Norwegian Parliamentary Election 2013

[HansOslo]

I just read that you're not allowed to sell alcohol in Norway on election day, as to keep people from voting drunk. Very fascinating.

This is my last one.

Have you heard about the Swede who was invited to dinner by the Norwegian? When the Swede arrived at the house of the Norwegian there was a note on the door. This note read “I fooled you. I’m not home”. Then the Swede wrote a new note and placed it on the door. The Swedes note said “Haha, I fooled you. I was never here”.

But yeah. Vinmonopolet is closed, and the stores are not allowed to sell beer on Election Day. Since Election Day this year falls on a Monday, I think the Vinmonopolet and the stores will make a lot of money on Saturday, since they are closed on Sunday. 

[Viewfromthenorth]

I might actually have to post a Facebook status: "Husk at polet er stengt til tirsdag!"

[Lurker]

As for the Swedish/Norwegian banter, a pretty good one came after Norway had inexplicably banned Monty Python's Life of Brian. The Swedish film poster had the tagline: "The movie so funny that it was banned in Norway" (Filmen som är så rolig att den blev förbjuden i Norge).

[eric82oslo]

Here are the results of the 2013 Norwegian High School Election which was released just 4 hours ago. Practically every single high school in Norway take part in this quite unique kind of election, making some experts claim that it is the most profound/extensive school election or even non-official parliamentary election in the world. This year a near record number of students (mostly between the ages of 15 & 18) voted in the election; 178,000 students to be precise. That is only 1,366 votes less than in the record high turnout in 2009. All in all 81.1% of all students took part, the highest turnout ever. It is highly likely that the high turnout & the political commitment among this current generation of teenagers is due to the terrorist attacks in Oslo and Norway two years ago, which was aimed at the ruling political party, and in particular on their youth organisation.

So, here are the actual votes cast in the 2013 Norwegian High School Election:

1. Conservative Party (Høyre) - 28.3% (first time they've ever won this election)
2. Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) - 23.3%
3. Progress Party [far right] (Fremskrittspartiet) - 15.6%
4. Liberal Party (Venstre) - 6.6%
5. Socialist Left Party (SV) - 5.1%
6. Piracy Party (Piratpartiet) - 4.3% (basically the same kind of party as their Swedish sister party, for those familiar with them, basically wants laws to warmly embrace internet piracy)
7. Farmers' Party/Rural Party (Senterpartiet) - 4.0%
8. The Green Environmentalists (MDG) - 3.7%
9. Red [far left] (Rødt) - 3.7%
10. Christian People's Party (KrF) - 2.9%
11. The Christians [extremely conservative Christian party] (De Kristne) - 0.6%
12. Retirees' Party (Pensjonistpartiet) - 0.6%
13. Coastal Party [basically a party for fishermen & their allied] (Kystpartiet) - 0.5%
14. The Democrats [very far right] (Demokratene) - 0.3%
15. The Liberal People's Party [ideology somewhere between Liberal Party & Progress Party, 2nd pro-marihuana party besides The Greens] (Det Liberale Folkeparti) - 0.2%
16. Norwegian Communist Party (NKP) - 0.2%
17. United Christians Party [basically the same as The Christians, perhaps slighly less conservative/reactionary/old-fashioned?] (Kristent Samlingsparti) - 0.1%

The remaining four parties aren't even worth mentioning, they got 0.1% of the vote or less.

And these are the biggest winners and losers compared to the 2009 Norwegian High School Election.

Biggest winners:

1. Conservative Party: +12.1%
2. Piracy Party: +4.3%
3. The Green Environmentalists: +2.4%
4. The Christians: +0.6%
5. Liberal Party: +0.6%

Biggest losers:

1. Progress Party [far right, the 2011 terrorist was a member of this party]: -8.4%
2. Socialist Left Party: -5.2%
3. Farmers' Party/Rural Party: -1.8%
4. Red [far left]: -1.1%
5. Coastal Party: -0.9%
6. Christian People's Party: -0.8%
7. Retirees' Party: -0.6%
8. The Democrats [very far right]: -0.2%
9. Labour Party: -0.2%
10. Norwegian Communist Party: -0.1%
11. United Christians' Party: -0.1%

Way more losers this time than winners in other words. Basically every single party on the left side of the political spectrum (possibly with the exception of The Greens, though they so far have refused to choose political side) experience a loss of voters. Only two parties witness shifts of more than 6% one way or the other though; the big winners of this upcoming election clearly, the Conservative Party, which is on its way to do one of its strongest elections since the early 20th century [it was one of the two original parties in Norway back in the 19th century]. And the big loser being Progress Party, though it has to be said that this is still a strong election for the party. It is just that the 2009 election was by far their strongest election in that party's history. However, it is worth noticing that the party did really terrible among high school youths in the nation's capital, Oslo, where almost every single strong political wind starts. They got only 7.9% of the votes in Oslo, which is their 2nd worst high school showing ever, only beaten by the even more mediocre post-terrorist attack 2011 election result (though that wasn't a parliamentary election, but a regional one). It was in Oslo that the Progress Party once got a strong hold back in the 80ies and 90ies. Now, it is also the first region where they are experiencing heavy losses. Not only among teenagers, but among voters of all ages. One reason might be that big city voters are far more tolerant than voters in smaller towns and cities. Another reason is of course that a huge percentage of the population of Oslo are immigrants themselves, or children of immigrants (about 30%, the highest in the nation). The Progress Party is the only major anti-immigration party in Norway, and have had a long history of using very racist rhetoric, although they have become far more moderate during the last few years. At least when it comes to use of rhetorics, perhaps less when it comes to actual policy decisions? (They are highly likely to be part of the new post-election government, so time might tell.) Also, obviously, the party's politicians, and its leader in particular, had to drastically change their communication towards voters in general after it was revealed that the 2011 terrorist was one of their own, or had been an active member of the party just a few years prior.

Here a picture from the Conservatives' high school election monitoring (with the most likely future prime minister in blue):

[Sozialliberal]

12. Retirees' Party (Pensjonistpartiet) - 0.6%

So 0.6 % of Norwegian high school students plan to retire after their graduation?

[eric82oslo]

12. Retirees' Party (Pensjonistpartiet) - 0.6%

So 0.6 % of Norwegian high school students plan to retire after their graduation?

Something like that I guess. Either that or one of their grandparents must be their best friend.

This is actually the worst showing the Retirees' Party has received among high school students in years and years, believe it or not.

[DC Al Fine]

I love Scandanavia's random elections. I for one wish I could vote in a partisan church or school election

[Filuwaúrdjan]

We have school mock elections too, but they aren't so well organised. I tried to rig one once.

[Lurker]

I love Scandanavia's random elections. I for one wish I could vote in a partisan church or school election

Church elections aren't partisan (in that you vote for political parties) in Norway though, that's a Swedish thing.

School elections are very fun though, with organized debates at high schools featuring politicians (often youth politicians) from all the the parties.

For those who are interested, here are the results of the school elections by county: http://www.samfunnsveven.no/skolevalg/resultat/fylke/
That website also shows the results from each school in Norway, though that won't be very interesting for non-Norwegians of course.

[Iannis]

They look very mature. If they were held in Italy there would be a huge victory of extremist-populis parties like 5star movement.

[Viewfromthenorth]

They look very mature. If they were held in Italy there would be a huge victory of extremist-populis parties like 5star movement.

They used to be won by the fringe parties (SV and FrP). Youth have become more moderate in recent years, though.

At my old high school (Valler), Venstre recieved 35,7%. FrP and SV recieved around 7,5% together.

[HansOslo]

The results usually follows the usual socio-economic factors, at least to some extent. So high schools in the Western parts of Oslo are usually strong for Høyre (and FrP a few years back), and high schools in rural areas, or immigrant heavy neighbourhoods usually go for Arbeiderpartiet.

There is usually a debate prior to the voting. This can skew the results a lot. Venstres extraordinary results at Valler (as mentioned by Viewfromthenorth) was probably the result of a very good performance by Venstre in the debate.

[HansOslo]

1. Progress Party [far right, the 2011 terrorist was a member of this party]: -8.4%

Anders Behring Breivik was a member of FrP from 1999 to 2004, so he had ceased being a member a long time before the attacks on 22. of july 2013.

And I don't think "far right" is actually a fitting label for FrP. Just as SV can't really be described as "far left".

[Lurker]

They look very mature. If they were held in Italy there would be a huge victory of extremist-populis parties like 5star movement.

They used to be won by the fringe parties (SV and FrP). Youth have become more moderate in recent years, though.

At my old high school (Valler), Venstre recieved 35,7%. FrP and SV recieved around 7,5% together.

Yeah, Frp was the largest party as recently as 2009.

Very surprising that Høyre didn't become the largest party at Valler, they are usually very dominant in Bærum

I wonder in which schools the parties got their best and worst results  - is this said anywhere? Handelsgym is Høyre's best school in Oslo, getting 63% of the vote there. Ulsrud seems to be APs best result with 67%.

[HansOslo]

I don't think there are any numbers out as to where the parties did best.

You basically have to piece that together from http://www.samfunnsveven.no/skolevalg

[Viewfromthenorth]

1. Progress Party [far right, the 2011 terrorist was a member of this party]: -8.4%

Anders Behring Breivik was a member of FrP from 1999 to 2004, so he had ceased being a member a long time before the attacks on 22. of july 2013.

And I don't think "far right" is actually a fitting label for FrP. Just as SV can't really be described as "far left".

Yeah, it's kind of ridiculous to attach ABB to FrP. Other parties have less desirable elements in them as well.

[Tender Branson]

LOL, look at the guy: At the moment the exit poll/result is announced, he starts to grope the girl's boobs ... Maybe she didn't even notice it, because of the joy.

[Leftbehind]

We have school mock elections too, but they aren't so well organised. I tried to rig one once.

Do we? I don't remember ever doing one.

[joevsimp]

We have school mock elections too, but they aren't so well organised. I tried to rig one once.

Do we? I don't remember ever doing one.

I remember seeing coverage of them on Newsround, never had one at my school, not until I was at sixth form college

[You kip if you want to...]

We have school mock elections too, but they aren't so well organised. I tried to rig one once.

Do we? I don't remember ever doing one.

I remember seeing coverage of them on Newsround, never had one at my school, not until I was at sixth form college

Yeah, I didn't know this.

We had one in 2010, but I think it was a pretty independent thing.

[Viewfromthenorth]

Just when we all thought the campaign couldn't get any dumber: Norwegian users, go to 1881.no and search for Jens Stoltenberg or Erna Solberg.

[DL]

I have a question about Norwegian politics...my understanding is that the Liberals or Venstre Party would ally themselves with the so-called bourgeois parties to form a right of centre coalition. There is no way for the right to government without including the ultra rightwing racist Progress party. How can the Liberal party which seems to be very socially liberal and environmentalist and pro-immigration and multiculturalism justify joining a government that would have to also include those kooks from the Progress party?
 

[Viewfromthenorth]

I have a question about Norwegian politics...my understanding is that the Liberals or Venstre Party would ally themselves with the so-called bourgeois parties to form a right of centre coalition. There is no way for the right to government without including the ultra rightwing racist Progress party. How can the Liberal party which seems to be very socially liberal and environmentalist and pro-immigration and multiculturalism justify joining a government that would have to also include those kooks from the Progress party?
 

1. The Progress Party are not far-right nor explicitly racist.
2. Because they'll be getting some kind of power after this electino anyway and then it's better to try to limit their influence than trying to be in opposition against a party that has some support among other parties for almost all its policies.

I see a Canadian flag on your profile. The Progress Party is only slightly to the right of the Conservative Party over there, really.

[Sozialliberal]

They look very mature. If they were held in Italy there would be a huge victory of extremist-populis parties like 5star movement.

They used to be won by the fringe parties (SV and FrP). Youth have become more moderate in recent years, though.

At my old high school (Valler), Venstre recieved 35,7%. FrP and SV recieved around 7,5% together.

Yeah, Frp was the largest party as recently as 2009.

Very surprising that Høyre didn't become the largest party at Valler, they are usually very dominant in Bærum

I wonder in which schools the parties got their best and worst results  - is this said anywhere? Handelsgym is Høyre's best school in Oslo, getting 63% of the vote there. Ulsrud seems to be APs best result with 67%.

There you go.

(I only considered schools at which at least 100 valid votes were cast.)

Best results for Høyre (Conservative Party)
62.5 %, Oslo handelsgymnasium (Oslo)
57.0 %, WANG Oslo/WANG Toppidrett Oslo (Oslo)
56.1 %, Akademiet videregående skole i Drammen (Drammen, Buskerud)
56.0 %, Wang Toppidrett Tønsberg (Tønsberg, Vestfold)
55.0 %, Oslo private gymnasium (Oslo)

Best results for Arbeiderpartiet (Labour Party)
66.5 %, Ulsrud videregående skole (Oslo)
56.5 %, Sofienberg videregående skole (Oslo)
53.4 %, Holtet videregående skole (Oslo)
53.2 %, Bjerke videregående skole (Oslo)
47.1 %, Etterstad videregående skole (Oslo)

Best results for Fremskrittspartiet (Progress Party)
62.9 %, Hadsel videregående skole, skolested Melbu (Hadsel, Nordland)
52.1 %, Norheimsund vidaregåande skule (Kvam, Hordaland)
49.3 %, Meldal videregående skole (Meldal, Sør-Trøndelag)
49.0 %, Stangnes videregående skole (Harstad, Troms)
46.6 %, Polarsirkelen videregående skole, avd. Kongsvegen (Rana, Nordland)

Best results for Venstre (Liberal Party)
35.7 %, Valler videregående skole (Bærum, Akershus)
29.4 %, Firda vidaregåande skule (Gloppen, Sogn og Fjordane)
26.2 %, Garnes vidaregåande skule (Bergen, Hordaland)
24.6 %, Knut Hamsun videregående skole (Hamarøy, Nordland)
23.9 %, Bergen Katedralskole (Bergen, Hordaland)

Best results for Sosialistisk Venstreparti (Socialist Left Party)
26.3 %, Fyrstikkalleen skole (Oslo)
25.4 %, Ski videregående skole (Ski, Akershus)
22.9 %, Vadsø videregående skole (Vadsø, Finnmark)
22.1 %, Inderøy videregående skole (Inderøy, Nord-Trøndelag)
21.8 %, Hartvig Nissens skole (Oslo)

Best results for Piratpartiet (Pirate Party)
12.5 %, Melhus videregående skole (Melhus, Sør-Trøndelag)
12.0 %, Fosen videregående skole (Bjugn, Sør-Trøndelag)
12.0 %, Meløy videregående skole, avd. Glomfjord (Meløy, Nordland)
11.7 %, Malvik videregående skole (Malvik, Sør-Trøndelag)
11.1 %, Andøy videregående skole (Andøy, Nordland)

Best results for Senterpartiet (Centre Party)
46.2 %, Mære landbruksskole (Steinkjer, Nord-Trøndelag)
37.4 %, Nord-Troms videregående skole (Nordreisa, Troms)
35.2 %, Val videregående skole (Nærøy, Nord-Trøndelag)
34.1 %, Årdal vidaregåande skule (Årdal, Sogn og Fjordane)
29.3 %, Meråker videregående skole (Meråker, Nord-Trøndelag)

Best results for Miljøpartiet De Grønne (Green Party)
31.1 %, Oslo By Steinerskole (Oslo)
14.5 %, Persbråten videregående skole (Oslo)
13.6 %, Hartvig Nissens skole (Oslo)
13.4 %, Stavanger katedralskole (Stavanger, Rogaland)
11.9 %, Bergen Katedralskole (Bergen, Hordaland)

Best results for Rødt (Red Party)
38.8 %, Nord-Gudbrandsdal vgs., avd. Otta (Sel, Oppland)
27.6 %, Bjørnholt skole (Oslo)
25.2 %, Breivika videregående skole (Tromsø, Troms)
24.9 %, Vinstra vidaregåande skule (Nord-Fron, Oppland)
22.1 %, Lena videregående skole (Østre Toten, Oppland)

Best results for Kristelig Folkeparti (Christian Democratic Party)
57.7 %, Drottningborg videregående skole (Grimstad, Aust-Agder)
56.8 %, Framnes kristne vidaregåande skule (Kvam, Hordaland)
54.8 %, Sygna vidaregåande skule (Balestrand, Sogn og Fjordane)
52.8 %, Tryggheim vidaregåande skole (Hå, Rogaland)
51.8 %, Lundeneset vidaregåande skole (Vindafjord, Rogaland)

Worst results for Høyre (Conservative Party)
1.9 %, Val videregående skole (Nærøy, Nord-Trøndelag)
3.8 %, Mære landbruksskole (Steinkjer, Nord-Trøndelag)
6.1 %, Bardufoss Høgtun videregående skole, avd. Høgtun (Målselv, Troms)
6.7 %, Hadsel videregående skole, skolested Melbu (Hadsel, Nordland)
7.4 %, Vinstra vidaregåande skule (Nord-Fron, Oppland)

Worst results for Arbeiderpartiet (Labour Party)
1.2 %, Lundeneset vidaregåande skole (Vindafjord, Rogaland)
1.6 %, Drottningborg videregående skole (Grimstad, Aust-Agder)
2.5 %, Framnes kristne vidaregåande skule (Kvam, Hordaland)
2.5 %, Oslo private gymnasium (Oslo)
2.8 %, KVS-Lyngdal (Lyngdal, Vest-Agder)

Worst results for Fremskrittspartiet (Progress Party)
1.0 %, Bergen Katedralskole (Bergen, Hordaland)
1.1 %, Firda vidaregåande skule (Gloppen, Sogn og Fjordane)
1.1 %, Oslo By Steinerskole (Oslo)
1.4 %, Stavanger katedralskole (Stavanger, Rogaland)
1.6 %, Lakselv videregående skole (Porsanger, Finnmark)

[Lurker]

They look very mature. If they were held in Italy there would be a huge victory of extremist-populis parties like 5star movement.

They used to be won by the fringe parties (SV and FrP). Youth have become more moderate in recent years, though.

At my old high school (Valler), Venstre recieved 35,7%. FrP and SV recieved around 7,5% together.

Yeah, Frp was the largest party as recently as 2009.

Very surprising that Høyre didn't become the largest party at Valler, they are usually very dominant in Bærum

I wonder in which schools the parties got their best and worst results  - is this said anywhere? Handelsgym is Høyre's best school in Oslo, getting 63% of the vote there. Ulsrud seems to be APs best result with 67%.

There you go.

(I only considered schools at which at least 100 valid votes were cast.)

Best results for Høyre (Conservative Party)
62.5 %, Oslo handelsgymnasium (Oslo)
57.0 %, WANG Oslo/WANG Toppidrett Oslo (Oslo)
56.1 %, Akademiet videregående skole i Drammen (Drammen, Buskerud)
56.0 %, Wang Toppidrett Tønsberg (Tønsberg, Vestfold)
55.0 %, Oslo private gymnasium (Oslo)

Best results for Arbeiderpartiet (Labour Party)
66.5 %, Ulsrud videregående skole (Oslo)
56.5 %, Sofienberg videregående skole (Oslo)
53.4 %, Holtet videregående skole (Oslo)
53.2 %, Bjerke videregående skole (Oslo)
47.1 %, Etterstad videregående skole (Oslo)

Best results for Fremskrittspartiet (Progress Party)
62.9 %, Hadsel videregående skole, skolested Melbu (Hadsel, Nordland)
52.1 %, Norheimsund vidaregåande skule (Kvam, Hordaland)
49.3 %, Meldal videregående skole (Meldal, Sør-Trøndelag)
49.0 %, Stangnes videregående skole (Harstad, Troms)
46.6 %, Polarsirkelen videregående skole, avd. Kongsvegen (Rana, Nordland)

Best results for Venstre (Liberal Party)
35.7 %, Valler videregående skole (Bærum, Akershus)
29.4 %, Firda vidaregåande skule (Gloppen, Sogn og Fjordane)
26.2 %, Garnes vidaregåande skule (Bergen, Hordaland)
24.6 %, Knut Hamsun videregående skole (Hamarøy, Nordland)
23.9 %, Bergen Katedralskole (Bergen, Hordaland)

Best results for Sosialistisk Venstreparti (Socialist Left Party)
26.3 %, Fyrstikkalleen skole (Oslo)
25.4 %, Ski videregående skole (Ski, Akershus)
22.9 %, Vadsø videregående skole (Vadsø, Finnmark)
22.1 %, Inderøy videregående skole (Inderøy, Nord-Trøndelag)
21.8 %, Hartvig Nissens skole (Oslo)

Best results for Piratpartiet (Pirate Party)
12.5 %, Melhus videregående skole (Melhus, Sør-Trøndelag)
12.0 %, Fosen videregående skole (Bjugn, Sør-Trøndelag)
12.0 %, Meløy videregående skole, avd. Glomfjord (Meløy, Nordland)
11.7 %, Malvik videregående skole (Malvik, Sør-Trøndelag)
11.1 %, Andøy videregående skole (Andøy, Nordland)

Best results for Senterpartiet (Centre Party)
46.2 %, Mære landbruksskole (Steinkjer, Nord-Trøndelag)
37.4 %, Nord-Troms videregående skole (Nordreisa, Troms)
35.2 %, Val videregående skole (Nærøy, Nord-Trøndelag)
34.1 %, Årdal vidaregåande skule (Årdal, Sogn og Fjordane)
29.3 %, Meråker videregående skole (Meråker, Nord-Trøndelag)

Best results for Miljøpartiet De Grønne (Green Party)
31.1 %, Oslo By Steinerskole (Oslo)
14.5 %, Persbråten videregående skole (Oslo)
13.6 %, Hartvig Nissens skole (Oslo)
13.4 %, Stavanger katedralskole (Stavanger, Rogaland)
11.9 %, Bergen Katedralskole (Bergen, Hordaland)

Best results for Rødt (Red Party)
38.8 %, Nord-Gudbrandsdal vgs., avd. Otta (Sel, Oppland)
27.6 %, Bjørnholt skole (Oslo)
25.2 %, Breivika videregående skole (Tromsø, Troms)
24.9 %, Vinstra vidaregåande skule (Nord-Fron, Oppland)
22.1 %, Lena videregående skole (Østre Toten, Oppland)

Best results for Kristelig Folkeparti (Christian Democratic Party)
57.7 %, Drottningborg videregående skole (Grimstad, Aust-Agder)
56.8 %, Framnes kristne vidaregåande skule (Kvam, Hordaland)
54.8 %, Sygna vidaregåande skule (Balestrand, Sogn og Fjordane)
52.8 %, Tryggheim vidaregåande skole (Hå, Rogaland)
51.8 %, Lundeneset vidaregåande skole (Vindafjord, Rogaland)

Worst results for Høyre (Conservative Party)
1.9 %, Val videregående skole (Nærøy, Nord-Trøndelag)
3.8 %, Mære landbruksskole (Steinkjer, Nord-Trøndelag)
6.1 %, Bardufoss Høgtun videregående skole, avd. Høgtun (Målselv, Troms)
6.7 %, Hadsel videregående skole, skolested Melbu (Hadsel, Nordland)
7.4 %, Vinstra vidaregåande skule (Nord-Fron, Oppland)

Worst results for Arbeiderpartiet (Labour Party)
1.2 %, Lundeneset vidaregåande skole (Vindafjord, Rogaland)
1.6 %, Drottningborg videregående skole (Grimstad, Aust-Agder)
2.5 %, Framnes kristne vidaregåande skule (Kvam, Hordaland)
2.5 %, Oslo private gymnasium (Oslo)
2.8 %, KVS-Lyngdal (Lyngdal, Vest-Agder)

Worst results for Fremskrittspartiet (Progress Party)
1.0 %, Bergen Katedralskole (Bergen, Hordaland)
1.1 %, Firda vidaregåande skule (Gloppen, Sogn og Fjordane)
1.1 %, Oslo By Steinerskole (Oslo)
1.4 %, Stavanger katedralskole (Stavanger, Rogaland)
1.6 %, Lakselv videregående skole (Porsanger, Finnmark)

Danke!