Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Labour) thanks outgoing AUF leader Gaute Børstad Skjervø for his efforts and says he looks forward to working with the youth party’s new leadership.
Many believe it was high time Skjervø stepped down as leader of the AUF. It is seen as somewhat odd to represent a youth party after turning 31. Perhaps it is time to consider oneself an adult?
During Arendal Week, Skjervø made it clear just how much he dislikes *Document*. He claimed that those of us who work for *Document* are merely pretending to be journalists, and that we should lose our press subsidy.
However, the Labour Party leader and the Prime Minister are pleased with Skjærvø’s efforts. Støre was met with thunderous applause from the hall and rhythmic chants of ‘Jonas’ when he took to the stage to address the AUF national conference.
After a bit of banter, a tribute to the labour movement and a dig at the right, Støre moved on to discuss how political work has changed.
“It takes courage to get involved in politics today,” said Støre, who described how it is becoming increasingly demanding for many, with an ever-harsher tone, vicious personal attacks and threats against those who take part in public debate.
A large number of threats and harassment
Støre first thanked everyone present for their efforts, before extending a personal thank you to Skjervø. NTB refers to Skjervø’s claim that he has received an unusually large number of threats and hate speech. It is known that Skjervø has a personal alarm due to the situation.
According to Støre, the AUF has reviewed over 30,000 comments directed solely at Skjervø, which the Prime Minister emphasised is completely unacceptable.
Støre himself spoke of how tough it is to face such a barrage of hate.
“You’ve been through it,” Støre said to Skjervø.
Following their review of the very worst messages Skjervø had received, the police found no statements constituting a criminal offence, and the case was dropped.
Gaute Skjervø accuses Document of incitement against Muslims. His own rhetoric spreads anti-Semitism
Warsame takes over
Somali Fawzi Warsame (28) has been nominated as the new leader of the AUF to succeed Skjervø. He will be formally elected on Sunday. Warsame has praised Somalia on countless occasions and has conducted what can only be described as an ‘ethno-Somali’ election campaign in Norway.
Warsame recently criticised the government-appointed committee that paved the way for the Oil Fund to invest in companies that produce nuclear weapons.
The new AUF leader is part of a wider trend in which Somali politicians have had a rapid rise to power in Norwegian politics in recent years. Marian Hussein (SV) sits in the Storting, whilst Labour Party politicians Ubah Aden and Kafia Hashi Mohamud have made their mark in a similar way.
Støre is looking forward to working with the incoming AUF leader. He devoted a large part of his speech to reviewing the measures the government has implemented or proposed to improve young people’s everyday lives.
– Since we took office in 2021, 183,000 more people have found work. Youth employment is at its highest level since the financial crisis. Recently, we have seen thousands of young people who were not in education or employment finding work. And that is good. But there are still 100,000 young people aged between 15 and 29 who are not in education, employment or training, said Støre, agreeing with Warsame that changing this should be the Labour Party’s main priority.
It is true that 183,000 more people have found work, defined as at least one paid hour of work per week. But during the same period, Norway’s population increased by 236,000. Moreover, we know that many of the new jobs are nothing but ‘bullshit jobs’ that create absolutely no value.
The challenges of the future
In his speech, Støre highlighted future challenges, emphasising international law, climate and technology – three distinct challenges where the Prime Minister pointed out the need for international cooperation.
“We need international cooperation, democratic decision-making and people who get involved,” said the Prime Minister.
Just under a year before the next election, Støre has identified the Progress Party as the Labour Party’s main opponent.
– ‘They have a host of alternative solutions for how society should be organised, with massive tax cuts for those who have the most, with the dismantling of much of the welfare system that gives us security, with division and the fragmentation of the school system, but they do not believe we need to take action on climate change,” Støre summarised.
He concluded with a clear call to action from the AUF:
– Let me be clear, my friends, this is an election we can win, and shall win, across Norway. And if we are to succeed, we need a strong AUF.
