Northern Norway critical to Støre
People in northern Norway are not satisfied with government action in the High North. A new opinion poll shows that 56 percent of respondents are dissatisfied with the government performance in the region.
39 percent out of the opinion poll participants are satisfied with the Governments performance on High North politics, while 56 percent are quite or very dissatisfied. Also members of the Government parties are dissatisfied, according to the opinion poll which was published in north Norwegian newspapers this week. The main reason why people in northern Norway are critical to High North efforts is lack of definite results besides visionary speeches and frequent minister visits.
Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, who is head of the Governments High North politics, says to newspaper Finnmarken that High North efforts is a long term project which will take many years before the people begin to see all the results. He is satisfied with the fact that four out of ten are satisfied with the Governments efforts. The foreign minister uses sports as a metaphor for the duration of the High North efforts.
- Four out of ten people can see that we are doing fine after the first half of a 10 000 meter race. I also believe that we are doing fine, but at the same time I have to be sure of that I don’t get muscle-bound before the end of the race, says Støre.
However, Støre is looking forward to presenting the new Governments budget for 2009, which will be presented in October. This budget will have a clearer High North profile than the earlier presented by the present Norwegian Government.
