Finance minister accuses Progress Party of contradictory stance on battery factory subsidies

Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg (Labour) has criticised the Progress Party (Frp) for simultaneously supporting and opposing state subsidies for battery factories, calling their position “unreal,” Dagbladet reports.

During a parliamentary question session on Wednesday, Frp’s Tom Staahle asked Stoltenberg whether the estimated 2.6 billion kroner in public funding for the now-bankrupt Morrow battery factory represented responsible use of taxpayer money.

Stoltenberg responded by highlighting the party’s shifting stance. “It’s fascinating to hear Frp one day strongly in favour of state support for battery factories, and the next day against it,” he said. He noted that Parliament had unanimously approved a major battery initiative in Norway, with state funding as a key measure.

“In this chamber, Frp has repeatedly criticised us for doing too little to support battery factories,” Stoltenberg said. “It’s completely unreal to see Frp both for and against the same thing at once—and equally outraged each time.”

The exchange came as Frp leader Sylvi Listhaug also questioned the government on Norway’s higher prices and interest rates compared to neighbouring Sweden. Stoltenberg countered that Norway’s stronger economy, lower unemployment, and higher standard of living outweighed price differences.

“Food may be cheaper in Sweden, but it’s even cheaper in Bulgaria or Chad,” he said. “That doesn’t mean they’re better off than Norwegians. You have to compare price levels with wage levels. Purchasing power is higher in Norway than in Sweden, where it has declined.”