Norway

Flag Description

Red with a blue cross outlined in white that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag).

Election type: Parliamentary

Election date: 12 September 2005 (last held 10 September 2001)

Number of registered voters: 3 358 856 (in 2001)

Compulsory voting: No

Government

Type: Constitutional Monarchy

Chief of State: King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991)

Party in Government: Labour Party

Head of Government: Prime Minister Kjell Magne BONDEVIK (since 19 October 2001)  

Branches: Executive—Monarch (chief of state), Prime Minister (head of government) and Cabinet (State Council appointed by the Monarch with the approval of parliament).

Legislative—a modified unicameral Parliament or Storting of 165 seats. Members are elected by popular vote by proportional representation to serve four-year terms. Following parliamentary elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed Prime Minister by the Monarch with the approval of the parliament.

Judicial—Supreme Court or Hoyesterett. Justices are appointed by the Monarch.

Main Political Parties: Centre Party, Christian People's Party , Coastal Party,  Conservative Party, Labour Party, Liberal Party, Progress Party, Socialist Left Party.  

Suffrage: Universal at 18

According to a CNN International article Norway votes in tight election, Prime Minister Bondevik has voted early at one of a few polling centres which is open on the Sunday, the day before the official national voting day in order to make voting more convenient for people with work commitments. This article discusses the electorate, opinion polls along with election issues such as welfare schemes, oil exportation and economic growth.

Election results: National summary and voting by region from the Norwegian Government elections website, courtesy of Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive.

An Aftenposten article dated 13 September 2005 entitled Bondevik bows out discusses Prime Minister Kjell Bondevik's resignation after the defeat of his Conservative party and the success of Labour's Jens Stoltenberg who will take over as Prime Minister in mid-October. Also discussed are the swings to and from the various parties, with Labour's government partner the Soacialist Left losing one-third of its seats in Parliament and, Norway's most right-leaning party, the Progress Party gaining its biggest election victory ever.

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Last reviewed 26 September, 2005 by the Parliamentary Library Web Manager
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