2025 Norwegian parliamentary election

Government formation

In the 2021 Norwegian parliamentary election, the Labour Party emerged victorious, defeating the Conservative Party of Erna Solberg. After the elections, Jonas Gahr Støre, the leader of the Labour Party, started talks about the formation of a new government with the Centre Party and Socialist Left Party.^[12] The Socialist Left Party backed down from negotiations due to disagreements over environmental and welfare policies.^[13] The Labour Party and the Centre Party then negotiated on forming a minority government,^[14] which was officialised in October 2021.^[15] Støre was sworn in as the prime minister of Norway on 14 October 2021.^[16] Throughout the existence of his cabinet, however, they relied on support from the Socialist Left Party.^[17]

Ministerial resignations

Since 2021, Støre's government saw changes due to resignations of several ministers. Hadia Tajik, the minister of labour and social inclusion, was the first to resign in March 2022 due to alleged tax fraud from 2006.^[18][19][20] She was succeeded as minister by Marte Mjøs Persen.^[21] A month later, Odd Roger Enoksen resigned as minister of defence after sexual harassment allegations.^[22] He was succeeded by Bjørn Arild Gram.^[23]

In June 2023, Nettavisen reported that minister Anette Trettebergstuen was involved in a cronyist case by appointing colleagues to the board of Norsk Tipping.^[24] Aftenposten also reported that she had also nominated a close colleague to the board of the Oslo Opera House.^[25] Trettebergstuen resigned as minister later that month and was succeeded by Lubna Jaffery.^[26] A month later, Ola Borten Moe resigned as minister,^[27] while Anniken Huitfeldt was dismissed in an October 2023 government reshuffle.^[28] In January 2024, the Sandra Borch and Ingvild Kjerkol plagiarism affair occurred, which led to the resignation of ministers Sandra Borch and Ingvild Kjerkol.^[29][30]

Collapse of governing coalition

In January 2025, the Centre Party left the governing coalition over disagreements with the Labour Party on energy policy relating to the European Union, resulting in the first one-party government in 25 years.^[31] Eight cabinet ministers from the Centre Party were replaced,^[32] including Centre Party leader and minister of finance Trygve Slagsvold Vedum, who was succeeded by former Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg.^[33]

Stoltenberg's return has been credited with the Labour Party's resurgence in the polls, dubbed the "Jens effect"^[34][35] or the "Stoltenberg effect".^[36][37] Within days of his return, nicknamed the "Stoltenback",^[38] the Labour Party had gained 10 points in the polls. The Centre Party's exit from government has also been credited,^[39] with journalist Berit Aalborg [no] arguing that it made the Labour Party more recognisable to its former voters.^[40]

Slogans

Debates

Voter demographics

Results by constituency

The following shows the vote share and seat count for each party and each bloc in the constituencies. The dagger symbol (†) next to one of the party seat counts in a constituency, indicates that one of the seats earned by the party was a levelling seat.

• 
  Percentage of Labour Party votes
• 
  Percentage of Progress Party votes
• 
  Percentage of Conservative Party votes
• 
  Percentage of Socialist Left Party votes
• 
  Percentage of Centre Party votes
• 
  Percentage of Red Party votes
• 
  Percentage of Green Party votes
• 
  Percentage of Christian Democratic Party votes
• 
  Percentage of Liberal Party votes

Labour Party

After the election, Prime Minister and Labour Party leader Jonas Gahr Støre described the outcome as "a difficult but successful victory". He noted that although right-wing parties have been rising across Europe, the result showed that social democratic forces still retain persuasive power and can secure majority public support amid challenges.^[99] Støre reiterated the Labour Party's core policy commitments, particularly maintaining the wealth tax system, while also indicating that future tax reform should be explored through cross-party cooperation and dedicated committees to build broader consensus. In addition, he stressed that Norway must maintain a balanced energy policy, continuing to serve as a reliable energy supplier for Europe while also meeting environmental and emission-reduction responsibilities.^[100]

Støre acknowledged that the Labour Party will continue to form a minority government, with its stability dependent on support from smaller left-wing parties. However, he prefers to avoid overly rigid formal agreements in order to maintain flexibility in decision-making.^[101] In addition, former Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg stated that the election result gave him "the motivation to continue serving as Minister of Finance".^[102]

Støre conducted a minor cabinet reshuffle on 16 September, where deputy leader Tonje Brenna was replaced by former party secretary Kjersti Stenseng as minister of labour and social inclusion and Stenseng was in turn replaced by former deputy leader Bjørnar Skjæran as minister of local government. Brenna became the party's parliamentary leader, a move described as her getting more parliamentary experience.^[103]

Progress Party

After the election, Progress Party leader Sylvi Listhaug emphasised that this was the most successful election in the party's history, describing the result as "extraordinary". Although the right-wing bloc did not regain power, she positioned the Progress Party as the core leading force of the opposition, pledging to serve as the main policy alternative.^[104] Listhaug also warned about the political direction of the next four years, arguing that under Labour leadership Norway would face a clear shift to the left, potentially creating difficulties for both citizens and businesses.^[105] In addition, she stated that the party's future strategy will focus on achieving a breakthrough in the 2027 local elections, with the ultimate goal of competing for government power in the 2029 parliamentary election, signaling a long-term ambition to govern.^[100]

Conservative Party

After the election results were announced, Conservative Party leader Erna Solberg admitted that the outcome was a setback for the party, stating bluntly: "The result should have been better, but we did not achieve it."^[106] Although Solberg did not immediately resign, she admitted that the party needed to review its campaign strategy, communication methods, and policy promotion in order to respond to voter concerns about the Conservatives' role. She stated that her resignation "will come at some point". Subsequently, several senior figures within the party expressed that they wanted a new leader.^{[107][108][109]} On 12 September, Solberg announced that she would step down as party leader, stating that she would remain in charge until the next national congress.^[110]

Socialist Left Party

Socialist Left Party leader Kirsti Bergstø stated after the election that the party had become Norway's fourth largest party and the second largest force within the red-green bloc. She emphasised that the result prevented a right-wing government led by Listhaug and the Progress Party, and called on the red-green parties to take collective responsibility by placing "the needs of ordinary people" at the core of politics.^[111] Bergstø also met with Prime Minister Støre after the election, during which the two held a constructive dialogue about possible directions for future red-green cooperation. She expressed gratitude to voters and volunteers, and reiterated that the Socialist Left Party would actively promote reducing inequality, a fair climate transition, and a dignified Norwegian foreign policy.^[112]

Centre Party

Centre Party leader Trygve Slagsvold Vedum made it clear after the election that he would not resign despite the party's reduced number of seats, stressing that he would continue to lead the party. Although the Centre Party emerged smaller in parliament, Vedum argued that it still held pivotal votes and could play the role of a "decisive minority" in the legislature.^[113][114] Vedum stated that "we must make good use of the power we now have", demonstrating his determination to push forward policies related to rural areas, energy, and sovereignty.^[115][116] After the election, he also met with Prime Minister Støre for talks on future cooperation.^[117]

Red Party

Red Party leader Marie Sneve Martinussen stressed after the election that the party's results symbolized "our continued writing of history". She noted that since entering parliament for the first time in the 2017 Norwegian parliamentary election and surpassing the threshold in 2021, the party has steadily grown and has now become "an important force for change rather than a fleeting phenomenon". Martinussen also made clear that the Red Party was willing to cooperate with other left-wing parties, directly naming the Labour Party, Socialist Left Party, Centre Party, and Green Party. She underlined the need to work together to reduce inequality, strengthen welfare, and safeguard democracy. In addition, she specifically called for Norway to "do more for Palestine".^[118]

Martinussen criticised the right-wing campaign led by Progress Party leader Listhaug, declaring that the Red Party would work actively to counter that agenda. She emphasised that the party would not stand passively by but would take part in negotiations, combining principle with pragmatism to push for real social reforms. She urged more people to join the Red Party and social movements, stressing that "the election is only the beginning of a new phase".^[119]

Green Party

After the election, Green Party leader Arild Hermstad described the outcome as a "historic victory for the Green Party", successfully surpassing the threshold and winning seven seats in parliament, marking the best result in the party's history. He emphasized that the Greens would wield greater influence in the new parliament, prioritizing climate policy, social justice, and the issue of Palestine.^{[120][AI-retrieved source]}

Hermstad stated that the Green Party is calling for a gradual phaseout of the oil industry, to be completed no later than 2040, alongside an immediate halt to new oil and gas exploration. He pointed out that the Statfjord, Brage, and Draugen oil fields should be prioritized for closure.^{[121][AI-retrieved source]} While the Greens are willing to play a key supporting role in a left-wing government, he stressed that their core principles will not be compromised. Hermstad also highlighted that the party’s strong performance in urban areas such as Oslo demonstrates its growing influence among city voters.^{[122][AI-retrieved source]}

Liberal Party

The Liberal Party failed to clear the 4% threshold for levelling seats, being reduced to just three MPs. Guri Melby and deputy leader Abid Raja blamed the result on Listhaug's candidacy for Prime Minister and her behavior during the campaign.^[123] Melby noted that although the party faced "headwinds and resistance" during the campaign, it nevertheless presented strong policy positions, particularly on issues such as climate action, support for Ukraine, and drug policy reform, where the Liberal Party would not back down.^{[124][AI-retrieved source]}

International reactions

• Estonia: Prime Minister Kristen Michal congratulated Støre on his re-election.^[125]
• Spain: Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez congratulated Støre on his re-election.^[126]
• Ukraine: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated Støre on his re-election.^[127]