Promises a more coherent official line on immigration

Frp’s (The Progress Party) shadow minister for immigration, Per Willy Amundsen, categorically denies that the party is about to liberalize their stance on immigration, and promises that the party’s demand for a stricter national immigration policy will be a key issue in the lead up to the next general election in 2009.

Up until now the FRP has in their official party program proposed to limit the intake of asylum seekers to 1000 per year. However the FRP party committee, supported by deputy leader, Per Sandberg, have suggested discarding the proposal. They have also advocated scrapping a proposed ban on marriage between cousins.

FRP’s change of heart has been well received by Høyre (The Conservatives). The party’s shadow minister for immigration, Bent Høie, recently told NRK (Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation) that he’s pleased that FRP has finally decided to scrap these ‘unrealistic proposals’. He believes that FRP are starting to lean more towards Høyre on this issue.

Important issue

Per Willy Amundsen emphasizes that the proposals launched by the party committee are only proposals, and that it doesn’t involve a change in the official party line. He categorically denies that FRP has caved in to pressure from Høyre on this issue.

- Everybody who follows Norwegian politics closely, realise that Høyre has warmed to our policies, and not the other way around, Amundsen says.

He admits that it is vital for FRP to make their stance on this issue more obvious to the voters.

- This is a very important issue for us, and it is unfortunate if an impression has been created that we somehow have caved in to pressure from Høyre on this matter, he says.

He predicts that immigration will be a key issue at the next party convention which is going to be held next year, and he denies that there are conflicting views on this matter within the party.

Source: VG Nett