Norway's Tight Election: Labour Faces Challenge from Right-Wing Bloc

Mon Oct 20 2025 02:58:33 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Norwegians head to polls for a closely contested election determining the future of the Labour government amid rising cost of living concerns and the impact of international events.

As Norway prepares for the polls, voters are faced with a crucial decision of whether to maintain the Labour government led by Jonas Gahr Støre or to pivot to the center-right bloc featuring Erna Solberg and Sylvi Listhaug. Key issues include the rising cost of living, wealth taxation, and international relations, particularly in the context of the war in Ukraine and the Gaza conflict. This election could redefine Norway's political landscape, depending on the outcomes and alliances formed in the Storting, Norway's parliament.

Norwegians go to the polls on Sunday and Monday in a tight race to decide whether to continue with a Labour-led government or turn to the centre-right.

There are only four million voters in this founding member of NATO, which shares an Arctic border with Russia and is part of the EU's single market but not a member state.

Despite its small population, Norway has long punched above its weight on the international stage, and the wars in Gaza and Ukraine - as well as US trade tariffs - have played a significant part in the election campaign.

Nevertheless, in the final stretch of the race, the focus has switched to the increasing cost of living and inequality.

Public spending, school and infrastructure, railway infrastructure and road construction, those kinds of things, says Andreas, who is father to a small child, about what he considers the key issues.

This domestic focus became clear during Norway's summer politics fest in the small town of Arendal, last month.

Every year, Norway's political class joins company bosses, unions and the public on the south-east coast for an array of panel talks and meetings. This time, it opened with a nationally televised election debate in which all the main political leaders took part.

Among them was Labour Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, 65, who is aiming for a second term in office after eight years of conservative rule ended in 2021.

He is defending his position against a bloc formed by two conservative parties: the right-wing populist Progress Party, led by Sylvi Listhaug, and the Høyre party, aiming to return to power under ex-Prime Minister Erna Solberg.

One of the hot-button issues of the campaign has been the future of a 1% wealth tax, which Norwegians pay if their assets exceed 1.76 million Norwegian krone (£130,000; $175,000). However, many wealthy Norwegians have recently migrated to Switzerland, citing high taxes as a reason.

Opinions about taxation have become increasingly polarized, with Sylvi Listhaug advocating for the abolition of this wealth tax, while Labour has promised a comprehensive evaluation of taxation under the leadership of former NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg.

As campaigning nears its end, the results await to see if Støre's Labour retains its grasp on power or if competing parties will disrupt the status quo.