– We in the committee are trying to agree on sensible changes for the future so that such cases can be prevented from happening again. This may be one of the most important aspects of all this comprehensive work, says Peter Frölich (H), head of the Control and Constitution Group at Storting du NTB.
The aim, he says, is to agree on specific changes to both rules and procedures.
– Now we hope to put an end to it and set a course for how to avoid integrity violations in the future, says Fröhlich.
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– Creative tone
The control group is now in its final phase on the competence cases of Erna Solberg (H), Anniken Huitfeldt (Ap), Tonje Brenna (Ap), Anette Trettebergstuen (Ap) and Ola Borten Moe (Sp).
On Wednesday, the panel meets for a final meeting, where they will present their recommendations on the same day.
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They are expected to make some kind of criticism of those involved, but there is a tension associated with the wording in reference to various cases.
– For the Conservative Party, it is important to have a common approach and method in the review of the case, says Froelich, that we give different people the same fair treatment and use a common method, regardless of which party they belong to.
He conveys the run-in in a constructive tone.
– But different parties will have different views on things anyway.
There will be a ban on trading in government
Rødt's member of the control committee, Seher Aydar, believes that the case should end with some clear conclusions.
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– And we take steps to ensure talent regulations and procedures are good, clear and open. Restoring faith in democracy is a political responsibility, he tells NTB.
Among other things, Rødt proposed legal regulation of the purchase of shares from members of the government in the committee.
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– Our proposals establish best and common practices for ministries, especially ensuring impartiality in grants and appointments, writing and transparency in impartial evaluations in ministries.
– Above all, he says, there needs to be a clear ban on stock trading for members of the government and their spouses.
– There are some questions
Gründe Almeland of Venstre has been the investigating officer for qualification cases in the control group. He says they spent a lot of time on the details of each individual case and procedures for each individual ministry.
– There are still some questions to be answered, but we are working well and have a good dialogue, so we will reach the goal within the deadline, he says.
– I hope that next week can be presented as the beginning of rebuilding people's trust in politicians, who have been severely affected by many irregularities in the last one year, he says.
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NTB has also contacted the Labor Party, Frp, Sp, SV and MDG, but they did not want to comment on the matter until the proposal was ready.
Multiple cases in a row
The merits case broke down in June last year. Then Education Minister Donjay Brenna came out and said he had breached ethics rules, including giving a board position to a close friend.
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Shortly afterwards, the then Culture Minister Anette Trettbergstuen (Ap) resigned. She also gave important posts to friends.
In July, then-Research and Higher Education Minister Ola Borden Moe (SP) Kongsberg admitted to breaching ethics rules by buying a stake in Groupon. He also left.
At the end of August it was the turn of then Foreign Minister Anniken Huidtfeldt. She admitted her disability as a result of her husband's share deals and was later transferred as a minister.
The latest case concerns Conservative Party leader Erna Solberg, who was prime minister for years while her husband ran extensive stock trading in several companies that she was incompetent to deal with. The case broke just before the local elections in September, but gradually the scope grew.
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