The shoplifting incident involving Bjornar Moxnes, the leader of a left-wing party in Norway, has caused a significant stir in the country’s political landscape. The incident took place on June 16 at a duty-free store in Oslo, where CCTV cameras captured him stealing two pairs of Hugo Boss sunglasses.
Norway: Reds socialist party leader & Kremlin asset Bjørnar Moxnes stole Hugo Boss sunglasses at an airport store. He resigned as party leader but is trying to remain in the parliament. Moxnes is adamantly against military support for Ukraine and the European Union. pic.twitter.com/5ws4FTQTFM
— Igor Sushko (@igorsushko) July 26, 2023
The footage shows Bjornar Moxnes trying on the sunglasses and seeking his girlfriend’s opinion on the styles. However, within seconds, he discretely places the sunglasses in his pocket and exits the store without making any attempt to pay for them. Subsequently, on June 30, the police charged him with theft, stating that his actions were aimed at obtaining an unjustified gain for himself or others. He was subsequently fined 3,000 kroner (approximately ₹24,000) for stealing the sunglasses, which were valued at 1,199 kroner (nearly ₹10,000).
As news of the shoplifting incident went viral, Moxnes found himself facing immense public scrutiny and criticism. In response to the growing pressure, he took sick leave at the beginning of July, hoping to manage the fallout of the incident. However, the matter continued to gain attention, and on July 24, Moxnes decided to confront the issue head-on and admitted to the theft in a candid Facebook post.
In his post, he expressed deep regret for his actions and acknowledged the grave mistake he had made. He took responsibility for his behavior and stressed the importance of accountability for individuals in positions of power. Recognizing the significance of trust placed in political leaders by the public, he emphasized that they should be held to high standards and be open to scrutiny.
Following his admission, Moxnes tendered his resignation as the leader of Norway’s Red Party, a position he had held for an impressive 11 years. During his tenure as leader, the party achieved notable success, winning seven seats in Norway’s parliament during the 2021 elections.
The shoplifting incident involving Moxnes has not only attracted attention within Norway but has also drawn interest from international media outlets. As a prominent figure in the country’s political landscape, his actions have raised questions about the conduct and integrity of public officials. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of ethical conduct and transparency in politics and highlights the need for public figures to be held accountable for their actions.