HALDEN (VG) Halden is known for one of the most difficult political climates in Norway. Now the two political rivals have put aside their differences to rule the city together.

Although Høyre and Ap are traditional bitter enemies, after this fall’s elections they came together in 49 Norwegian cities. It shows an overview made of NRK.

Especially in small towns – but also in Molde and Halden, two towns with more than 30,000 inhabitants each. Each of them The 31st and 33rd most populous cities in Norway.

In Halden, this collaboration was particularly surprising – here the political climate had previously been very difficult, and the differences between Labor and the right were particularly sharp.

– Difficult

After last autumn’s election, both the Conservative Party and Labor attempted to muster political majorities across their respective political spectrums – but without success.

– Difficult to form a majority government. Then we finally learned that the best thing was to cooperate with each other, Mayor Fredrik Holm (H) told VG.

With them, the Conservative Party and the Labor Party get one representative from the KrF, which guarantees a majority of 20 out of 39 representatives in the city council.

Mayor: – New everyday life

One of the reasons why it was difficult to achieve a majority in Halden was because the Pensioners Party and the Industrial and Business Party (INP) each received four deputies.

– We see protest parties taking a bigger place in Norwegian politics than before. The days when Høyre and the Labor Party were at odds are over. “I think this is part of the new everyday political life that we have to face,” Holm said.

He recalled the toll riots in 2019 which resulted in a number of toll registers going to Norwegian city councils. Four years later, the rebellion subsided.

– I think this is a positive and democratic development, said Holm.

Deputy Mayor Linn Laupsa (Ap) added:

– Our problem is not that too many people participate in democracy. There are too few of us. Anything that increases voter participation and encourages new people to enter politics, I think is good.

Holm recalls that the MDGs were also first considered a protest party.

– But now, they are an important and natural part of the Norwegian feast flora in the Storting, he explains.

– Political cooperation

– Is this formalistic technical electoral cooperation, or true and binding political cooperation?

– This is a political collaboration. We have a common political platform, but it’s not very detailed. This shows what we agree on, Laupsa said.

Both sides have agreed to put aside some of their core issues, such as competition and drastic changes to property taxes. The amount should only be reduced if there is financial room for it.

– Are you afraid that voters will sentence you to four years for collaborating with your opponents?

– We are local politicians. Our city – Halden – is the most important. Not an election in four years, he replied, and explained:

– I think the differences are often bigger at the national level than at the local level. At the local level, there is more practical politics. In our case, we are concerned with stable and predictable collaboration that can persist throughout the period, he said.

Dealing with political culture

Halden has a very difficult political climate. In the 90s, the steep political front became national news: “Lille Helvete” wrote Dagens Næringsliv, while Aftenposten used the title “Democrazy i Halden”.

And until the elections for the 2011 to 2015 period it was forced State AdministratorState AdministratorState administrators are an extension of the state in Norway’s counties and cities. Formerly called Fylkesmann. to sit in the back seat during city council meetings, to ensure debates run smoothly, the mayor explained.

He himself was elected to the city council in 2015, after some time outside local politics.

– Then we decided to accept political culture. We want to lead by example, and show that we do not accept that city council should just debate.

Both politicians believe that difficult history means they are now more concerned with civil and appropriate political debate.

– Just imagine what the benefits would be for recruitment into the world of politics, if all we knew were heated debates and personal attacks? Who wants to get involved, asked Laupsa.

Times are tough in Halden

It’s not just the political climate that demands Halden. The city’s economy is also a grim spectacle.

From 2012 to 2019, the municipality was on the dreaded TORN list. That means they are bankrupt. And the State Administrator must approve all their budgets and financial decisions.

– We have higher expenses than our income, explains Holm briefly and precisely.

Now their most important issue is gaining control of the economy.

– This may mean some of the investments we had planned will be postponed, he said.