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Norway's PM becomes taxi driver for a day to canvass opinion
Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg became a taxi driver to hear directly from voters in an unusual election stunt.
By Henry Austin, NBC News contributor
Norway’s prime minister went undercover as a taxi driver in an attempt to find out what the voters were really thinking.
Donning dark glasses, Jens Stoltenberg canvassed opinion as drove around Oslo in June, only confirming his identity when passengers realized who he was.
Hidden cameras fitted in the cab recorded reactions from the passengers, including one who remarked: "From this angle, he really looks like the prime minister."
The footage was published on Sunday by daily newspaper Verdens Gang (VG) and on the PM's Facebook and twitter pages.
"If there is one place where people say what they really mean about most things, it is in a taxi. Right from the gut," Stoltenberg told VG. “I loved talking to people and we kept driving for several hours. In fact I was quite sad when it was over.”
Reaction to the incognito Stoltenberg, who has led the country for eight years, was mixed. Many of his passengers were left shocked and bemused.
Norwegian Labour Party / Scanpix via AP
Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg went undercover as a taxi driver.
"So, you have begun driving a taxi," deadpanned one passenger after realizing who his chauffeur was. "Have you quit as prime minister?" another asked.
But the discussions soon turned to politics, with his customers raising a number of issues facing the country ahead of the September 9 general election -- which Stoltenberg's ruling leftist coalition appears likely to lose, according to a poll conducted for Norwegian TV station TV2.
An elderly woman who recognized the politician urged him to do something about "the salaries of bosses," complaining that "they should not make millions like that."
A student discussed education policy and another raised environmental issues.
Some of the passengers were handpicked, while others were randomly picked up off the street.
Nearly all were given a bumpy ride.
At one point the prime minister jolted the automatic car by pressing the brake, when he thought he was pressing the clutch.
"I am not really happy about the driving," said one passenger. "I guess I will live," another said. "Your driving is really bad," a third added.
Norwegian Labour Party / Scanpix via AP
"If there is one place where people say what they really mean about most things, it is in a taxi," Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said.
Stoltenberg later confessed he was not used to driving as he usually sits at the back of his chauffeured car.
The stunt was planned with the Try Advertising Agency.
Agency owner Kjetil Try said there had been some concerns from the police to begin with, but that everything had gone to plan in the end.
“There is no political advertising on TV in Norway,” he said. “So we had to come up with something that captured the imagination. The response has been very positive.”
He added that the video would be shown in cinemas across the country.
Stoltenberg said he was not ready for a career change.
“First, I will not lose the election,” he told VG. “I believe this country and its taxi passengers will be better off without me as a taxi driver.”
Reuters contributed to this report.
This story was originally published on Mon Aug 12, 2013 5:24 AM EDT
j.o.e wrote:Ask her to take a breathalyzer
j.o.e wrote:Ask her to take a breathalyzer
Mr. Red Sleeper wrote:Id ask her to take me into a desolate area and have her way with me.
Id promise her that i won t tell anyone.
greenlantern12 wrote:I would rob her cause that's she and other government official have been doing to the ppl of t&t
kurpal_v2 wrote:Ear gyul dai yew?
Econo on de leff wwgd?
Rainman wrote:I don't get into vehicles with drunk drivers.
VexXx Dogg wrote:I'll ask her how come the little people don't matter to them anymore.
javishm wrote:that will never happen she feel she too stush for that
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