Former Norwegian prime minister Erna Solberg has described former minister Sylvi Listhaug as “difficult to collaborate with” in her autobiography Mitt liv som Erna, published earlier this year. In the book, Solberg says Listhaug would use political defeats to her advantage and that she had no faith that Listhaug could become prime minister. Solberg notes that she mentions Listhaug around 100 times in the book. “I had zero faith that she could become prime minister,” she writes. “I hope she chooses a different course because I am concerned about centre‑right cooperation.” Listhaug responded to the book’s claims in an interview with VG on Thursday. “I do not recognise the story that Erna tells about me,” she said. “I am very competent, but I do not agree with her portrayal.” Solberg said her motivation was to be honest about her experience, not to influence Listhaug’s future conduct. Commentators have called the book a character assassination, but Solberg maintains that she was simply describing how she felt working with Listhaug in the government. The former Høyre leader said she feared that other centre‑right parties might be sidelined if they felt the Progress Party (Frp) would push its agenda through because of its size. She added that Listhaug’s lack of willingness to develop joint positions in the cabinet caused internal challenges, especially toward the end of the coalition. Solberg also recalled that she sensed Frp was unhappy before the party left her government in January 2020, noting that it was mainly Siv Jensen who wanted to continue. She said she has two and a half years left as a member of parliament and asked whether she could influence Listhaug to adopt a different tone toward Høyre. “We sit in the same committee, so we will see,” she said. “Frp must decide for itself, but I hope she will eventually embrace centre‑right cooperation.” When asked for advice to the new Høyre leadership, Solberg said they should work with Frp but warned that cooperation would be demanding given that Frp is twice the size of Høyre. “There are almost three years until the election, and the balance of power will change,” she said. “Høyre should focus on its own political issues and alternatives, not be led by the last question.” She added that the party had used this approach successfully before and could do it again.
Article source: Verdens Gang | Image credit: Verdens Gang