Synopsis
On February 4, Norway's Labour Party officially took control of the government for the first time in 25 years, with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store announcing his new cabinet amid a challenging political landscape.Key Takeaways
- Norwegian Labour Party governs independently for the first time in 25 years.
- Jonas Gahr Store introduces his new cabinet.
- Jens Stoltenberg returns as finance minister.
- Centre Party exits the coalition, promising constructive opposition.
- Concerns raised about government stability and energy policies.
Oslo, Feb 4 (NationPress) The Norwegian Labour Party is now governing independently for the first time in a quarter of a century, as Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store unveiled his new cabinet on Tuesday.
"I stand here today with the first purely Labour Party government in 25 years," Store stated during a press briefing at Royal Palace Square in Oslo. "We are prepared to lead Norway through a very challenging period ahead."
The government transition ceremony took place at the Royal Palace, where Store and his newly appointed ministers were formally introduced.
A significant aspect of the reshuffle is the return of Jens Stoltenberg, the former Prime Minister and current Secretary General of NATO, who will serve as Norway's finance minister.
The Centre Party officially exited the government last Thursday. Its parliamentary leader, Marit Arnstad, indicated that the party would adopt a "factual and constructive" approach while in opposition, but promised to remain critical when necessary.
"We will closely examine the government's energy policies and specific elements of its climate strategy," Arnstad mentioned, according to the Xinhua news agency.
The opposition leader has expressed doubts regarding the government’s stability. Erna Solberg, leader of the Conservative Party, asserted that this political shift would not introduce a new direction.
"Although Labour is introducing new faces, their policies remain unchanged. With a diminished position in Parliament, they will need to negotiate with both the Centre Party and the Socialist Left Party, leading to more unpredictable governance," Solberg remarked to the Norwegian news agency NTB.
Despite Norway not being a member of the EU, it has partially aligned with EU energy policies. Store has advocated for the implementation of the EU's "Clean Energy for All Europeans" package, which the Centre Party opposed, particularly rejecting three directives on renewable energy, overall energy efficiency, and energy efficiency in buildings.
Store maintained that these directives would support Norwegian businesses, have no effect on electricity prices, and would not compromise sovereignty to Brussels. Instead, he argued that their adoption would enhance Norway's relationship with the EU, especially amidst rising tensions over a potential trade conflict between the bloc and the United States under President Donald Trump.
