Norwegians went to the polls in a two-day parliamentary election on Sunday and Monday, featuring a close contest between a left-wing bloc, led by the incumbent Labour Party, and a right-wing bloc, comprising the Progress Party and the Conservatives.
Nine political parties are anticipated to gain seats, with the prime minister being chosen from the leaders of the three major parties. The election campaign focused on cost of living, taxation, and public services, and its results could influence energy supplies to Europe and the management of Norway’s substantial sovereign wealth fund.
Geopolitical concerns have also been a significant factor for voters, potentially favoring Labour and Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere, who is perceived as a stable leader. Opinion polls suggest the left-wing bloc is projected to secure 88 seats, a slight decrease from 2021, while the right-wing bloc is expected to win 81 seats, with the margin between the blocs remaining narrow and within the margin of error.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre’s Labour party, currently polling around 27%, may need to form a broad “tutti frutti” coalition including the Communist party and Greens, potentially leading to demands for stricter oil and gas restrictions and higher taxes.
The return of Donald Trump and the war in Ukraine are sources of anxiety for Norway. On the right, the Conservatives under Erna Solberg advocate for public sector reform and scrapping the wealth tax, but the populist Progress Party, led by Sylvi Listhaug, is polling higher at around 21%. Disagreements over leadership within the right-wing camp create voter uncertainty.
