Norwegian Labour Party

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Det norske Arbeiderparti
Norwegian Labour Party
Leader Jens Stoltenberg
Founded 1887
Headquarters Youngstorget 2 A, 5.etg. Oslo
Youth wing Arbeidernes Ungdomsfylking
European affiliation Party of European Socialists
Political ideology Social democracy
International affiliation Socialist International
Colour(s) Red
Website dna.no
See also the politics of Norway series
The party headquarters
The party headquarters

The Norwegian Labour Party (Norwegian: Det norske Arbeiderparti (DNA) or Arbeiderpartiet (AP) is a social democratic political party in Norway. It participates in the current Norwegian government and its leader, Jens Stoltenberg, is the current Prime Minister of Norway.

The Labour Party is officially a social democratic party committed to liberal democratic ideals. During the last 20 years, the party has included more market liberalist principles in its policy, allowing for privatization of government-held assets and services and reducing progression in the income tax structure, following the liberal wave of the 1980s. However, recently it has tightened its ties to the traditional left.

The Labour Party profiles itself as a progressive party that subscribes to cooperation on a national as well as international level.

The party's youth wing is AUF (Arbeidernes Ungdomsfylking).

Contents

[edit] History

It was founded in 1887 and first ran in elections to the Storting (parliament) in 1894. It finally entered parliament in 1903 and steadily increased its vote until 1927, when it became the largest party--a position it has retained ever since, often with an absolute majority of parliamentary seats.

From its roots as a radical alternative to the political establishment, the party grew to its current dominance through several eras:

The party experienced a split in 1921 caused by a decision made two years earlier to join the Communist International, and the Social Democratic Labour Party of Norway was formed. In 1923 the party left the Communist International, while a significant minority of its members left the party to form the Communist Party of Norway. In 1927, the social democrats were reunited with Labour.

The first Labour government, led by Christopher Hornsrud, was formed in 1928, lasting only two weeks. During the early 1930s Labour abandoned its revolutionary profile and set for a reformist course. Labour then returned to government in 1935 and remained in power until 1965 (except for the exile period between 1940-1945 and one month in 1963). During most of the first twenty years after the second world war Einar Gerhardsen lead the party and the country. He is often referered to as "Landsfaderen" (Father of the Nation), he is generally considered one of the main architects of the rebuilding of Norway after World War II. This can be considered the "golden age" of the Norwegian Labour Party.

Other periods in government have been 1971-1972, 1973-1981, 1986-1989, 1990-1997 and 2000-2001. It has been in power most of this time and is largely through their efforts that the modern welfare state in Norway has been created.

In the election in 2001 it reached a low point of 24.3% of the popular vote, but was still the biggest party in the Storting. In the election of 2005 the party regained support and got 32.7% of the popular vote. It is the leading partner in the centre-left Red-Green Coalition, which won a majority in the 2005 elections. Labour leader Jens Stoltenberg became prime minister and leads a coalition government, the first one that the Norwegian Labour Party has entered. He was previously prime minister from 2000 to 2001.

[edit] Party leaders

Jens Stoltenberg, current leader of the Labour PartyPhoto: Harry Wad
Jens Stoltenberg, current leader of the Labour Party
Photo: Harry Wad

[edit] Labour Prime Ministers

Norway

This article is part of the series:
Politics and government of
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[edit] Parliamentary election results

Year  % of votes Members of the Storting
1894 0.3 0 out of 114
1897 0.6 0 out of 114
1900 5.2 0 out of 114
1903 12.1 4 out of 117
1906 15.9 11 out of 123
1909 21.5 11 out of 123
1912 26.2 23 out of 123
1915 32.0 19 out of 123
1918 31.6 18 out of 126
1921 21.3 29 out of 150
1924 18.4 24 out of 150
1927 36.8 59 out of 150
1930 31.4 47 out of 150
1933 40.1 69 out of 150
1936 42.5 70 out of 150
1945 41.0 76 out of 150
1949 45.7 85 out of 150
1953 46.7 77 out of 150
1957 48.3 78 out of 150
1961 46.8 74 out of 150
1965 43.1 68 out of 150
1969 46.5 74 out of 150
1973 35.3 62 out of 155
1977 42.3 76 out of 155
1981 37.1 65 out of 155
1985 40.8 71 out of 157
1989 34.3 63 out of 165
1993 36.9 67 out of 165
1997 35.0 65 out of 165
2001 24.3 43 out of 165
2005 32.7 61 out of 169

[edit] External links


v • d • e
Parliamentary political parties in Norway
Parties in government:
Labour (61 seats in parliament) - Socialist Left (15) - Centre (11)
Parties in opposition:
Portal:Politics - List of political parties - Politics of Norway