Ap has sunk like a stone in the polls since the Støre government took office, with criticism pouring in against Støre and his crew, from the public and from within the party. But Støre does not want to hear talk of any crisis.

Difficult matters have been queuing for Prime Minister Støre and Ap-Sp since the red-green government took office in autumn 2021.

Such issues as the electricity price crisis, increasing inflation, disagreements about energy development and international agreements, the consequences for Norway and the country’s defence after the start of the war in Ukraine, the aftermath of the pandemic and lastly the personal cabal in party and government.

Not everyone is impressed by how Støre & co. have dealt with all this. The voters have had their say in the opinion polls, by leaving the Labor Party in large numbers. Ap is the currently the largest party and leads this government.

The party has dropped to 15-16 percent support in some polls and is now gasping for air at 18-19 percent. This is extremely weak for a party that only a few years ago was dissatisfied with ending up below 30 percent.

The Labor Party’s national meeting is approaching, taking place on 4–6 May. Many consider it a matter of course that the party’s weak development will be a current and central theme.

The word crisis has been used, including by central party members such as Tana mayor, former deputy leader and minister Helga Pedersen.

Pedersen paints a particularly dark picture of the situation in the party and says they must recognize that they are in a crisis.

Criticism has also been raised from LO against the party leadership and the situation the country is in under the current red-green leadership. LO has been particularly concerned about how the electricity price crisis has been handled.

But Støre does not agree with these negative descriptions of reality. In the past, Støre has dismissed all suggestions that there is something wrong with the way he governs.

Two days before the national meeting, he categorically denies that there is any crisis in the Labor Party.

I do not agree with that, says the Prime Minister to TV2.

NTB reports on the case.

He does not deny the weak measurements, but according to Støre these are not a symptom of a crisis. He also sees them as an opportunity.

We are in a time of crisis and we have low numbers, but we can also grow on those numbers. The commitment I have seen today gives me faith that we can grow, says Støre.

It is an open question whether the national meeting will share such an optimistic interpretation of the massive exodus of voters from the party.

There are a few months left until this autumn’s local elections, an election in which Ap currently seems to be heading towards something that may resemble a massacre in municipalities across the country.