By Bond Robertson 
– Oh! Now Ellie found something here – a grill cover, apparently.
When Dagbladet calls with the news, Carl I. Hagen is inside the Jysk store outside the Spanish vacation destination Torrevieja, with his wife, Ellie Hagen.
It is here – not in USK, but in Spain – that he wants to stay much into the future, he says.
– The same thing is happening today
– He can be re-elected
The man has been one of the leading figures in Norwegian high politics since the 1970s. He has been a parliamentary representative of the Progress Party continuously for 35 years, and has been leader of the party itself for more than 25 years.
On May 6, Hagen turned eighty, and on the same day he announced that he would not run for re-election to Parliament.
Throughout his time leading the party – from 1978 to 2006 – he owned a holiday home on Spain's east coast.
– Now I will be in Spain a lot in the future. “I'm training to become a full-time retiree,” he says with a laugh.
Favorite place: Carl I. Hagen has had a vacation home in Torrevieja since 1998. In 2003, he started municipal elections on Spanish air. The photo is from the same year. Photo: Heiko Jung/NTB
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– Do you think you can put your entire political career on the shelf forever?
The garden was silent for a few moments.
– no. I may not think I can do it completely, but I'm starting to do it. “I'm not sure if I'll ever miss myself again,” he said with a laugh.
He had previously faced harsh weather after choosing to be in Spain during the coronavirus pandemic.
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Even if the man tries to stay away from question hours, debates and committee meetings – and replace them with full-time sun, heat and the beach – he comes with a strong warning to party members.
– If the parliamentary group does not do a good enough job until 2028, I can guarantee that I will stand in the nomination process for re-election in the same year, Dagbladet informed, at the same time clarifying the matter. harsh Moments in politics:
– The only thing I struggle with is when the party's parliamentary group adopts something I don't completely agree with, and I still have to vote with them. It's a bit difficult.
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– Half a liter costs 40 Norwegian kroner
However, parliamentary and political life has been replaced by stable weather and good food – for the time being.
– how long … ?
– Now the lady is looking at me impatiently here. Wondering if I won't be finished soon, she is interrupted by Karl I. Hagen, who is after all on vacation—literally with his hands full.
– I am the one carrying the goods. Eli always finds something to shop for.
Couple: Carl I Hagen and Eli Hagen are one of the most famous Norwegian political couples. Now the 80-year-old says he wants to spend more time in the southern regions. Photo: Björn Langsem/Dagbladet
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The couple are also expecting to become grandparents, and will be traveling back and forth between the two countries throughout the summer.
In the meantime, they're staying active with a daily goal of 10,000 steps — admitting that yesterday only achieved just over 9,000 steps.
The harsh krone exchange rate resulted in “almost Norwegian prices,” as Hagen himself described it. However, there are still certain advantages.
– We don't go out much, but when we do, we can still enjoy a pint for NOK 40, says Karl I. Hagen.