- Speak for yourself, Raymond – Dagsavisen

 
 

In yesterday Dagsavisen criticized Chief Commissioner Raymond Johansen parties’ nomination processes to Parliament for being too closed and game-oriented. He wants more openness and more familiar names on parliamentary lists to come.

 
 

Johansen will speak for itself, thinks the Conservatives and Liberals.

 
 

– Johansen gives a better description of the nomination process in Ap than in the Conservative Party, says head of Oslo Conservative Party, Nikolai Astrup.

 
 

– What is striking is that it’s Labor, along with FRP, which has the tightest party culture and the least open party organization, says Liberal leader Trine Skei Grande.

 
 

Ap welcomed change

 
 

Johansen believes nomination process becomes too introverted when it’s local chapter in a fylkesparti who decides who will be top of the list.

 
 

Astrup and Grande asking why it was then Labor voted against changes to the electoral law that would have given voters real opportunity cumulation and more power to change the composition of the parliamentary list.

 
 

– I thought we had a majority for an amendment, but then went Labor and FRP contrary just to give voters more power. Then it becomes very strange by Johansen attack others, when it is his own party who believe the opposite, says Liberal leader Trine Skei Grande.

 
 

– If Labor were really concerned about this they should also have been for the government’s proposal. When the votes against saying to me that Labor likes to have control and do not trust their voters, says Astrup adding:

 
 

– Johansens concern on politics behalf should rather be on Aps behalf: They have both closed nomination process and is accepting that voters should have more influence on who should be voted in.

 
 

Grande sees however a glimmer of something positive in Johansens statements:

 
 

– let’s hope Johansen gets its views when the electoral law to be treated again, she said.

 
 

Celebrity criticism

 
 

Astrup also react to that Johansen wants more celebrities on parliamentary lists. He points out that Labor has previously attempted to set with celebrities on top – and with varying success, according to Astrup.

 
 

– Both Ellen Horn and Åse Kleveland stood atop AP list but withdrew after the election when they did not win. It does not create confidence in voters. To recruit celebrities is no guarantee of getting good politicians. The goal must be to have a width in recruitment by releasing to the people who have much to contribute, but have not made the grade in party politics. Regardless of whether they are known or not, he said.

 
 

Not surprisingly believes Astrup that Labor has something to learn from Oslo Right.

 
 

– We have through several years had open nomination processes where all regular members may propose candidates and participate in the referendum. List are not necessarily equal to the members suggest, but overall it is the successful way to open up the process and become less introverted, also Johansens points, says Astrup.