Norwegians head to the polls on Monday to elect all 169 members of the Storting, the country’s parliament, as well as representatives to the Sami Parliament. The election, expected to be tightly contested, has drawn more than 4.05 million eligible voters, including 310,000 first-time participants and 11.5% of the electorate from immigrant backgrounds. Early voting surged this year, with 1.9 million ballots already cast, over half of them in Oslo.
The race pits the ruling center-left bloc, led by Labor Party Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, against a right-wing coalition dominated by the Progress Party and Conservatives. Polls show Labor narrowly ahead with 26.5–30% support, while the Progress Party trails at 19% and the Conservatives at 15%. Voters are prioritizing issues such as inequality, taxation, cost of living, and public services. Rising food prices and debates over energy policy — particularly Norway’s role as Europe’s top gas supplier and the use of renewables — have also shaped the campaign.
With no party expected to secure a majority of 85 seats, coalition negotiations will be crucial. The left is represented by Labor, Socialist Left, Greens, Centre, and Reds, while the right includes Conservatives, Progress, Christian Democrats, and Liberals. Potential prime ministers include Store, Progress leader Sylvi Listhaug, or Conservative leader Erna Solberg. Polls close at 19:00 GMT, with exit polls due immediately, though final results and cabinet formation could take longer.
