Five tiny political parties could all end up kingmakers in Norway’s parliament after elections on Sept. 11, presenting a risk to Norway’s key oil industry and making it even more difficult to form a government than before. The Greens aiming to shut Norway’s oil industry and the Marxist Red party seeking social justice are among those hoping for influence, as are the more experienced Socialist Left, centrist Liberals and the socially conservative Christian Democrats. Overall, the Nordic nation faces at least ten potential alternatives for minority or majority coalition governments and the outcome of the vote is particularly hard to predict, pollsters say.
“Four years ago we had clearer blocks,” election analyst Svein Tore Marthinsen told Reuters. “Today it is a little unclear what the alternatives on the left are … and the picture is also unclear on the other side.”
Polls show a dead heat between the center-right block of Conservative Prime Minister Erna Solberg and her rival, Labour leader Jonas Gahr Stoere – meaning the outcome could be decided by only minor changes to the support the small parties get.
Full Article: Pick your kingmaker: small parties loom large in Norway’s election.
