Norway’s municipalities skeptical about merging. Twice as many “no” as “yes” – Dagbladet.no

Friday runs the municipalities deadline out to advise whether they want a merger or not. So far there are twice as many “no” as “yes”.

The latest figures show that 127 municipalities have positive decision on merging of local authorities, while 264 have decided to continue alone. Despite a large number of no-result, Municipal and modernization Minister Jan Tore Sanner (H) strong in faith. Municipalities form is on the right path, he said. But he acknowledges that it is a demanding exercise for local politicians.

– I went into this having been in politics for many years, and I know that this is one of the hardest to do, says Sanner said.

He has had “an infinite number of meetings” with mayors, and followed many a council decision on web TV. He does not hide that he would like to see even result in Jæren and Romerike.

– There are large regional differences. It shows that this is more mature in some places than others, he said.

– Taking time

Sanner had given municipalities deadline to 1. July to decide on the voluntary merger. Then county governors spend three months to draw maps with their recommendations which will form the basis for decisions in government and ultimately Parliament.

The debate has acted much about coercion and voluntariness . A widely used example is that it may be necessary by force if one municipality blocking the merger of several.

Sanner said to not yet have any idea of ​​how many municipalities that fall into that category because this first come on the agenda next spring. He would rather not comment on what other cases it may be necessary to deviate from volunteering line.

He emphasizes we have seen a greater reduction in the number of municipalities in three years than we have seen during the last 50.

– it is in the recognition that must accept that such a reform process, it actually takes time. Last time it took 20 years, he says, referring to the reform of the postwar period to cut the number of almost 200.

The first phase?

How far forward the reform process extends, is hard to say. But municipal minister believes there is no end when Parliament has said its by next summer. He believes the work of mergers will continue with more of them saying no today.

There are indications that municipalities form only in the first phase, says researcher Yngve Flo by UNI Research Rokkansenteret . He envisages a development similar to that in Finland, where it ran for several processes to be ended at number 301.

– In many municipalities have statements, all led to a recognition that it needs to make itself bigger and stronger, but it sits deep in getting residents, says the researcher said.

Flo think a continuous work can lead to it being increased recognition of the need for merging.

– But it can also have the opposite effect. Man gets bored, it can be a kind of rebellion. It is very demanding and tiring to operate with municipalities shape all the time, he said.

(NTB)

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