Norwegian Elections Result in Red-Green Coalition Majority

Norway's Parliamentary Election: A Red-Green Majority Likely

Norway's recent parliamentary election has seen a significant shift in political landscape, with the Labour Party (Ap) of incumbent Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre emerging as the strongest force. Preliminary results indicate that the Labour Party has received 28.1% of the votes, marking a slight increase from the 2021 parliamentary election.

The right-wing populist Progress Party, on the other hand, has seen the biggest increase in votes, with 24.2% according to initial results. This surge is a notable development in Norway's political scene.

The Conservatives (Høyre), 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.

A minority government is not uncommon in Norway, and the preliminary final result of the election is expected during the night. If the trends continue, a red-green majority in the Norwegian parliament appears likely.

Norway is a significant energy supplier to Europe, particularly since the Ukraine war. The Scandinavian country generates most of its income from oil and gas production, which also makes it one of its largest climate offenders. However, Støre's Labour Party is not against new oil and gas drilling, contrasting the positions of three parties from the red-green spectrum who are against it.

Among Støre's potential coalition partners who do not want new oil and gas drilling rights, only the Socialist Left Party (SV) was involved in the government after the 2021 election. The Red Party (Rødt) and the Green Party (MDG), which also oppose new drilling rights, were not part of the government coalition. The government formed after the 2021 election was a minority government led by the Labour Party, initially including the Centre Party until February 2025, with SV supporting cooperation but not officially in government at that time.

All parties of the red-green bloc had expressed their support for a government led by Social Democrat Støre during the campaign. If a red-green majority is confirmed, Jonas Gahr Støre has a chance of a second four-year term as Prime Minister of Norway.

The Norwegian election authority is responsible for the initial results of the election. Around four million Norwegians participated in the election, demonstrating the active engagement of the Norwegian electorate in the democratic process.

Norway is a member of the European Economic Area (EEA), and is closely connected to the EU. The outcome of this election will shape the country's future in terms of energy policy, climate action, and its relationship with the EU. The final results of the election are eagerly awaited, as they will provide a clearer picture of the direction Norway is headed.