Bongo, who is a leader at the Norwegian Association of Officers and Specialists (NOF), said class struggle on Saturday that he believes Støre has been a weak leader at times, and this is part of the explanation for why things have gotten so bad with both Labour and the government.

– Where is the prime minister in the debate on poverty and Forskjells-Norge? Core area for Labor Party. He should stand out, but doesn’t. If he doesn’t change direction and leadership style, I believe we in the party will have to have a discussion about whether we have the right leader, Bongo said.

Bongo has sat on the regional council for Labor in Troms and emphasized that he speaks as a party man. He doesn’t believe in times of crisis as an explanation for weak measurements.

– It’s not a law of nature that it’s unpopular to be a leader in difficult situations. We have many examples to the contrary, he said.

Want Tajiks back

Bongo named Tonje Brenna, Raymond Johansen and Hadia Tajik as candidates for party leadership.

– Tajiks did a great job. It may be true that he stepped aside, but it is time to return. We don’t have life sentences in this country, Bongo said.

The Labor Party is holding a national meeting in May 2023. An election committee will be formed in the new year.

More critical of the Store

Bongo isn’t the only one who has recently expressed dissatisfaction with Labor’s leadership.

Two weeks ago, former LO chairman Sture Arntzen said it was time for the party leadership, including Støre, to step down.

– Jonas and management made a slogan that they have policies for common people. But sadly they don’t hit the common man with their politics. This is no longer possible, they must be replaced at the spring national meeting, so that other forces can rebuild our party, Arntzen said in an interview with VG.