“Crisis”. “Critical”. “Serious”.
“Now we are at the bottom.”
These are words KrF’s shop stewards use to describe the situation of the party in a call round TV 2 has made to mayors and county leaders.
This autumn, the party ended up below the threshold and had its worst election result since 1936 (Christian People’s Party was founded in 1933).
– BIG EXPECTATIONS: Mayor of Sokndal Jonas Andersen Sayed (KrF) has clear expectations for the new KrF leader. Photo: Carina Johansen / NTB
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This week, Olaug Bollestad was unanimously nominated as the new party leader. When, after all the sun marks, she is elected at the party’s national meeting in the middle of the month, she inherits a party in a historically demanding situation.
– It is important that Olaug now tells specifically which direction she wants to take the party in, says Sokndal mayor Jonas Andersen Sayed (KrF).
The 14 shop stewards that TV 2 has interviewed point to the following reasons for the election result of just 3.8 per cent:
- Government attrition
- Many believe the party is still struggling with the scaling and division that the choice of direction in 2018 brought with it.
- At The Ropstad case came in the last phase of the election campaign is also highlighted by several as unfortunate.
– EIGHT YEARS: KrF supported Erna Solberg as prime minister for eight years, and entered into a number of compromises that several shop stewards believe have cost the party choose. Photo: Ole Berg-Rusten / NTB
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– During the eight years we have constituted the majority in the Storting, we have had to make many compromises, and we may have lost some of the ideological distinctiveness we had. The compromises have made us more gray, says Sayed.
He receives support from Kvitsøy mayor Stian Bjørsvik.
– The fur animal case and the agricultural settlement are examples of cases that show that it costs to sit in government.
– Away from conservative stamp
At the same time, there is no lack of willingness to re-establish the party among those elected by TV 2.
– Now we are at the bottom. At the same time, I experience a motivation to be able to get up again. Now we have licked our wounds long enough, says county leader Randi Walderhaug Frisvoll in Møre og Romsdal KrF.
Several point out that it is crucial for the party to lay out a strategy to get more women and more under the age of 50 to choose KrF.
– I mean we have to turn away from the conservative stamp. We have a number of great voters in a high age group, but they are becoming fewer. We must put in the effort to reach younger groups of voters, says Frisvoll.
Calls for an abortion debate
The fight for cash benefits and the debate on the extension of self-determination in the abortion law were two key issues in the election campaign. KrF was clearly against scrapping the abortion boards and with it an increased self-determination. At the same time, the case became difficult for the party. Frisvoll is among many shop stewards who believe it became a problem that it did not appear clear what KrF’s policy and position is on the issue of self-determined abortion.
– READY FOR CHANGE: County leader Randi Walderhaug Frisvoll in Møre og Romsdal KrF. Photo: Ålesund municipality
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– I think that we will achieve the goal of safeguarding the unborn life to a much greater extent with abortion prevention work than being consistent against abortion. That is the discussion the party must take now, says the county leader in Møre og Romsdal.
The leader of Rogaland KrF, Oddny Helen Turøy, believes that the party can advantageously answer the question of self-determined abortion more clearly.
– We agree and are clear that we want stronger protection for the unborn life, but the political situation has changed since we adopted our program. We must now work to ensure that the current abortion limit is not further expanded, says Turøy.
– REQUESTS tougher tone: County leader in Troms and Finnmark KrF, Truls Olufsen-Mehus. Photo: KrF
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County leader in Troms and Finnmark KrF, Truls Olufsen-Mehus, for his part, believes that KrF must to a greater extent take on the role of the unborn life’s foremost defender.
– When it comes to value policy, I think we must go with our heads held high, and say that we want to introduce a foster care law. We must argue much tougher and challenge those parties when they believe the unborn life deserves human rights, Olufsen-Mehus believes.
Will advocate for nuclear power
Although there is a shortage of space among the climate parties, there are a number of shop stewards who believe that KrF must more clearly front and sharpen its climate and environmental policy.
Olufsen-Mehus, disagrees.
– I do not think climate is a winning issue for KrF. If we are to take on new voters in this field, we must come up with something new, such as advocating for nuclear power, says the county leader.
Must cross the threshold
KrF’s program has been adopted for the next four years, and the extraordinary national meeting on 13-14 November will not in principle adopt a new policy for the party, but elect a new leadership.
It is a leadership that will have a tough task in lifting the party.
Fitjar mayor Harald Rydland describes the party’s situation as critical.
– If it is to have anything to do with being a political party, one must be over the bar. If not, you will not succeed with your policy.
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