Sylvi Listhaug, who was poised to lose confidence vote over terrorism comment, complains of ‘witch-hunt’

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

The Norwegian justice minister, Sylvi Listhaug, has resigned to avert a collapse of the country’s minority government after she caused uproar with comments accusing the opposition of being too lenient on terrorism suspects. On questions about how the Ministry of Justice’s departure will be received by the Conservatives (Høyre) Government partner the Progress Party, he answers the following:

– She has had all alternatives available to her and when she chooses this out of her own free will, I will believe that it is accepted by the Progress Party

Listhaug: Støre is not suitable to be Norwegian Prime Minister

Sylvi Listhaug went to frontal attack against Labour leader Jonas Gahr Støre during Tuesday’s press conference. Listhaug, of the Progress party, provoked outrage this month when she accused the opposition Labour party of putting “terrorists’ rights” before national security, a particularly sensitive topic for Labour which was in power in 2011 when the far-right militant Anders Behring Breivik carried out a mass shooting. Labour members were the main victims of the deadliest attacks on Norwegian soil since the Second World War when, on July 22nd, 2011, Breivik, who once was a member of the Progress Party, killed 77 people in twin attacks: one targeting then Labour prime minister Jens Stoltenberg's office in Oslo and another against a Labour youth camp on the island of Utøya. Listhaug confirmed that she will continue as an MP and “concentrate one hundred percent on promoting Progress’ politics with my excellent parliamentary colleagues.”

Listhaug’s decision comes after the Christian Democrats on Monday refused to back her over the controversial Facebook post. “Then I think it’s my responsibility to act adult.”

Listhaug also compared the outcry over her comments to a “witch hunt.”

Listhaug apologized for her comments in parliament last week. But the Christian Democratic party, also currently in opposition, said on Monday it would join five other parties in backing the no-confidence motion against Listhaug, making it likely she would be forced out. Prime Minister Erna Solberg earlier said that if there was a majority against Listhaug, she would call a vote of confidence (kabinettsspørsmål in Norwegian) in the entire government, potentially resulting in new elections or either Solberg or Jonas Gahr Støre, the head of the opposition, being asked to form a new government.
Norwegian justice minister Sylvi Listhaug resigns amid controversy over remarks on human rights and national security.