The power crisis has increased, but the Storting does not convene until 30 September. Rødt asks the president of the Storting to cancel the holiday and gather the politicians.
Updated just now
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– It does not seem as if the government has understood how dramatic it is. Then it is annoying that the Storting has granted itself a very long summer holiday, which puts the entire political debate on the sidelines, says Marie Sneve Martinussen, fiscal policy spokesperson in Rødt.
Martinussen admittedly used a more powerful adjective about the situation, before correcting herself to “annoying”.
The Storting is on summer break and does not convene until 30 September. The various committees meet in August and September, but the government is left alone for oral question hours in the Storting.
It is too long to wait, says Rødt.
– Had it not been for the endlessly long holiday, the government would have been demanded answers in every question hour. They would have to deal with proposals every single day, but now the crisis is building up because we have a holiday, says Martinussen, summarizing himself:
– The Storting’s summer vacation cannot stand in the way of the government getting its marching orders.
Prices have been up to over four kroner per kilowatt-hour in southern Norway. See what the prices are in the various regions today.
New attempt
In July, together with SV, they tried to get the Storting to cancel the holiday and hold an extraordinary meeting about the electricity crisis. They received support from the Frp.
The letter was sent on July 12, but the presidency replied that it would only deal with the issue on August 8, almost a month later.
Storting President Masud Gharahkhani then pointed out that the Storting would not have a concrete case or proposal for measures to deal with, and that it would have consequences for whether the presidency would call for an emergency meeting.
Rødt has interpreted that as a refusal, and is now trying another route to the goal.
Meanwhile, electricity prices have set new records in southern Norway. Mayors in the Labor Party now goes out against his own government and asks for crisis measures for industry and businesses.
– Prices are now at a level where most people agree that the situation is unsustainable, both in the short and long term, says leader of the Labor Party in Rogaland, Frode Fjeldsbø to VG.
–Will use separate paragraph
Rødt is now asking the Storting to use a separate opportunity they have to summon the government to an explanation.
According to the Storting’s rules of procedure, a member from the government can speak in the Storting’s hall, followed by a debate in the following days.
– Then in practice it will function as a normal question hour, but also lead to us having the opportunity to gather and discuss measures in the following days, says Martinussen.
Rødt has outlined the solution for the presidency, which will consider the issue next Monday.
The party also has proposals for concrete measures, which include setting a maximum price for electricity. However, Martinussen emphasizes that Rødt will listen to other parties’ proposals as well.
– In this way, we will have a real political debate, says Martinussen.
–Taking for treatment
The presidency is led by Storting President Masud Gharahkhani (Ap), together with a representative each from Ap, Sp, SV, Høyre and Frp.
The President of the Storting writes in a text message to VG that the first formal meeting day in the Storting is 30 September. They will process Rødt’s request on Monday.
– Then we will take into account what the parties are thinking, possible methods of treatment and progress. We will come back then, says Gharahkhani.
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