Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Christian Democratic Party (KrF) will support the coalition and will have right to opt in anytime.
– Although we have had constructive conversations, we had nonconvergent points in some of major policy areas. So, we could not enter into a government with Christian Democrats (KrF) and the Liberals(Venstre) for now, says newly appointed Prime Minister and Conservative Party leader Erna Solberg .
The disagreement between parties is said to stem from the Christian Democrats and the Liberals’ policy concerns about asylum children and oil drilling plans in Lofoten and Vesterålen.
– We have been close to finding solutions for the four parties. I must say we had come further in many policy areas than most expected. But there is still hope for further cooperation, says Solberg.
They can join anytime
She referred to the agreement point 5k, which states that “if the Liberals or the Christian Democrats want to go into government later, then cooperation parties will have a positive attitude to this.”
– It is the most comprehensive and binding agreement, no government has had before. It provides predictability and stability in the political system. And it ensures Liberals and Christian Democrats to have an influence on Norwegian politics, says Solberg.
Liberal Party leader Trine Skei Grande said they opted out of the coalition as they want to keep their commitment to greener and more liberal Norway.
However, Conservative leader Solberg does not see the current decision as the end of a partnership between the four parties, but the start of a new and committed relationship.
– We are very pleased with what we have achieved and given up. We have received approval for the enactment of the rights of the elderly, tightening of asylum policy, removal of inheritance tax and much, much more, says Jensen who admitted that FRP has also given some concessions to the Christian Democrats and the Liberals especially in asylum and the environment policies.
Christian Democratic Party leader Knut Arild Hareide says they went to the election with slogan of “family and human dignity”. Now, families have greater choice and flexibility. We agree that we must stop illegal flow of immigration but we get justice for asylum children. It is something SV has not managed in eight years and we have managed in 14 days, said Hareide.
He also admits that the Christian Democratic Party and the Progress Party have had a hard discussion for rights for the elderly.
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