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Last reviewed: 17 December 2007

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POLITICS

Recent Political Developments

The Labour Party dominated Norwegian politics from the 1930s to the early 1980s. The 1980s and 90s were characterised by the alternation of power between Labour Governments (led by Gro Harlem Brundtland, Thorbjørn Jagland or Jens Stoltenberg) and Conservative or centre-right coalitions (Kåre Willoch, Kjell Magne Bondevik). Oil revenues started to flow into Government coffers, but governments on both left and right were destabilised by arguments over public spending, and over the EU.

A minority centre-right coalition of Kjell Magne Bondevik governed Norway from 2001 to October 2005. Following the general election on 12 September 2005 a majority centre-left "red-green" coalition made up of the Labour Party, Centre Party and Socialist Left was formed on 17 October, led by Labour Party leader Jens Stoltenberg. The policies of the new Government are more left-wing than those of their predecessors, with an emphasis on expenditure on social welfare, the environment and local government at home, and on disarmament, development aid and peace brokering abroad. The Centre Right opposition Progress and Conservative Parties polled strongly in municipal elections held in September 2007, but the Labour Party remains the most popular individual Party. The elections were notable for a fall in support for the Socialist Left Party, who received 6% of the vote.

The Norwegian Cabinet comprises:
Prime Minister: Jens Stoltenberg, Labour Party
Finance Minister: Kristin Halvorsen, Socialist Left Party
Foreign Minister: Jonas Gahr Støre, Labour Party
Labour & Social Affairs Minister: Bjarne Håkon Hanssen, Labour Party
Health Minister: Sylvia Brustad, Labour Party
Equality and Consumer Affairs Minister: Karita Bekkemellem, Labour Party
Trade and Industry Minister: Dag Terje Andersen, Labour Party
Justice and Police Minister: Knut Storberget, Labour Party
Fisheries & Coastal Affairs Minister: Helga Pedersen, Labour Party
Defence Minister: Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen, Labour Party
Culture and Church Minister: Trond Giske, Labour Party
Modernization / Renewal Minister: Heidi Grande Røys, Socialist Left Party
Education & Knowledge Minister: Øystein Djupedal, Socialist Left Party
Environment and International Development Minister: Erik Solheim, Socialist Left Party
Development (Foreign Aid) Minister: Erik Solheim, Socialist Left Party
Local Government and Regional Affairs Minister: Åslaug Haga, Center Party
Petroleum and Energy Minister: Åslaug Haga, Center Party
Agriculture & Food Minister: Terje Riis-Johansen, Center Party
Transport & Communications Minister: Liv Signe Navarsete, Center Party

Seat distribution following the 12 September 2005 general election is as follows (2001 results in brackets):

  • Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet - Ap) 61 (43)
  • Conservative Party (Høyre - H) 23 (38)
  • Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet - FrP) 38 (26)
  • Christian Democrats (Kristelig Folkeparti - KrF) 11 (22)
  • Socialist Left (Sosialistisk Venstreparti - SV) 15 (23)
  • Centre Party (Senterpartiet - Sp) 11 (10)
  • Liberals (Venstre - V) 10 (2)
  • Coastal Party (Kystpartiet - Kp) 0 (1)

General elections are fixed term every four years in Norway - the next will be in September 2009. There are 169 seats in the Norwegian parliament (the 'Storting').

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General Information

British-Norwegian Chamber of Commerce
c/o Postbooks 925 Sentrum
0104 Oslo
Tel: +47 22 41 85 50
Fax: +47 22 41 85 45
E-mail: mail@crestfielv.org

Anglo-Norse Society
c/o British Embassy (in Norway)
or
c/o Norwegian Embassy (in UK)

Scottish Norwegian Society
36 Randolph Road
Glasgow G11 7LG
Tel: 0141 334 2260
e-mail: grakar@bt.internet.com   

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