OSLO (CU)_Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg has been fined by the country’s national civilian police on Friday (9 April) for violating COVID-19 restrictions in the country by organising a family gathering for her birthday in late February. According to police chief Ole Saeverud, the PM was fined 20,000 Norwegian kroner ($2,354) for organising the event which was attended by 13 family members at a mountain resort, despite government restrictions having limited public gatherings to 10 people.
Although PM Solberg, apologised for the violations last month, however, she has been in the forefront of the government’s efforts to impose restrictions and contain the spread of the virus. Therefore, it was deemed appropriate to issue a fine.
“Even if the law is the same for everyone, not everyone is equal,” Commissioner Sæverud told a press conference. “Ms Solberg is the country’s most important elected representative and has, on several occasions, been the leading figure in the government’s decisions on measures to curb the pandemic.”
“It is therefore considered justified to give a sanction to maintain public confidence in the health rules,” he added.
Investigations have found that another meal was also organised the following day for 14 family members at the Prime Minister’s rented flat, but there were no local regulations governing at the time.
A few weeks ago, PM Solberg posted a lengthy apology on Facebook, acknowledging the citizens who were disappointed with her actions.
“For over a year I have asked every single one of you to follow rules and recommendations on infection protection,” she said. “It rests a particularly great responsibility for me as Prime Minister to follow the rules and recommendations to the point, but now I’m the one who’s done wrong.”
“I’m very sorry. I think this is embarrassing, but I’m primarily sad because I know I have to lead as a particularly good example,” she added.
The police said that the Prime Minister’s husband, Sindre Finnes, as well as the restaurant where the celebration took place, were found to have been in violation of the restrictions, although neither of them were fined.
The popular centre-right leader has been widely praised for her handling of the pandemic, as Norway reported some of Europe’s lowest rates of infections and deaths. However, the country saw a surge in cases in the first quarter of this year, particularly owing to new and more contagious variants of the virus, which forced the government to tighten local regulations last month.
