Støre, Norway's prime minister, triumphantly announces election victory

In the recently concluded Norwegian parliamentary election, the Labour Party, led by incumbent Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, emerged as the strongest force, securing 28.2% of the votes. This result marks a significant victory for Støre, who has been Norway's prime minister since 2021.

The election saw a shift in the political landscape, with the right-wing populist Progress Party recording the largest gain compared to the 2021 parliamentary election, with a rise of 12.3 percentage points, making them the second strongest force with 23.9% of the votes.

All parties of the red-green camp have expressed their support for a government led by Jonas Gahr Støre during the election campaign. This left-of-center bloc, consisting of five parties, has secured 87 seats in the Norwegian parliament, holding a narrow majority with 169 seats.

The election results indicate that Støre can continue to hope for support for his policies in the future. It is worth noting that a minority government is sufficient in Norway if no majority in parliament votes against the prime minister's plans. This has been the case for Støre since 2021, and it appears that this will continue.

The Conservatives (Høyre), led by former Prime Minister Erna Solberg, came in third place with 14.6% of the votes, representing a loss of 5.7 percentage points compared to 2021. The Centre Party and the Liberals (Venstre) also experienced losses, with the Centre Party losing 7.9% and the Liberals experiencing a slight loss of 0.9%.

Around four million Norwegians were called to the polls, and the voter turnout was reported at 78.8%, according to the Norwegian election authority's announcement on Monday evening. The final election results are expected in the coming days.

Despite the changes in the political landscape, it is clear that Jonas Gahr Støre has the backing of a majority in the Norwegian parliament to continue his leadership. The coming days will reveal more about the specifics of the government he will lead and the policies he will pursue.