Watch video interview with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre:
GARDERMOEN (Nettavisen): Five months after Labor leader Jonas Gahr Støre won the parliamentary election and became the country’s new prime minister, he spoke to his own at the Labor Party’s national board meeting at Gardermoen on Tuesday afternoon.
It with a gloomy backdrop, with war in Europe and galloping electricity prices and petrol prices here at home, which has made the government – and especially the Center Party unpopular.
But Støre can not promise any extra traction to his government partner.
– What victories can you give the Center Party as a driving force?
– In government, we are one team, and I think we stand our ground over time by delivering good politics as one team, Støre states to Nettavisen after his national board speech.
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– You pay a price
Since the parliamentary election, the Center Party has fallen on the polls, from an election result of 13.5 percent to a record low 6.6 percent on the worst measurement in March.
– The Center Party is in free fall, in what way does it threaten your government project?
– We are five months into a period of government and have received many issues that affect the people in the economy and their everyday lives. Then I think you pay a price when you are in government, says Støre.
The Labor Party leader’s focus is nevertheless crystal clear:
– I think mostly about how we solve the tasks we face now. Opinion polls and the road to elections, there is a while to go. And I think we will show that we deserve the trust when we get there, he says.
– But how important is it that the Center Party rises now?
– Of course I wish our partner all the best and that they do well. I think they are taking responsibility in a very difficult time, so I think we will be able to get this together, says Støre.
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– More important than fuel prices
On Friday, the government announced new crisis packages in connection with the war in Ukraine, but the Labor leader is secretive about what will come.
– Can you say something about whether it will result in lower petrol and diesel taxes?
– No, now you have to wait until Friday, but this is mainly what we do in relation to electricity – extended electricity schemes, which are most important for people’s finances. It is more important, in fact, than fuel prices, which have gone up and down a lot. And then there are the costs associated with receiving more refugees, says Støre.
– But there is a case where the Center Party has said that if the price of petrol was over 20 kroner, they could not sit in government?
– No, but then there was a war. And you can never plan for that. And the price has been above 20 kroner and below 20 kroner, so we can follow the development going forward, he says.
In Nettavisen’s March poll from Sentio, the majority also goes to Støre – and the Labor Party and the Center Party are dependent on support from Rødt to get a majority in the Storting.
To that end, Støre has the following to say:
– It is a long time until elections. I think so.
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