NORWAY: CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATS DOUBT SINCERITY OF LABOR INVITATION.(Budget negaotiations)

IPR Strategic Business Information Database, November, 2002

Christian Democratic Party chairman Valgerd Svarstad Haugland has asked Labor's Jens Stoltenberg to drop the rhetoric so that they can reach an agreement on next year's national budget. At the same time, she underlined her view that Labor had distanced itself from the Christian Democrats in recent weeks.

Both Ms Svarstad Haugland and Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik are waiting to see how the Labor Party's annual conference will affect its willingness to negotiate. "We hope that Mr. Stoltenberg will receive the support from the annual conference that he needs to pursue a responsible line," said Mr. Bondevik. The coalition parties will probably ask for "exploratory" discussions with the Labor Party on Monday in an effort to find out if there is the basis for a...

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