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Venstre is Norways liberal party.
Our policy combines personal freedom with responsibility for the community, the environment and for each other. For the upcoming election our emphasis is on four main areas: Education, environment, creating values and welfare.
For a liberal party, people are more important than systems. Laws, rules and services must be adapted to peoples actual needs. Everyone must have the opportunity to use their abilities for the benefit of themselves and society. Therefore Venstre put people first.
Focus on knowledge
The most important thing for a good school is good teachers. Then we will get a school that focuses on knowledge and gives equal opportunities to all children.
Today there are 9 000 unqualified teachers in Norwegian primary schools. It will take more than 30 years before all teachers receive further education. This is not good enough. Venstre will focus on teachers and knowledge.
Pupils have to be seen and encouraged, and receive education that is tailored to their needs. Therefore Venstre will make an effort get more, better and more motivated teachers. Venstre will ensure that all teachers have the opportunity to have further education and ensure that teachers have more time to teach. Research and higher education gives us the knowledge that secures the environment, employment and welfare. Because of this, an investment in knowledge is a first priority for Venstre.
Venstre wants:
all teachers to have a right and a duty to get further education.
to introduce five year teacher training and to increase admission requirements.
to ensure that teachers spend their time on pupils rather than bureaucracy.
to improve the public health and the school nurse services. We want 1,000 more school nurses over the next four years.
to increase spending on Norwegian research activities to 3 percent of GDP by 2020.
to increase funding for universities, colleges and research institutes.
to implement 11 month financial support for students and build 2000 new student residences annually.
to offer childcare to all one year olds, through two annual admissions
to prioritise more adults per child in day care.
Make green choices
Venstre will take Norway into a new and green direction. We will focus on public transportation and new technologies. Lofoten, Vesterålen and Senja must be protected.
The train between Oslo and Bergen take more time today than it did in 1975. Norway’s emission of CO2 is at a record high. The environment deserves better. Venstre prioritise good environmental and climate solutions.
The worlds consumption of fossil fuels is changing the climate on Earth. Norway has a responsibility to cut emissions and to develop new, environmentally friendly energy solutions. We need to preserve the nature, the environment and our resources to ensure a clean future. Green infrastructure is critical to solving climate problems. Travelling by public transport must be both financially worthwhile and effective. This is why Venstre wants public transport to be better, cheaper and have more frequent departures.
Venstre wants:
to say no to oil drilling in the sea outside Lofoten, Vesterålen and other vulnerable areas
introduce a green tax system and give tax deduction for environmental initiatives in homes and tax exemption for monthly tickets for public transportation, paid by employers
have a strong commitment to renewable energy
maintain biodiversity by safeguarding vulnerable nature
build InterCity with double tracks to Halden, Skien and Lillehammer within 2025 and upgrade the railways between the biggest cities.
invest a greater part of the Pension Fund in climate-friendly projects
cut Norways emission by 40 percent within 2020
build more bike lanes in cities and towns
Create values
Venstre want a modern industrial policy. We want to cater for an industry that creates new values and a green growth.
International reports show that Norway scores unnecessarily low on innovation, and entrepreneurship. We are going in the wrong direction.
We must support the businesses and workplaces that have not yet been created. Venstre want to make it easier to start and run a business. We want to establish good conditions for all businesses, with a special focus on the smaller businesses, entrepreneurs and self-employed.
Venstre wants:
Change the tax system so that it becomes more profitable to engage in, invest in and own Norwegian jobs and businesses.
Invest more in industrial research and knowledge development in companies.
Introduce a minimum deduction for all self-employed citizens, and ensure better social rights.
Strengthen programs that increase access to risk capital for entrepreneurs and new businesses.
Cut corporate reporting requirements and bureaucracy by 25 per cent.
Reorganise Innovasjon Norge so we get more innovation, regardless of where in the country it happens.
Follow the limit of public expenditure (handlingsregelen) and lead financial responsible policies that ensure Norwegian businesses have predictably good conditions.
Show warmth
Most people are doing well in Norway. However we believe that a welfare society should be measured by how we look after the less fortunate among us. Venstre will take action to reduce the number of poor children.
Today, more than 70 000 children live in poverty. In Norway it is no longer important to give more to every one of us, but to help those who really need it.
If we are going to help children out of poverty, we need to increase child benefit and reduce kindergarten and SFO prices. We must prevent drug addiction and mental health problems. There are too many stories about people who do not receive necessary health care. Therefore, we must improve the services in psychiatry, substance abuse, elderly care and child protection. Venstre will have good public health services with such good quality that theres no class division in the services provided.
Venstre wants:
to help poor families by increasing child benefit and reduce the payment in kindergartens and SFO.
to increase social assistance rates and strengthen arrangements that help disadvantaged people into employment.
to strengthen health services for substance abuse and mental health.
to increase the expertise and resources of municipal child welfare.
to set maximum limits for waiting times of illness, and give a guarantee that they will be followed up.
to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy in health care services.
to safeguard the important role of local hospitals and ensure contingency in the country.
to let the child’s interests be decisive in cases where asylum children have lived in Norway.
Blue-green government
Norway needs a new government.
We must have more knowledge in school, a more proactive climate policy, a more innovative industry and a targeted effort to reduce the number of children living in poverty in Norway.
We want a blue-green coalition compromising Venstre (Liberals), Høyre (Conservatives) and KrF (Christian Democrats). A new majority must give a new government.
But there is a big difference between a blue-green government and a dark blue. Your vote can determine which direction a new government will take to school, environment, wealth creation and welfare. If you want both a change of government and a better environmental policy – a big Venstre is crucial.
The candidates 2013
Read more about Venstres parliamentary candidates here.
We need you on the team!
Become a member! Venstres membership has increased 10 years in a row. Continue the trend by becoming a member at www.venstre.no/innmelding/
Would you like to make a financial contribution? We need your support. Donate online: www.venstre.no/donasjon
We need you as a volunteer. Sign up as a volunteer at www.venstre.no/skjema/frivillig
Are you on Facebook? Share articles from Venstre with your friends. Follow Venstre on Facebook (www.facebook.com/www.venstre.no)
Follow @venstre and @trinesg on Twitter
Visit www.venstre.no! Get to know Venstres position on different issues.
Participate at liberal.no! Liberal.no is Venstres discussion forum. Participate and meet politicans, members and potential Venstre voters.
Venstre has had membership growth for 10 years in a row.
The party that puts people first
Venstre is Norways oldest political party. Throughout our history we have shown that we put people first. We have always fought for social cohesion through a strong public school and through targeted measures for the most vulnerable among us. Venstres history is also the history of reform, for public schools, equal opportunities, social security, children’s and workers’ rights, social cohesion, a cleaner environment and democracy.
We are always fighting for a society in which everyone can participate. We hope you will join our team.
Give us your vote on the 9th of September.
Venstre prioritize education, environment, wealth creation and welfare.
A new majority with a strong Venstre will give Norway a new government. We favour the choice of a blue-green coalition with Venstre, Høyre and KrF.
Your voice is crucial for a change of government, and the issues the new government prioritises.