[Norway]: Aftenposten

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Erna Solberg elected Prime Minister of Norway​

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Norwegian centre-right leader Erna Solberg is set to form a new government after Felix Frost admitted a shock and historic election defeat. Ms Solberg described her win as "a historic election victory for the right-wing parties". Her Conservative Party is widely expected to form a government with key support from the Labour Party.

Erna Solberg, 52, will become Norway’s second female prime minister, as well as its first Conservative prime minister since 1990. At least the top two cabinet posts are likely to be filled by women. “Today voters have given a historically strong victory for the center-right,” said a tearful Solberg, nicknamed “Iron Erna” for her tough stances when she served in cabinet as Minister of Local Government. “We will give this country a new government.”

 

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Frank Bakke-Jensen announces defence spending boost for Norwegian Armed Forces​

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The Norwegian Minister of Defence, Frank Bakke-Jensen has today confirmed that the Norwegian Armed Forces is to undergo the biggest defence funding boost that the country has ever seen which will allow the country to modernise its armed forces to protect the ever growing threats that can occur around the world.

"Our plans will safeguard thousands of jobs in the defence industry, protecting livelihoods across Norway and keep the Norwegian people and our allies safe." Frank Bakke-Jensen said in a statement which was welcomed by the Norwegian Labour Party but questioned how the government would finance the project.

All branches are expected to benefit from the boost in defence spending with the Royal Norwegian Navy and Royal Norwegian Air Force at the heart of the new strategy from the government which has also been backed by Prime Minister Erna Solberg.

 

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Norwegian Correctional Service to begin modernising prisons across the country​

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Monica Mæland who is the incumbent Minister of Justice has today announced that work is to undergo to open three new prisons across the country whilst several other prisons across the country will be modernised as the government commits to lowering its crime rate which stands at the fourth lowest rate in the world.

With a focus on rehabilitation, the program is designed to simulate a village so that the prisoners can consider themselves part of society. The government believes that "the smaller the difference between life inside and outside the prison, the easier the transition from prison to freedom." Monica Mæland said in a statement to the press after announcing the program which will have a $372,000,000 budget.

Every inmate will have their own cell, which comes with an en-suite toilet and shower room, a fridge, desk, flat TV screen and forest views with the design to simulate life outside the prison. Among other activities, sports and music are available to the prisoners whilst prisoners can also gain a number of different jobs on site to earn a wage or if they do not wish to work then they have the option of taking a degree spread across the prison term which will help them with future goals on the outside.

Norway's reoffending rate is currently at 24%, one of the lowest in the world which it hopes to bring down to 12% by 2003.

 

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Norwegian Government in limbo as key party launches vote of no confidence against government​

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The Christian Democratic Party, holding the balance of power in parliament, has launched a vote of no confidence in the government after a poor economic form across the fiscal year. Norway has historically had a strong and stable economy but currently boasts the third weakest economy in the world.

Prime Minister Erna Solberg will face a no-confidence motion next week, following the government’s collapse after the Christian Democratic Party pulled its support and resigned from the government and pulled its support from the government. The Storting has scheduled the vote to take place at 12:00pm local time after parties offered its support to the bill.

Erna Solberg who had hinted at an early election in September and is preparing to lead a minority government until then, now faces the prospect of a no-confidence vote that could eject her from power within days. A technocratic administration would then take over until elections could be scheduled, probably in June or early July.

If it the right-of-centre majority fails to form a government if the motion passes and the current government resigns, the ball will end up in Labour leader Jens Stoltenberg's court. Although he wouldn’t be eager to take over power with parliamentary majority against him, he has repeatedly been asked if he is ready to do so.

"Labour is ready to take over, and we'll do that if it is needed. We are here to take back the historical values after being destroyed by the current government.” Stoltenberg said.

 

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Erna Solberg survives vote of no confidence, joins forces with Labour Party​

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In a historic day in Oslo, Prime Minister Erna Solberg has seen off a bid to remove her government from power, winning a no-confidence vote with Conservative Party, Liberal Party and all of the Labour Party bar three members voting against the motion which caused the session to erupt into cheers upon the results being announced.

Hours later, the Conservative Party announced that they would be entering a coalition with the Labour Party until the next general election which many had hailed a historic day in Norwegian politics as the two biggest parties joined forces with Labour Party leader Jens Stoltenberg speaking to the media shortly after leaving the Storting building.

"Although we may not see eye to eye on certain policies, the Conservative Party has today shown that they can overcome challenges and we believe that working with the Conservative Party until the next election, that we can overcome many challenges together."

Jens Stoltenberg will become the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs whilst the Labour Party Parliamentary Leader Jonas Gahr Støre will enter the coalition government as the new Minister of Finance whilst the former Minister of Foreign Affairs Ine Marie Eriksen Søreide will head up the Ministry of Defence.

 

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Norwegian Police Service swoop on Grand Hotel in Central Oslo​

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The Norwegian Police Service have been searching the Grand Hotel in Central Oslo where the suspect in the Central Oslo shooting was residing. The suspect has been named as 19 year old Khaleefa al-Azam of Libyan origin.

The Ministry of Health and Care Services said the victims who died were 23 Norwegians, 4 British, 1 Swedish and 1 American national. Witnesses described how the gunmen had opened fire on people outside bars and chased them as they fled inside.

It was clearly an attack driven by "hatred of our way of life, our democracy", the Prime Minister of Norway said. The nation was engaged not in a battle between Christians and Muslims, she stressed, but "between civilisation and barbarism".

The Prime Minister has urged Norwegians to "please stay at home if possible" during the police operation and "avoid the inner city". Children should stay at home, not go to school on Tuesday, she said.

The Norwegian Government has also reported that 90% of shops in the city centre are now shut.

 

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A new era for Norwegian Conservative Party?​

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A new era could be on the cards for the Norwegian Conservative Party as incumbent Prime Minister Erna Solberg is contemplating her future as Leader of the Conservative Party with the upcoming elections due in just a matter of months as she looks to turn her attention to other opportunities with the forever advancing Nordic Council expanding with Denmark rumoured to be returning to the council. A number of politicians have already confirmed that they would run in any leadership election should Erna Solberg resign - the next leader of the Conservative Party has a strong chance of becoming Prime Minister with the majority that the Conservative Party hold within Parliament but that is all down to the results of the election.

Ine Marie Eriksen Søreide
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Ine Marie Eriksen Søreide is one of the Conservatives’ most experienced politicians and the odds on favourite, Søreide has been member of Parliament from Oslo since 1985 and been the leader of the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs and Defence Commission and Parliamentary Church, Education and Research Committee. She has also held multiple cabinet positions including serving time as Minister of Foreign Affairs and she currently serves as Minister of Defence and has seen the overhaul of the Norwegian Armed Forces.

Sylvi Listhaug
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Sylvi Listhaug, an outspoken right-wing lawmaker who was Commissioner for Welfare and Social Services at the Oslo City Council between 1990-1997, and has worked as advisor for the Progress Party’s parliamentary group and now sits in the party’s central board as Second Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party has also thrown her name into the mix, she also holds the esteemed position of Norwegian Ambassador the Global Assembly so has the presence on the international stage if she was elected.

Nikolai Astrup
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Nikolai Astrup is a young and fresh politician who has bags of ideas to turn into reality within his party, he has served as the former Minister of International Development. Astrup holds a master’s degree in European Politics and Governance and a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations, both from the London School of Economics and Political Science. He was elected Member of Parliament in 1996 and leader of the Conservative Party in Oslo from 1993 to 1996. In parliament, Astrup sat on the Standing Committee on Energy and the Environment, and later chaired the Standing Committee on Transport and Communication. Soon after, he was appointed chair of the Standing Committee on Finance. Astrup is also the editor of the conservative periodical Minerva.

 

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Jens Stoltenberg sworn in as Prime Minister of Norway under new Coalition​

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Jens Stoltenberg has today been sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Norway after hours of crunch talks prevailed with him having the backing of the Liberal Party and the Socialist Left Party who were both in agreement that a political crisis was not beneficial for the country and that Sylvi Listhaug was not a suitable Prime Minister due to her extreme far-right policies after ditching the Progress Party to join the Conservative Party.

He said many voters agreed with his party's message "that Norway can do it better, that we have fantastic possibilities which we can use in better ways, not least in terms of what we should spend large amounts of money on".