Norway’s Prime Minister on Monday called on political leaders to show restraint in their public speech as the country emerges from mourning the 77 victims of a bombing and youth camp massacre by an anti-Muslim extremist.
Jens Stoltenberg didn’t single out anyone but seemed to be referring to sometimes harsh discussions on immigration when he told Parliament that the July 22 attacks gave reason to reflect on “what we have thought, said and written.”
“We all have something to learn from the tragedy,” he told lawmakers at a ceremony honouring the victims. “We can all have a need to say ‘I was wrong,’ and be respected for it.”
That goes for politicians and newsroom editors, in everyday conversations and on the Internet, the Prime Minister said.
“Our promise is that we take with us the spirit of July 22 when political work resumes. We will behave with the same wisdom and respect as the Norwegian people,” Mr. Stoltenberg said.
Norway’s political parties have agreed to postpone campaigning for local elections in September until mid—August, as the nation mourns the eighth people killed in the Oslo bombing and the 69 victims of the shooting spree at an annual summer retreat held by the youth wing of the Prime Minister’s Labour Party.
Confessed killer Anders Behring Breivik says his attacks were an attempt at cultural revolution, aimed at purging Europe of Muslims and punishing politicians that have embraced multiculturalism.
