– I think one should be careful when talking about the politics of marrying in a democracy. We adopt our policies democratically, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Ap) told NTB.

NHO head Ole Erik Almlid used the term in an interview with NRK ahead of the annual NHO conference. He criticized tax measures the government unveiled last fall, which would have given states and cities a larger share of revenue from the agriculture and power industries.

– Uncertainty is built into the business. We need predictability and long term, said Almlid.

In his address to Norwegian business leaders at the NHO meeting in Oslo Spektrum, Støre defended the tax policy. He called it a connecting team, in which the state also contributed by cutting the budget.

The theme of the conference was unrest, which is related to an uncertain world, but NHO leaders and business leaders are also related to government policies. Some also reacted to the tone of the debate, with talk of “salmon barons” and the common man versus the rich.

– I must speak for myself, I have never used such words about employees or employers. We must speak with respect to those who receive social security and with respect to those who make good money in business. But having a tax system where those with the strongest shoulders carry their fair share is politics, and that belongs in democracy, says Støre.

He emphasized that he supports the company.

– The backbone of work, value creation and well-being in Norway are small, medium and some large companies, and we have to play as a team with them.