Norwegian Election Shifts Focus Away From Prime Ministerial Candidates
Oslo, Norway - Recent polling data suggests a potential shift in Norway’s upcoming election, diminishing the likelihood of a direct contest between current Prime Minister Erna Solberg and Progress Party (Frp) leader Sylvi Listhaug for the premiership. The Progress Party is now projected to emerge as the largest party on the center-right, yet Listhaug has consistently avoided explicitly declaring herself a prime ministerial candidate throughout the campaign. This development alters the political landscape, potentially removing a key point of contention as negotiations begin to form a governing coalition.
The evolving election forecast comes as Frp’s standing has unexpectedly risen. While the party initially did not anticipate being the dominant force within the bourgeois bloc, current projections indicate a strong possibility of this outcome.Listhaug’s reluctance to stake a claim on the Prime Minister’s office,a tactic that has drawn attention throughout the election cycle,may now be less critical as the focus shifts towards coalition building and broader political strategy.
The situation suggests that the primary question facing the center-right parties may no longer be who will be Prime Minister – Solberg or Listhaug – but rather how they will collaborate to establish a viable government. This change in dynamic could streamline negotiations and potentially lead to a more unified front.
The article was published on September 8, 2025, at 9:40 PM and last updated at 11:36 PM.
