Bjørnar Moxnes, the MP and head of the Norwegian Communist party, has stepped down as its leader after being caught red-handed stealing a pair of sunglasses from a shop.
Moxnes was trapped when videotape emerged of him taking Hugo Boss shades at an airport shop without paying for them, prompting the shamed politician to take sick leave.
“I made a big mistake and made it worse by the way I handled it afterwards,” Moxnes wrote on his Facebook page. “I am very sorry and want to apologise.
“Many have asked how I could do something so stupid. I have often asked myself this in recent weeks. I have not yet been able to give a full explanation. However, what I do know for sure is that I did something wrong and must face the consequences of that.”
The hard-left politician relinquished his position as leader of the opposition Rødt (Red) party, which he led for 11 years and which he helped develop to the point of it winning seven seats in Noway’s parliament in the 2021 elections. Moxnes hopes that with his resignation as party leader, its policies will regain centre stage and it won’t be further harmed by his behaviour.
The problems started when a security video showed Moxnes trying on sunglasses in the shop and asking his girlfriend’s opinion. He is then seen simply putting the shades in his luggage and walking out of the store without paying for them.
The sunglasses he took retailed at 1,199 Norwegian kroner, or just over €100. The police were given the security video and some pictures, together with the store’s notification of the theft. Moxnes accepted the charge and was subsequently fined 3,000 kroner, or almost €260.
After the security video was leaked and went viral on social media, he was forced to confess his crime to the public in a press conference and he apologised several times for his actions.
He claimed he was stepping down to spare his party further reputational damage. Unfortunately, many now regard him as something of a national laughingstock.
He has been on sick leave since the scandal broke.
Far left party leader in Norway, Bjørnar Moxnes, steps down because he stole a pair of sunglasses. Yes we are different in Norway 🇳🇴.
— Hanne🇳🇴🇸🇪🇩🇰🇫🇮🇮🇸🇺🇸🇺🇦 (@HanneHeggheim) July 24, 2023
