The Center draws support beggar ban – Aftenposten

The Center draws support beggar ban – Aftenposten

– Parliamentary Group has decided that we will not support the proposal for a begging ban which is now submitted for consultation, said parliamentary leader Marit Arnstad said.

– Punishing complicity begging is not acceptable. There can not be a criminal offense to give people clothes, food and shelter, she said.

Arnstad emphasizes that neither becomes relevant to support a new proposal for a national begging ban if the government were to put forward such.

– I can not imagine that we will support a ban no matter how it formed.

You mean the current legislation is good enough

The main reason though is that the consultation paper states that current legislation is a good tool to counter human trafficking and other crimes.

– It was this that was the main thing for the Center when congress our walked into a begging ban, says Arnstad.

She emphasizes that Sp doing right by the municipalities to impose local bans begging. The coalition government introduced the legal basis for this in 2013, and the decision was made clear by the government parties and the Center last year.

According to Sps Statute the decision is made by the parliamentary group, where a minority opposed the decision. Central Committee and National Board is not involved, and the two assistant managers in the party was not actively involved in the decision.

Asked why the parliamentary group not expected to congress in the Center in March, responding Arnstad follows:

– We think it is most neat to clarify our position now, before the government eventually come back to Parliament with a case.

Switch agreement with the government parties

The Center has two national meetings on row advocated a ban on begging. That this came to be introduced in Norway, was prepared by the Centre and the coalition parties at a press conference last summer.

Now both agreement and congress decision violated.

– It is responsible that we take the various reviews in the party and the group seriously. It is a management responsibility to do this. Congress decision was a controversial decision, says Arnstad.

She fears reprisals from the delegates at the congress in Haugesund 20.-22. March.

– We have received many deeply serious feedback from members and officers. Parliamentary Group are now fulfilling our responsibility to see the totality of this matter, but it can certainly be debate about it anyway. I’m not worried about it.

Aftenposten come back with more.

Published: 05.feb. 2015 24:53