Red-Green Coalition (Norway)
Encyclopedia
The Red-Green Coalition is a centre-left
coalition of Norwegian
parties
, formed by the Labour (Ap), the Socialist Left Party
(SV), and the Centre Party
. Unlike many other Red-Green coalitions, the "Green" here is the colour of a centrist party rather than an actual Green party
. It was established in 2005 to constitute an alternative to the centre-right government of Kjell Magne Bondevik
, and won the Norwegian parliamentary election, 2005
. The 2009 election
gave the coalition a renewed majority.
The coalition fared well in the 2005 parliamentary elections
, winning a slight majority
of seats, and a majority government among the parties was agreed upon, the first majority government in Norway since 1985. It replaced the Bondevik government on October 17, 2005. However, the three parties taking part in the coalition have different views on several important issues http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1113909.ece, and there were tough negotiations at Soria Moria in Oslo to put their differences aside in order to reach a common platform.
The victory was a historical landmark for a number of reasons. The Labour Party had never been a member of a coalition government
, except for a short interim at the end of World War II
. The Socialist Left Party had never participated in any government, and historically had been unwilling to co-operate with Labour. In addition, the Centre Party is co-operating with the centre-left of Norwegian politics for the first time, having previously formed governments with both the Conservatives
and the Christian Democratic Party on several occasions.
A good relationship between the leader of Labour, Jens Stoltenberg
, and of the Socialist Left, Kristin Halvorsen
, has been a major factor in forming the alliance. Halvorsen is considered more pragmatic
and moderate than some of her old-guard comrades; the Socialist People's Party
, one of SV's predecessors, was established in the early 1960s as an ideological opponent to Labour's foreign policy, and it was the main opponent to NATO membership. After the September 2005 election
, some old members have criticised Halvorsen for being too benign towards Labour.
Opponents of the Red-Green Coalition sometimes refer to this coalition by other names. The Norwegian centre-right
, comprising Conservatives
, Christian Democrats, Liberal Party and Progress party
usually call it a socialist coalition, even though only one of the involved coalition partners (SV) describes itself as socialist
. The Red Electoral Alliance
feels that "red" is not a descriptive colour for this coalition and therefore uses "pale red". Similarly, The Green Party and the Liberals
(Venstre) claim that these three parties do not deserve the green colour.
The 2009 parliamentary elections
resulted in a renewed majority for the Red-Green coalition, with 86 seats out of 169. The Socialist Left Party lost four seats in parliament, while the Labour Party gained three, and this is expected to cause some shift in the government's composition. The successful reelection of a sitting government has been a rare event in Norway, and has not happened since 1993.
Centre-left
Centre-left is a political term that describes individuals, political parties or organisations such as think tanks whose ideology lies between the centre and the left on the left-right spectrum...
coalition of Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
parties
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
, formed by the Labour (Ap), the Socialist Left Party
Socialist Left Party (Norway)
The Socialist Left Party or SV, is a Norwegian left-wing political party. At one point one of the smallest parties in Parliament, it became the fourth-largest political party in Norway for the first time in the 2001 parliamentary election, and has been so ever since...
(SV), and the Centre Party
Centre Party (Norway)
The Centre Party is a centrist and agrarian political party in Norway, founded in 1920. The Centre Party's policy is not based on any of the major ideologies of the 19th and 20th century, but has a focus on maintaining decentralised economic development and political decision-making.From its...
. Unlike many other Red-Green coalitions, the "Green" here is the colour of a centrist party rather than an actual Green party
Green politics
Green politics is a political ideology that aims for the creation of an ecologically sustainable society rooted in environmentalism, social liberalism, and grassroots democracy...
. It was established in 2005 to constitute an alternative to the centre-right government of Kjell Magne Bondevik
Kjell Magne Bondevik
Kjell Magne Bondevik is a Norwegian Lutheran minister and politician . He served as Prime Minister of Norway from 1997 to 2000, and from 2001 to 2005, making him Norway's longest serving non-Labour Party Prime Minister since World War II...
, and won the Norwegian parliamentary election, 2005
Norwegian parliamentary election, 2005
Parliamentary elections were held in Norway on 12 September 2005. More than 3.4 million Norwegians were eligible for vote for the Storting, the parliament of Norway. The new Storting has 169 members, an increase of four over the 2001 election....
. The 2009 election
Norwegian parliamentary election, 2009
The 2009 parliamentary election was held in Norway on 14 September 2009. Elections in Norway are held on a Monday in September, usually the second or third Monday, as determined by the king. Early voting was possible between 10 August and 11 September 2009, while some municipalities held open...
gave the coalition a renewed majority.
The coalition fared well in the 2005 parliamentary elections
Norwegian parliamentary election, 2005
Parliamentary elections were held in Norway on 12 September 2005. More than 3.4 million Norwegians were eligible for vote for the Storting, the parliament of Norway. The new Storting has 169 members, an increase of four over the 2001 election....
, winning a slight majority
Majority
A majority is a subset of a group consisting of more than half of its members. This can be compared to a plurality, which is a subset larger than any other subset; i.e. a plurality is not necessarily a majority as the largest subset may consist of less than half the group's population...
of seats, and a majority government among the parties was agreed upon, the first majority government in Norway since 1985. It replaced the Bondevik government on October 17, 2005. However, the three parties taking part in the coalition have different views on several important issues http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1113909.ece, and there were tough negotiations at Soria Moria in Oslo to put their differences aside in order to reach a common platform.
The victory was a historical landmark for a number of reasons. The Labour Party had never been a member of a coalition government
Coalition government
A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament...
, except for a short interim at the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The Socialist Left Party had never participated in any government, and historically had been unwilling to co-operate with Labour. In addition, the Centre Party is co-operating with the centre-left of Norwegian politics for the first time, having previously formed governments with both the Conservatives
Conservative Party of Norway
The Conservative Party is a Norwegian political party. The current leader is Erna Solberg. The party was since the 1920s consistently the second largest party in Norway, but has been surpassed by the growth of the Progress Party in the late 1990s and 2000s...
and the Christian Democratic Party on several occasions.
A good relationship between the leader of Labour, Jens Stoltenberg
Jens Stoltenberg
is a Norwegian politician, leader of the Norwegian Labour Party and the current Prime Minister of Norway. Having assumed office on 17 October 2005, Stoltenberg previously served as Prime Minister from 2000 to 2001....
, and of the Socialist Left, Kristin Halvorsen
Kristin Halvorsen
Kristin Halvorsen is a Norwegian socialist politician and was the Minister of Finance from 17 October 2005 until 20 October 2009. She is now the Minister of Education in Stoltenberg's second cabinet....
, has been a major factor in forming the alliance. Halvorsen is considered more pragmatic
Pragmatism
Pragmatism is a philosophical tradition centered on the linking of practice and theory. It describes a process where theory is extracted from practice, and applied back to practice to form what is called intelligent practice...
and moderate than some of her old-guard comrades; the Socialist People's Party
Socialist People's Party (Norway)
Socialist People's Party was a splinter group of the Norwegian Labour Party . SF was principally dissatisfied with the pro-NATO/European Economic Community external policies of DNA. A group centered around the magazine Orientering had been expelled from DNA...
, one of SV's predecessors, was established in the early 1960s as an ideological opponent to Labour's foreign policy, and it was the main opponent to NATO membership. After the September 2005 election
Norwegian parliamentary election, 2005
Parliamentary elections were held in Norway on 12 September 2005. More than 3.4 million Norwegians were eligible for vote for the Storting, the parliament of Norway. The new Storting has 169 members, an increase of four over the 2001 election....
, some old members have criticised Halvorsen for being too benign towards Labour.
Opponents of the Red-Green Coalition sometimes refer to this coalition by other names. The Norwegian centre-right
Centre-right
The centre-right or center-right is a political term commonly used to describe or denote individuals, political parties, or organizations whose views stretch from the centre to the right on the left-right spectrum, excluding far right stances. Centre-right can also describe a coalition of centrist...
, comprising Conservatives
Conservative Party of Norway
The Conservative Party is a Norwegian political party. The current leader is Erna Solberg. The party was since the 1920s consistently the second largest party in Norway, but has been surpassed by the growth of the Progress Party in the late 1990s and 2000s...
, Christian Democrats, Liberal Party and Progress party
Progress Party (Norway)
The Progress Party is a political party in Norway which identifies as conservative liberal and libertarian. The media has described it as conservative and right-wing populist...
usually call it a socialist coalition, even though only one of the involved coalition partners (SV) describes itself as socialist
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
. The Red Electoral Alliance
Red Electoral Alliance
Red Electoral Alliance was an alliance of left-wing groups formed into a Norwegian political party to promote revolutionary far-left ideals into the Norwegian parliament...
feels that "red" is not a descriptive colour for this coalition and therefore uses "pale red". Similarly, The Green Party and the Liberals
Venstre (Norway)
The Liberal Party is a centrist liberal political party in Norway. The party is the oldest in the country, and has enacted reforms such as parliamentarism, freedom of religion, universal suffrage and free education. Since 2010, the leader of the party is Trine Skei Grande...
(Venstre) claim that these three parties do not deserve the green colour.
The 2009 parliamentary elections
Norwegian parliamentary election, 2009
The 2009 parliamentary election was held in Norway on 14 September 2009. Elections in Norway are held on a Monday in September, usually the second or third Monday, as determined by the king. Early voting was possible between 10 August and 11 September 2009, while some municipalities held open...
resulted in a renewed majority for the Red-Green coalition, with 86 seats out of 169. The Socialist Left Party lost four seats in parliament, while the Labour Party gained three, and this is expected to cause some shift in the government's composition. The successful reelection of a sitting government has been a rare event in Norway, and has not happened since 1993.
The Coalition Cabinet
- Prime MinisterPrime ministerA prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
: Jens StoltenbergJens Stoltenbergis a Norwegian politician, leader of the Norwegian Labour Party and the current Prime Minister of Norway. Having assumed office on 17 October 2005, Stoltenberg previously served as Prime Minister from 2000 to 2001....
(Ap) - Minister of Foreign Affairs: Jonas Gahr StøreJonas Gahr StøreJonas Gahr Støre is the Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs, having been appointed to Jens Stoltenberg's second cabinet on 17 October 2005. He represents the Norwegian Labour Party.-Personal life:...
(Ap) - Minister of Finance: Sigbjørn JohnsenSigbjørn JohnsenSigbjørn Johnsen is a Norwegian politician for the Labour Party and the current Norwegian Minister of Finance....
(ApNorwegian Labour PartyThe Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Norway. It is the senior partner in the current Norwegian government as part of the Red-Green Coalition, and its leader, Jens Stoltenberg, is the current Prime Minister of Norway....
). - Minister of Local Affairs and Regional Development: Liv Signe NavarseteLiv Signe NavarseteLiv Signe Hundere Navarsete is the Norwegian Minister of Local Government and Regional Development and leader of the Center Party. She took office in 2005 serving in the Stoltenberg's Second Cabinet....
(Sp). - Minister of Culture and Church Affairs: Anniken HuitfeldtAnniken HuitfeldtAnniken Scharning Huitfeldt is a Norwegian politician representing the Norwegian Labour Party. She currently serves as the Norwegian Minister of Culture in the Second cabinet Stoltenberg.-Life:...
(Ap) - Minister of Children and Equality: Audun LysbakkenAudun LysbakkenAudun Bjørlo Lysbakken is a Norwegian politician for the Socialist Left Party. In 2006 he became deputy leader of the party. On 20 October 2009, he was appointed Minister of Children and Equality.- Background :...
(SvSocialist Left Party (Norway)The Socialist Left Party or SV, is a Norwegian left-wing political party. At one point one of the smallest parties in Parliament, it became the fourth-largest political party in Norway for the first time in the 2001 parliamentary election, and has been so ever since...
) - Minister of Health and Care Services: Anne-Grete Strøm-ErichsenAnne-Grete Strøm-ErichsenAnne-Grete Hjelle Strøm-Erichsen is a Norwegian politician for the Labour Party.She was elected to the Norwegian Parliament from Hordaland in 2005....
(Ap) - Minister of Justice: Knut StorbergetKnut StorbergetKnut Storberget is a Norwegian barrister and politician for the Norwegian Labour Party. He became the Minister of Justice and the Police serving in the second cabinet Stoltenberg from 2005. Storberget stepped down on November 11, 2011.He was elected to the Norwegian Parliament from Hedmark in...
(Ap) - Minister of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs: Lisbeth Berg-HansenLisbeth Berg-HansenLisbeth Berg-Hansen is a Norwegian businessperson and politician for the Labour Party.She chaired the Norwegian Seafood Federation from 2002 to 2005, and was Vice President of the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise from 2004 to 2008...
(Ap) - Minister of Labour and Social Affairs: Hanne BjurstrømHanne BjurstrømHanne Bjurstrøm is a politician representing the Norwegian Labour Party and currently serving as the Norwegian minister of Labour in the Red-Green Coalition government. She was appointed on October 20, 2009, but assumed her office om December 21, 2009...
(ApNorwegian Labour PartyThe Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Norway. It is the senior partner in the current Norwegian government as part of the Red-Green Coalition, and its leader, Jens Stoltenberg, is the current Prime Minister of Norway....
) - Minister of Defence: Grete FaremoGrete FaremoGrete Faremo , is a Norwegian politician who serves as the Norwegian Minister of Justice and the Police in Norway....
(Ap) - Minister of Trade and Industry: Trond GiskeTrond GiskeTrond Giske is a Norwegian politician and the current Minister of Trade and Industry representing the Norwegian Labour Party in the government headed by Jens Stoltenberg....
(Ap) - Minister of Knowledge and Childhood Affairs (Kindergarten and Education matters): Kristin HalvorsenKristin HalvorsenKristin Halvorsen is a Norwegian socialist politician and was the Minister of Finance from 17 October 2005 until 20 October 2009. She is now the Minister of Education in Stoltenberg's second cabinet....
(SvSocialist Left Party (Norway)The Socialist Left Party or SV, is a Norwegian left-wing political party. At one point one of the smallest parties in Parliament, it became the fourth-largest political party in Norway for the first time in the 2001 parliamentary election, and has been so ever since...
) - Minister of Research and Higher Education: Tora AaslandTora AaslandTora Aasland is a Norwegian politician for the Socialist Left Party.She was elected to the Norwegian Parliament from Akershus in 1985, and was re-elected on one occasion....
(SvSocialist Left Party (Norway)The Socialist Left Party or SV, is a Norwegian left-wing political party. At one point one of the smallest parties in Parliament, it became the fourth-largest political party in Norway for the first time in the 2001 parliamentary election, and has been so ever since...
) - Minister of Development and Environment: Erik SolheimErik SolheimErik Solheim is a Norwegian politician for the Socialist Left Party . He holds two posts in the current Norwegian cabinet, and carries the title Minister of the Environment and Minister of Development Cooperation...
(SvSocialist Left Party (Norway)The Socialist Left Party or SV, is a Norwegian left-wing political party. At one point one of the smallest parties in Parliament, it became the fourth-largest political party in Norway for the first time in the 2001 parliamentary election, and has been so ever since...
) - Minister of Transport and Communications: Magnhild Meltveit KleppaMagnhild Meltveit KleppaMagnhild Meltveit Kleppa is a Norwegian politician for the Centre Party. She was the Minister of Social Affairs from 1997 to 2000 and was appointed Norwegian Minister of Local Government and Regional Development on 21 September 2007. On 20 October 2009, she swapped departments and became Minister...
(Sp) - Minister of food and Agriculture: Lars Peder BrekkLars Peder BrekkLars Peder Brekk is a Norwegian politician for the Centre Party. He was private secretary to the Minister of Fisheries 1985-1986, and himself Minister of Fisheries in 2000. He was elected to parliament in 2005. From 20 June 2008, he has been Minister of Agriculture and Food...
(Sp) - Minister of Renewal: Rigmor AasrudRigmor AasrudRigmor Aasrud is a Norwegian politician for the Labour Party.She served in the position of deputy representative to the Norwegian Parliament from Oppland during the terms 1993–1997, 1997–2001 and 2001–2005. When the second cabinet Stoltenberg assumed office following the 2005 elections, Aasrud was...
(Ap) - Minister of Foreign Affairs (Development cases): Erik SolheimErik SolheimErik Solheim is a Norwegian politician for the Socialist Left Party . He holds two posts in the current Norwegian cabinet, and carries the title Minister of the Environment and Minister of Development Cooperation...
(SvSocialist Left Party (Norway)The Socialist Left Party or SV, is a Norwegian left-wing political party. At one point one of the smallest parties in Parliament, it became the fourth-largest political party in Norway for the first time in the 2001 parliamentary election, and has been so ever since...
) - Minister of Oil and Energy: Ola Borten MoeOla Borten MoeOla Borten Moe is a Norwegian politician and Member of Parliament for the Centre Party.-Early and personal life:Borten Moe was born in Trondheim, Sør-Trøndelag to farmer Peder O. Moe and nurse Kari Borten . He is the grandson of former Prime Minister Per Borten, and married to fellow MP Anna...
(Sp)