Norway's Political Landscape Shifts: Red-Green Coalition Holds Majority

Norway's parliamentary election, held on Tuesday, has seen a significant shift in the political landscape. The Labour Party, led by Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, is projected to emerge as the strongest force, securing 28.1% of the votes. This marks a slight increase of 1.8% compared to the 2021 parliamentary election.

The preliminary final result of the election is expected to be announced during the night. The right-wing Progress Party, under the leadership of Siv Jensen, had the biggest gain in votes, with a plus of 12.6%, coming in second with 24.2% of the votes. The Conservatives, led by former Prime Minister Erna Solberg, came in third with an initial 14.5% of the votes, a loss of 5.8 percentage points compared to 2021. Approximately four million Norwegians participated in the election.

The parties of the red-green bloc, including Støre's Labour Party, are projected to have a narrow majority in parliament with 88 seats, out of a total of 169 seats in the Storting. However, the road to forming a government may not be smooth, as parts of the left-wing spectrum are deeply divided, especially over Norway's oil and gas exploitation policy.

Notably, the Green Party (Miljøpartiet De Grønne), the Socialist Left Party, and the Red Party have disagreements with Støre's position on continued fossil fuel extraction and may withhold support on such issues. Three parties from the red-green spectrum, potential supporters of a Støre government, oppose new oil and gas drilling, in contrast to Støre's party (Ap).

It is important to note that minority governments are not uncommon in Norway. A party or coalition in Norway does not need a parliamentary majority to govern, but they must not have a majority in parliament voting against them. Støre has been leading a minority government since 2021.

Norway's parliamentary composition has implications for Europe due to its close ties with the EU as a member of the European Economic Area (EEA). Norway has become one of Europe's most important energy suppliers since the Ukraine war. Oil and gas production are Norway's primary sources of income and largest contributors to its climate impact.

The election results will shape Norway's future policies, particularly in the areas of energy production, climate change mitigation, and its relationship with the EU. The formation of a new government is expected to be a key focus in the coming weeks.