2009 Socialist Left Party national convention
Encyclopedia
The 2009 national convention was held by the Socialist Left Party
was held from March 19-22 at the Scandic Bergen City Hotell and Bergen People's House
in the city of Bergen, Hordaland. 208 delegates attended the convention.
was supported by the majority of the party, even when the party was losing many ideological battles in government. Discussion in weather to leave the Red-Green Coalition was seen as dead by many news commentators, with Solhjell sharing his belief that the only viable option is to be in government so they can be a part of the decision making, saying there are no longer anyone who are scared of "minister socialism".
. In her speech she highly critical against future plans involving Oil drilling in Lofoten og Vesterålen, saying it would be impossible for the party to sit in a government supporting such environmental hazard policies. Her speech was criticised by some, claiming her to be using big words such as "market fundamentalism is playing a dangerous game", without giving clear answears or at best giving "vague" answears. She skipped over such topics as nationalization
, government involvement in the economy or even privatization
in favour of environmental issues according to Dagens Næringsliv
.
and sitting deputy leader Audun Lysbakken
. One commentator called Lysbakken's speech "sparkling" and noted increased attention when he held the speech. Among the topics he talked about was a "renaissance" of more government involvement in the economy and a future climate crisis. The new party program was described by the media as "radical" and "expansionist", however the question most asked themselves were how much of their program would be included in Soria Moria II. Lysbakken had the honour of presenting his own proposed new party program to the convention. The program was applauded by the conventioners. Before he presented the program, he said;
Solheim's speech focused on technological research and development
to meet the upcoming climate crisis. He controversily stated that the government should take more "political control over Statoil
", a government held company, so that they can move the company into a more environment friendly direction.
to all religious institutions in Norway. This decision led to accusations from the Christian Democratic Party that the party was "totalitarian" and anti-religious. When asked Halvorsen said; "The reason for the decision is a strong desire to give all children a common platform. We fear a trend in which children with the same background are on their own denominational schools. It will inhibit inclusion". Solhjell when commenting on the situation said; "The Government's current policies remain unchanged, and options should be allowed. But it should be done within the framework of public held assets". The goal, according to many high-level members were to abolish these religious schools within the guidelines of human rights
.
Another more controversial decision during the convention was that the majority of the conventioners wanted to ban all private school
s in Norway
. This was included in the party's program, something Halvorsen and sitting 2nd deputy leader Bård Vegar Solhjell
opposed. This decision later led to fellow Socialist Left politician Stian Oen accusing Halvorsen of stopping all internal debates within the party.
Among other statements made that day, the party supported a crisis package to level social differences, supports stronger regulation of financial institutions, no to both the EU Directive and mail solicitation and consumer boycott of Israel
. The convention also made it clear that it could only participate in the governing coalition if a majority of the party's key issues were approved by their coalition partners. This idea was suggested by the party's Editorial Committee which reported this statement to the convention on the 3rd day. This decision is seen as a tightening of the requirements needed for future collaboration with the Labour
and the Centre Party
.
should be re-considered in a report by the Norwegian Official Report
group. No to the EU leader and Socialist Left member Heming Olaussen
was pleased with this decision. The control public hospitals should according to the convention be given to the local municipality authorities, and away from direct control by the government. The convention demanded immediate withdrawal of Norwegian troops in Afghanistan.
Kristin Halvorsen was re-elected to the office of party leader
.
Socialist Left Party (Norway)
The Socialist Left Party or SV, is a Norwegian left-wing political party. At one point one of the smallest parties in Parliament, it became the fourth-largest political party in Norway for the first time in the 2001 parliamentary election, and has been so ever since...
was held from March 19-22 at the Scandic Bergen City Hotell and Bergen People's House
People's Houses
People's Houses were originally leisure and cultural centres built with the intention of making art and cultural appreciation available to the working classes...
in the city of Bergen, Hordaland. 208 delegates attended the convention.
Background
By early 2009 signs showed that Kristin HalvorsenKristin Halvorsen
Kristin Halvorsen is a Norwegian socialist politician and was the Minister of Finance from 17 October 2005 until 20 October 2009. She is now the Minister of Education in Stoltenberg's second cabinet....
was supported by the majority of the party, even when the party was losing many ideological battles in government. Discussion in weather to leave the Red-Green Coalition was seen as dead by many news commentators, with Solhjell sharing his belief that the only viable option is to be in government so they can be a part of the decision making, saying there are no longer anyone who are scared of "minister socialism".
1st day
The convention started with a speech from Kristin HalvorsenKristin Halvorsen
Kristin Halvorsen is a Norwegian socialist politician and was the Minister of Finance from 17 October 2005 until 20 October 2009. She is now the Minister of Education in Stoltenberg's second cabinet....
. In her speech she highly critical against future plans involving Oil drilling in Lofoten og Vesterålen, saying it would be impossible for the party to sit in a government supporting such environmental hazard policies. Her speech was criticised by some, claiming her to be using big words such as "market fundamentalism is playing a dangerous game", without giving clear answears or at best giving "vague" answears. She skipped over such topics as nationalization
Nationalization
Nationalisation, also spelled nationalization, is the process of taking an industry or assets into government ownership by a national government or state. Nationalization usually refers to private assets, but may also mean assets owned by lower levels of government, such as municipalities, being...
, government involvement in the economy or even privatization
Privatization
Privatization is the incidence or process of transferring ownership of a business, enterprise, agency or public service from the public sector to the private sector or to private non-profit organizations...
in favour of environmental issues according to Dagens Næringsliv
Dagens Næringsliv
Dagens Næringsliv, commonly known as DN, is a Norwegian tabloid specializing in business reporting with a claimed daily circulation of 82,775 copies in 2008, making it the 8th largest newspaper in Norway. The editor in chief is Amund Djuve. Its name is Norwegian for "Today's Business".Originally...
.
2nd day
The second day included speeches from former party leader Erik SolheimErik Solheim
Erik Solheim is a Norwegian politician for the Socialist Left Party . He holds two posts in the current Norwegian cabinet, and carries the title Minister of the Environment and Minister of Development Cooperation...
and sitting deputy leader Audun Lysbakken
Audun Lysbakken
Audun Bjørlo Lysbakken is a Norwegian politician for the Socialist Left Party. In 2006 he became deputy leader of the party. On 20 October 2009, he was appointed Minister of Children and Equality.- Background :...
. One commentator called Lysbakken's speech "sparkling" and noted increased attention when he held the speech. Among the topics he talked about was a "renaissance" of more government involvement in the economy and a future climate crisis. The new party program was described by the media as "radical" and "expansionist", however the question most asked themselves were how much of their program would be included in Soria Moria II. Lysbakken had the honour of presenting his own proposed new party program to the convention. The program was applauded by the conventioners. Before he presented the program, he said;
Solheim's speech focused on technological research and development
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
to meet the upcoming climate crisis. He controversily stated that the government should take more "political control over Statoil
Statoil
Statoil ASA is a Norwegian petroleum company established in 1972. It merged with Norsk Hydro in 2007 and was known as StatoilHydro until 2009, when the name was changed back to Statoil ASA. The brand Statoil was retained as a chain of fuel stations owned by StatoilHydro...
", a government held company, so that they can move the company into a more environment friendly direction.
3rd day
By the 3rd day a vote had decided that the party wanted to stop all public fundingFunding
Funding is the act of providing resources, usually in form of money , or other values such as effort or time , for a project, a person, a business or any other private or public institutions...
to all religious institutions in Norway. This decision led to accusations from the Christian Democratic Party that the party was "totalitarian" and anti-religious. When asked Halvorsen said; "The reason for the decision is a strong desire to give all children a common platform. We fear a trend in which children with the same background are on their own denominational schools. It will inhibit inclusion". Solhjell when commenting on the situation said; "The Government's current policies remain unchanged, and options should be allowed. But it should be done within the framework of public held assets". The goal, according to many high-level members were to abolish these religious schools within the guidelines of human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
.
Another more controversial decision during the convention was that the majority of the conventioners wanted to ban all private school
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
s in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. This was included in the party's program, something Halvorsen and sitting 2nd deputy leader Bård Vegar Solhjell
Bård Vegar Solhjell
Bård Vegar Solhjell is a Norwegian politician for the Socialist Left Party, was Minister of Education and Research from 2007-2009 in the second cabinet Stoltenberg....
opposed. This decision later led to fellow Socialist Left politician Stian Oen accusing Halvorsen of stopping all internal debates within the party.
Among other statements made that day, the party supported a crisis package to level social differences, supports stronger regulation of financial institutions, no to both the EU Directive and mail solicitation and consumer boycott of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. The convention also made it clear that it could only participate in the governing coalition if a majority of the party's key issues were approved by their coalition partners. This idea was suggested by the party's Editorial Committee which reported this statement to the convention on the 3rd day. This decision is seen as a tightening of the requirements needed for future collaboration with the Labour
Norwegian Labour Party
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Norway. It is the senior partner in the current Norwegian government as part of the Red-Green Coalition, and its leader, Jens Stoltenberg, is the current Prime Minister of Norway....
and the Centre Party
Centre Party (Norway)
The Centre Party is a centrist and agrarian political party in Norway, founded in 1920. The Centre Party's policy is not based on any of the major ideologies of the 19th and 20th century, but has a focus on maintaining decentralised economic development and political decision-making.From its...
.
4th day
The convention also decided that Norwegian membership in the European Economic AreaEuropean Economic Area
The European Economic Area was established on 1 January 1994 following an agreement between the member states of the European Free Trade Association and the European Community, later the European Union . Specifically, it allows Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway to participate in the EU's Internal...
should be re-considered in a report by the Norwegian Official Report
Norwegian Official Report
A Norwegian Official Report is a report published by a panel or committee appointed by the Norwegian government. The Norwegian Parliament may request the government to establish such a committee....
group. No to the EU leader and Socialist Left member Heming Olaussen
Heming Olaussen
Henning Olaussen is the current leader of Nei til EU.He took over the leadership from longtime leader Sigbjørn Gjelsvik at the 2004 congress. He is a former member of the Socialist Left Party....
was pleased with this decision. The control public hospitals should according to the convention be given to the local municipality authorities, and away from direct control by the government. The convention demanded immediate withdrawal of Norwegian troops in Afghanistan.
Kristin Halvorsen was re-elected to the office of party leader
Party leader
In politics, the party leader is the most powerful official within a political party.The party leader is typically responsible for managing the party's relationship with the general public. As such, he or she will take a leading role in developing and communicating party policy, especially election...
.
See also
- Red-Green Coalition
- History of the Socialist Left PartyHistory of the Socialist Left PartyThe history of the Socialist Left Party of Norway or "SV," founded in 1975, shows a long-term rise in political influence. The SV's rise has resulted in part from its emergence from older leftist parties, most notably the Socialist People's Party...
- List of national conventions held by the Socialist Left Party