Norway’s Labour Party has secured a second term in power after Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and his allies swept a narrow parliamentary majority in Monday’s general election. With nearly all ballots counted, the prime minister’s party, along with its allies, won 87 of the 169 seats in the Storting, while the opposition claimed 82.
The victory followed an intense campaign that was shaped by economic concerns, debates regarding the country’s longstanding wealth tax, and scrutiny of Norway’s $2 trillion sovereign wealth fund. Støre informed the thrilled supporters in Oslo that the result showed it was still possible for Social Democratic parties to succeed.
The result also indicated a significant advance for the anti-immigration Progress Party, which achieved its best-ever showing in a national vote. Led by Sylvi Listhaug, the party doubled its share of the electorate to about 24 percent, overtaking the Conservatives, who slumped to third place. The party’s leader, Erna Solberg, acknowledged responsibility for her party’s disappointing result.
Støre has dealt with internal strife, cabinet scandals, and an attempted leadership challenge, and now he faces the challenge of governing with support from four smaller parties. The fragmentation of parliament is expected to make coalition negotiations lengthy, with final results and cabinet appointments pending before King Harald formally swears in a government.
The divisive wealth tax, which had prompted wealthy Norwegians to relocate abroad recently, proved central to the campaign. Labour has argued for retaining the levy, while the Conservatives sought reductions and the Progress Party called for its abolition.
Economic concerns appear to be crucial, as Norway has faced high inflation and rising interest rates since 2022; however, recent measures have offered some relief to households. Støre has credited the appointment of former NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg as finance minister earlier this year with stabilizing his leadership. Following Stoltenberg’s pivotal return, the Labour Party’s polling numbers sharply increased.
