Skip to main content

Norway’s prime minister just got busted playing ‘Pokémon Go’ during a debate

norway pm pokemon go onphone head
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Apparently more concerned with catching ’em all than running the country, the prime minister of Norway was recently caught playing Pokémon Go during a debate in parliament (below).

While many of you may have already forgotten about the hugely successful smartphone game that dominated people’s lives over the summer, some people, like Norwegian leader Erna Solberg, clearly aren’t done catching all the creatures.

But perhaps we shouldn’t be too surprised about Solberg’s questionable antics. After all, she recently revealed her love for the game when she took time out between political meetings in Slovakia, walking several miles in search of the game’s monsters.

“The 55-year-old conservative leader [said] that while she was also hunting for Pokémon monsters, she was mainly trying to hatch eggs to get her hands on the rarest Pokémons, which requires some players to walk as much as 10 kilometers,” a Norwegian news outlet reported at the time.

And it’s not just the prime minister

It seems Norway’s politicians have a real soft spot Pokémon Go. In August, Liberal Party leader Trine Skei Grande was criticized for playing it during a defense committee hearing.

Funnily enough, it was Grande who was speaking earlier this week when Solberg decided to whip out her phone for a quick Go session.

Grande later tweeted: “She heard what I said, we ladies can do two things at the same time you know.” In response, the prime minister told Norway’s TV2, “I think that Trine will like that I opened the game while she was at the pulpit.”

Not everyone was so relaxed about the incident, with some of her opponents describing her behavior as “disrespectful” to parliament.

Clearly not afraid to share details of her game-playing exploits with her electorate, Solberg informed reporters back in 2014 that she’d passed level 300 in the hit game that was Candy Crush Saga.

“It’s relaxing to play Candy Crush and other relatively uncomplicated games,” she said at the time. “In a hectic election campaign there will not be much time for it, but sometimes I take the iPad with me on a plane or in the back seat of the car.” Or, judging by this week’s shenanigans, into parliament.

Editors' Recommendations

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
Pokémon: Let’s Go beginner’s guide
pokemon lets go beginners guide let s

Choosing between Eevee and Pikachu can be hard, but deciding to play Pokémon: Let's Go is easy. The game brings you back to Kanto, where the first three Pokémon games began. The setting will be familiar to anyone who played Pokémon Yellow, and the catching sequence will be familiar to fans of Pokémon GO.

Pokémon: Let's Go brings together the mainline game and the mobile, creating its own identity somewhere in the middle. The game wants you to pay attention by providing an adorable setting for different catch sequences, leveling up animations, and in general making your way around Kanto. For trainers just starting their adventure, we have a few tips and tricks to help you become the Pokémon League Champion.

Read more
How to get coins in Pokémon GO

As part of a free-to-play title, the digital currency known as PokéCoins make the Pokémon GO world spin. PokéCoins are used to buy additional Pokéballs, draw Pokémon to your location, and even change your character’s appearance. From buying them with real money, to grinding them for free, we’re going to show you how to get coins in Pokémon GO.

Recommended reading: 

Read more
The best Pokémon Go tips and tricks
razer go pokemon chat app pokemongo header

Pokémon Go became a cultural phenomenon in 2016 by giving everyone the chance to "catch 'em all." In augmented reality (AR), you wander around your city and neighborhood to find and catch as many virtual pocket monsters as possible.

Despite how simple the game mechanics seem, there are still ways to play the game well, and developer Niantic has introduced a lot of new features since the game's launch four years ago. Whether you have yet to begin amassing your collection or you are well on your way to filling out your Pokédex, this article will break down all the game's nuances and various ways to play.

Read more