After the Labour Party has opened up for an impact assessment study of oil exploration in Lofoten, their sudden change of mind faces strong reactions, and it comes too early according to some.
Whereas Helga Pedersen from the Labour Party (Ap) says that the party had all the information they needed in order to come to a conclusion in the question of oil exploration in Lofoten, a comprehensive report concerning the project is still six months away. "The government has completed the research that was needed," Pedersen says.
Audun Lysbakken, however, head of the Government coalition party, the Socialist Left, disagrees, but was not surprised by the Labor Party's sudden turn in the question about oil exploration.
"This has been a poorly kept secret in the Labour Party for a very long time," Lysbakken tells Aftenposten. The Socialist Left Party has been opposed to any oil exploration further north in Lofoten, and Lysbakken claims that this will still be the case, even if it means that they will have to oppose their party ally.
Lysbakken says to Aftenposten that the party will continue to fight, even if that means that they cannot continue to be part of a government where the majority supports the expansion.
"We respect the Labour Party's decision, but it is just as important as before to prevent this from happening," according to Lysbakken. "We are in government because it enables us to make changes and have an impact, and we will continue to fight this issue in the next government debate," he concludes.
(Aftenposten/Bloomberg/NRK)
Julie Ryland
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