Center Party cannot accept a long-term plan that does not give the Armed Forces the promise it needs, defense policy spokeswoman Liv Signe Navarsete tells NTB.

– Norway needs a stronger defense. We do not see that it is possible to create a majority with the Conservatives or with the FRP for a defense that is strong enough in our eyes. That is why we now announce that we are withdrawing from the negotiations.

Discussions in the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee have lasted for two weeks. The government parties Høyre, KrF and Venstre have made no secret of the fact that they want a broad agreement on a new defense structure for the years 2021-2024.

But with Sp’s departure, it will now be up to the Progress Party and possibly the Labor Party to secure a majority for the plan.

Fear increased the tension

Navarsete strongly warns against adopting the government plan for the Armed Forces without much push.

– When the Armed Forces are not prioritized, Norway’s influence in our own immediate areas is weakened and therefore security policy tensions in Norway may increase, the former party leader fears.

He points out that Spain has had clear priorities for the Armed Forces for many years.

– The army must get new tanks and obviously needs dedicated helicopters in the north stationed at Bardufoss. Both the Army, National Guard, Navy and Air Force need more soldiers.

Navarsete also claims that surveillance of Norwegian maritime zones has been greatly weakened as a result of the “senseless closure of Andøya airport”.

Away in overtime

Under the plan, the defense plan will be presented on Tuesday, but the presentation may be postponed.

One reason for this is that budget negotiations between the government parties and the FRP are dragging on. The opposition’s demand for more money for more people in the Armed Forces as early as 2021 requires a greater financial framework.

– There will probably be no committee presentation before Tuesday’s deadline, committee leader Anniken Huitfeldt (Labor) told VG on Monday.

In 2017, the Conservatives and the Liberal Party, which later formed a government, negotiated a long-term plan with the support of the Labor Party, the Christian Democrats and the Liberal Party.

It can be in parts and divided

But Huitfeldt made no secret on Monday, before Sp’s departure, that it was a joke to a broad and united majority of the plan.

– I visualize some decisions with a large majority. I can only say that the Labor Party will vote for what we are, and that I have encouraged all parties to put themselves within a responsible financial framework, Huitfeldt tells VG.

From what NTB understands, the end of the visa may be for opposition parties to promote their main positions during the Storting deliberations, but to secure a majority by voting second for various parts of the government’s plan.

The treatment of a new defense structure is already solid in overtime. The reason is that the original plan of Defense Minister Frank Bakke-Jensen (H), to be debated in the Storting before the summer, was sent back to the Minister with demands for a number of changes. A new plan was presented in mid-October.

Both the Labor Party, the Green Party and the Socialist People’s Party have demanded more people in the Armed Forces as early as 2021.