Norway has voted and with most votes now counted, Jonas Gahr Støre should be able to remain prime minister of Norway heading up a left-leaning coalition. Here's the latest news.
A big cheer rang out in the Labour Party gathering in Oslo as the early results were announced in Norway's 2025 parliamentary election. According to the numbers at present, the four centre and right-leaning parties would not have enough seats to command a majority.
That doesn't automatically mean a victory for Jonas Gahr Støre, however. To command a majority, he would have to do a deal with potentially all four parties that traditionally support a Labour-led government: Red, Socialist Left, Centre party, and the Green Party.
Given the differing demands from four parties with unique priorities, a Labour-led minority government appears a likely outcome. Norway has many political parties, and so coalition governments are the norm.
There's also the possible, albeit unlikely, outcome that the Centre Party or Green Party choose to support a right-leaning block. So, in summary: there are still many discussions and deals to be done once all votes are counted!
2025 Results So Far
With 91% of the vote counted, Labour top the result with a vote share of 28%. Sylvi Listhaug's Progress Party recorded their best ever result with 24.4%, while support for the Conservatives led by former prime minister Erna Solberg collapsed to just 14.5%.
There's also been an interesting battle around the 4% threshold for parliament's levelling seats, which help to ensure fairer representation in parliament. Parties that poll over 4% receive extra seats.
Both the Green Party (4.5%) and Christian Democrats (4.3%) seem likely to finish above the threshold, while the Liberal Party seem to have fallen short at 3.5%.
Advance Votes Counted First
Polls closed at 9pm today (Monday) but the initial results were released immediately. How's that possible? It's simple. The first results released were those ballots cast in the advance voting period, which have been counted during the day.
Usually this gives an indication of the result, but little more. However, this year's election saw record numbers of Norwegian citizens vote in the advance voting period. So, the initial results make up a much greater percentage of total votes than usual.
In theory, this means a greater likelihood of the early result being accurate. However, there are usually quite big differences between people that vote in advance and people who vote on the day.
For example, Centre party voters are known to favour voting on election day, whereas more Green Party voters typically vote in advance.
The Political Landscape
Norway’s parliamentary election in 2025 was one of the tightest contests in recent years. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre’s Labour Party went into the vote as the senior partner of the centre-left coalition, narrowly favoured in the polls to hold onto power.
But the opposition Conservative Party and the populist Progress Party hoped to capitalise on voter frustration over living costs and public spending.
Smaller parties, including the Socialist Left, Centre, Greens, and Liberals, were also seen as potential kingmakers in shaping the next government. With 169 seats in the Storting and 85 needed for a majority, coalition arithmetic was always going to be decisive.
Key Issues for Voters
The campaign was shaped less by personalities and more by a handful of pressing concerns that dominated public debate in the months leading up to election day.
Cost of Living
Rising prices were consistently cited as the number-one concern among voters. Inflation has squeezed household budgets across Norway despite the country’s robust economy and immense oil wealth.
Debates focused on how far the government should use oil revenues from the sovereign wealth fund to cushion citizens against these pressures.
Wealth Tax Debate
No single issue has dominated quite like the wealth tax. Labour and its allies argue that the tax—levied on net assets over a threshold—plays a crucial role in maintaining equality in one of the world’s most prosperous nations.
Conservatives and the Progress Party campaigned on cutting or abolishing it, claiming it drives entrepreneurs and capital out of Norway. The issue became a lightning rod for broader debates about fairness, opportunity, and Norway’s economic future.
Public Spending and the Sovereign Wealth Fund
The management of Norway’s sovereign wealth fund also came under scrutiny.
Critics on the right accused the government of mismanaging resources and overseeing costly public-sector projects plagued by overruns. Supporters countered that Norway’s model has safeguarded prosperity and provided stability in uncertain times.
Foreign Policy and Global Tensions
Though less central to voters than domestic economics, international issues shaped the campaign too. Støre’s background as a former foreign minister lent credibility in a turbulent global context marked by the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
Controversies over the sovereign fund’s investments, including holdings linked to Israel, became a point of heated discussion late in the campaign.
A Polarised Contest
Observers have described this election as one of the most polarised in modern Norwegian history. The Progress Party sharpened its populist rhetoric, drawing comparisons with movements elsewhere in Europe and the United States.
On the left, younger voters with immigrant backgrounds were energised by calls for stronger climate action and a firmer stance on Gaza. Record levels of advance voting added to the sense of anticipation.
How the Election Works
All 169 seats in the Storting were up for grabs. Norway uses proportional representation with both district and “leveling” seats designed to correct imbalances.
Parties need at least 4% of the national vote to qualify for leveling seats, although smaller parties can still win direct representation in their home constituencies.
