Left-wing Labour Party retains power in Norway's election, as right-wing forces gain significant ground

Norway's Election Results: Labour Party Wins Second Term, Progress Party Achieves Best-Ever Result

Norway's political landscape has undergone a significant shift following the 2025 election, with the Labour Party, led by Jonas Gahr Stoere, securing a second term in government. However, the party's victory comes amidst a challenging parliamentary situation, necessitating support from five parties to govern.

The Labour Party, along with its four left-leaning allies, managed to secure 87 seats in the 169-seat parliament, surpassing the majority threshold. On the other hand, the populist right achieved its best-ever election result, with the Progress Party, led by Sylvi Listhaug, winning 48 seats.

The election was dominated by concerns over rising living costs and the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. Despite these challenges, Jonas Gahr Stoere's leadership in security matters, particularly Jens Stoltenberg's role in the Norwegian cabinet, reassured voters during tensions with Russia.

The upcoming parliamentary situation may involve contentious debates on taxes for the wealthy, oil exploration, and the sovereign wealth fund's investments in Israeli companies. These debates are expected to be particularly heated, given the Progress Party's platform primarily focused on fiscal policies and spending cuts.

Jonas Stein, an associate professor in political science at the University of Tromsoe, has stated that Stoere will face a more challenging parliamentary situation. However, Stoere remains optimistic, stating that the result showed social democracy's resilience in Europe.

Listhaug's message resonated with younger, more conservative voters, contributing to the Progress Party's strong showing. The party's platform, which primarily focused on fiscal policies and spending cuts, promised deep tax cuts and criticized government spending on foreign aid and green subsidies.

Despite the Progress Party's success, it did not impact Stoere's continuation as prime minister. Stoere will continue to lead the government, but will need the support of the small parties Rødt and Miljøpartiet De Grønne (MDG) alongside his Arbeiderpartiet to pass important legislative initiatives.

In conclusion, the 2025 election in Norway has resulted in a more complex parliamentary situation, with contentious debates expected on various key issues. However, the continued support for the Labour Party and the resilience of social democracy in Europe remain evident in the election results.