Description: Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store and his Labor party managed to resist the country’s growing right wing populist movements and secure a dominant presence in Parliament. Store’s party managed to secure 80 seats out of the 85 necessary to form a majority government, which meant it would have to make concessions to smaller parties in order to form Norway’s next government. Labor would have 53 seats in Parliament with the Progress party coming in second with 48 seats, while the Conservative party had its worst elections in the last 20 years, gaining only 24 seats in Parliament. Store would extend his mandate as Prime Minister, however, he is faced with growing issues such as oscillating relations with the US, oil fund investments, cost of living issues and wealth taxes.
Impact: Norway has resuscitated the liberal democratic movement in the country and opposed the growing trend of right-wing parties in a closely contested election. The country, ever since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, has become the focal point for oil supply in Europe, making Norway a country of presently highly important strategic value. The country is also Europe’s strategic gateway to the Arctic and one of its crucial allies on the continent’s eastern front, facing threats from Russia. Store and Labor’s reelection indicates that Norway wouldn’t introduce any major disruptions domestically and remain strategically oriented towards its European allies.