Espen and Jens are on a mission in Eastern Europe to transfer billions of Norwegian taxpayers’ money to Hungary. Now Hungary is finally set to introduce the policies demanded by Brussels, and the lads are proud to be leading the way, as the champions of democracy that they are. They both praise the student demonstrations in Belgrade – which succeeded in ousting the corrupt President Vucic thanks to two years of vigorous protests, led by Serbian universities without any help from either the EU or anyone else. But the old guard is, of course, no stranger to our heads of state: Espen forgot to mention that Vucic visited him a while back, when they were forging a military alliance between Serbia and Norway. Never mind.
People are demonstrating for democracy in Norway too
People have been demonstrating in Norway for a long time. Often led by those who work in the country’s most vital sector – namely, industry. The workers. Yes, those for whom the Labour Party was founded. Strangely enough, these demonstrations go under the radar even though they take place outside the Storting. Why does the government fail to support the democratic struggles taking place in Norway, focusing instead solely on those abroad? Why is money being poured into democratic work overseas, whilst the protests happening simultaneously in their own country are ignored?
The diesel revolt is Norway’s ‘gilets jaunes’
The diesel revolt is not merely a revolt against diesel and petrol prices. Rather, it is a general revolt against an established system with which the people do not agree. It is a revolt against the EU, against exorbitant electricity prices and the export of Norwegian resources, against supranationalism, against cronyism, and against the Epstein inquiry, which is never taken seriously. It began with talk of blocking the E6 motorway and driving slowly, and culminated in nationwide demonstrations that ended outside the Storting, where the government’s greatest nemesis, Listhaug, delivered a speech.
So who is it, really, who is protecting democracy in Norway?
Certainly not our own government. An honest Foreign Secretary would have put his own house in order before jetting off abroad with the people’s money. Is it any wonder, then, that the FrP and Listhaug are winning the battle in the opinion polls and will soon do so at the polls as well? She champions the kind of democracy that is dismissed as hysteria by the current government. The form that takes the people seriously and starts from the bottom up – with energy, taxes and interest rates as key issues. Yes, the FrP has many shortcomings, but the party is down-to-earth and resonates widely across many sections of society. Norway is not just Oslo, Bergen or Stavanger. It is Herøy, Hasvik and Leka. Norway’s poorest municipalities. And everyone who lives there will vote for a simpler everyday life, and for whoever can offer it.
Regime change in Norway
As Espen said recently in Budapest, ‘they have replaced not just a government, but an entire regime, with a better and more democratic one. In many ways, they have finally reintroduced European democracy’ (Nettavisen, 26 October). I believe he will soon see that the people are demanding the same replacement of the cronyism in the Norwegian government – indeed, a genuine regime change here as well. And he will be one of the first to go when that happens. The long-standing ties that the Labour Party’s various governments have maintained abroad, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – where he and Jonas have been in charge – and particularly in light of the Epstein case, are something no one will forget.
The fact that we can easily trace Norwegian collaboration, led by the Foreign Minister alongside the dictator Vucic in 2012, is merely a symptom of the real problem: We have a government that, without conscience or shame, has sold off parts of Norway’s resources to foreign powers, and poured billions into dictatorships ranging from the Taliban in Afghanistan to Myanmar, and previously to Serbia.
Enough is enough
I look forward to a future where Norway is led by leaders who do not care about personal gain and career advancement. A future where the country’s interests are reflected in a thriving economy and society. One that acts in line with Norwegian values – of kindness, democracy, freedom of expression and honesty. The opposite of what we have seen over the last 20 years. There is a world of difference between pretending to fight for values and kindness – and actually putting in place the mechanisms that can foster democracy. Such as not inviting the Taliban into your living room, or investing in Israel whilst at the same time working to save Palestine.
Values must come before everything else if you are a head of state in Norway.
Sophie Matlary
Member of the Labour Party
