The MDG leader calls the oil companies the tobacco companies of our time

In a fiery speech, Arild Hermstad opened the national meeting for the Green Party with strong attacks against the government’s plans for the extraction of oil and gas in the northern regions. He pointed out that Hammerfest municipality, despite Equinor’s development of the gas terminal on Melkøya, has been placed under state administration.

– The oil companies are the tobacco companies of our time, and they do everything they can to greenwash themselves while they prey on the planet’s climate. Yes, the oil industry is the golden calf that has turned into a cuckoo chick, it displaces everyone around it, Hermstad told the national meeting.

The statement was met with applause from the audience.

After the tirade, Hermstad followed up by saying that the MDG will create a new plan to phase out oil operations in Finnmark as well.

– The oil industry has no place in Norway, Finnmark or the Barents Sea, said Hermstad, who had to encourage the quiet hall to clap.

Wants a new EU match

On point after point, Hermstad attacked the government. He accused Finance Minister and Center Party leader Trygve Slagsvold Vedum of lacking common sense and that Labor Minister Tonje Brenna (Ap) did not want to touch on the issue of shorter working days and more free time for wage earners.

– Maybe working a little less and living a little more would have been an idea, asked Hermstad.

MDG takes a clear position on the question of Norwegian EU membership, and in the speech the city council representative Hermstad pointed out that half of all cases in a Norwegian municipal council are affected by the rules from the EU and the EEA agreement.

– But Støre, he can’t, doesn’t dare, doesn’t want to start an EU debate in Norway. He believes it is far too polarizing. But is it the case that a head of state should not address one of the most important challenges of our time because he thinks it is too polarizing, asked Hermstad.

2025: A natural choice

The degradation of Norwegian nature is a topic that has been high on the agenda in recent months. Arild Hermstad criticized both Vedum and Agriculture Minister Geir Pollestad (Sp) for underpinning the degradation of nature, and for removing the focus from what is important in the debate.

– The Center Party’s leadership dumbs down the debate, and they do it on purpose. Vedum and Sp should put away stupid derailments, said Hermstad.

The Green Party has mostly been below the threshold of 4 per cent on the average of national opinion polls about general elections, shows the overview on Poll of polls. Optimism about a return to a support solidly above this limit was noticeable in the national assembly hall at Fornebu during Hermstad’s speech on Friday.

– We will crush the barrier at the next general election, said Hermstad, who read a poem for the party members

– Dear national assembly, we are like migratory birds. We always come back, we create change, and together we can achieve the most incredible things. Of course we can save the world, said the party leader.