Conservative Party (Norway)

Conservative Party Høyre
Abbreviation	H
Leader	Erna Solberg
Parliamentary leader	Trond Helleland
Founded	25 August 1884
Headquarters	Stortingsgaten 20 0161, Oslo
Youth wing	Norwegian Young Conservatives
LGBT wing	Åpne Høyre [1]
Membership (2020)	29,690 [2]
Ideology	Liberal conservatism
Political position	Centre-right
European affiliation	European People's Party (associate)
International affiliation	International Democrat Union
Nordic affiliation	Conservative Group
Colours	Blue
Slogan	"Vi tror på Norge" ("We Believe in Norway") [3]
Storting	36 / 169
County councils	167 / 777
Municipal councils [4]	1,717 / 10,620
Sámi Parliament	0 / 39
Website
høyre.no
Politics of Norway Political parties Elections

The Conservative Party or The Right (Bokmål : Høyre, Nynorsk : Høgre, lit. 'Right', H; Northern Sami : Olgešbellodat) is a liberal-conservative political party in Norway. ^{[5] [6]} It is the major party of the Norwegian centre-right, ^{[7] [8] [9]} and was the leading party in government as part of the Solberg cabinet from 2013 to 2021. The current party leader is former Prime Minister Erna Solberg. The party is a member of the International Democrat Union and an associate member of the European People's Party.

The party is traditionally a pragmatic and politically moderate conservative party strongly associated with the traditional elites within the civil service and Norwegian business life. During the 20th century, the party has advocated economic liberalism, tax cuts, individual rights, support of monarchism, the Church of Norway and the Armed Forces, anti-communism, pro-Europeanism, and support of the Nordic model; over time, the party's values have become more socially liberal in areas such as gender equality, LGBT rights, and immigration and integration issues; the party defines itself as a party pursuing a "conservative progressive policy based on Christian cultural values, constitutional government and democracy". ^{[10] [11]} In line with its Western bloc alignment during the Cold War era, the party strongly supports NATO, which Norway co-founded, and has consistently been the most outspokenly pro-European Union party in Norway, ^{[12] [13]} supporting Norwegian membership during both the 1972 and 1994 referendums. ^[14]

The Conservative Party traditionally caters to the educated elite; it has the most highly educated voters of all parties, and is the most popular party among elite groups. ^{[15] [16]} In the postwar era, the party formed a grand consensus with the Labour Party regarding foreign and security policy—frequently expressed by the maxim "the foreign policy is settled" (utenrikspolitikken ligger fast)—that led Norway to co-found NATO and enter into a close alliance with the United States, and the parties' economic policies have gradually become more similar. Both parties are pragmatic, relatively technocratic, anti-populist, and close to the political centre. ^[17] The party supports the Nordic model but also a certain amount of semi-privatisation through state-funded private services. ^[18]

Founded in 1884, the Conservative Party is the second-oldest political party in Norway after the Liberal Party. ^[19] In the interwar era, one of the main goals for the party was to achieve a centre-right alliance against the growing labour movement, when the party went into decline. In the post-war era until 2005, the party participated in six governments: two 1960s national governments (Lyng's Cabinet and Borten's Cabinet); one 1980s Conservative Party minority government (Willoch's First Cabinet); two 1980s three-party governments (Willoch's Second Cabinet and Syse's Cabinet); in the 2000s Bondevik's Second Cabinet; and from 2013 to 2021 it was the dominant partner in a coalition government that also included the Christian Democrats and the Liberal Party. ^[18]

The Conservative Party is now under intense pressure following the revelations that Sindre Finnes, husband of Erna Solberg, has been involved in extensive insider trading while Erna Solberg was Prime Minister. ^{[20] [21]} Ine Eriksen Søreide is being pointed out as a possible new leader for The Conservative Party.

History

Emil Stang, founder

The Conservative Party of Norway (Høire, now spelled Høyre, lit. "The Right") was founded in 1884 after the implementation of parliamentarism in Norway. The jurist Emil Stang was elected the first chairman of the party. Stang underlined important principles for the work in Høyre. The party was to be a social party of reforms that worked within the constitutional frames set by a parliamentary democracy.

Høyre's electoral support has varied. In the 1981 election it obtained 31.7%, its best result since 1924. The result in 1993 was 17%, which saw the election influenced by the EU membership issue which divided the Liberal Party. The 1997 parliamentary election resulted in the lowest support for Høyre since 1945, with only 14.3% of the votes. Since then it has seen support ranging from just over 14% to just under 27%.

Early 1900s

In the beginning of the 20th century, Høyre took the initiative to construct a modern Norwegian communications network. After the devastating First World War the party felt it important to work for the reconstruction of sound economic policies. An example of this is the resolution Høyre passed in 1923 introducing old-age insurance; owing to the condition of the state's finances it was not possible to continue this effort. It was the leading party in opposition during the post-war years in Norway, and fought against the Labour Party's regulating policy. Høyre wanted another future for Norway, consisting of private initiative and creative forces.

Høyre has been active in the construction of the welfare system in Norway, and has on several occasions taken the initiative to correct injustices in social care regulations.^{[ citation needed ]} Additionally, Høyre has advocated that the state's activity must concentrate on its basic problems and their solutions.

Post-war years

During Norway's post-war years Høyre has consolidated its position as a party with appeal to all parts of the nation. Non-socialist co-operation as an alternative to socialism has always been one of Høyre's main aims. Høyre has led several coalition governments. The Christian Democratic Party was one of Høyre's coalition partners both in 1983–86 and 1989–90.

The party strongly supported the Western alignment of Norway during the Cold War; it strongly supports NATO, which Norway co-founded in 1949, and has consistently been the most outspokenly pro-European Union party in Norway, supporting Norwegian membership during both the referendum of 1972 and that of 1994. ^[14]

At the parliamentary election in 1993, it was impossible to present a credible non-socialist government alternative, because Høyre's former coalition parties, The Christian Democrats and the Centre Party, both campaigned strongly against Norwegian membership of the EU.

Before the parliamentary election in 1997 the Labour Party proclaimed that it would not be willing to govern the country if it did not obtain more than 36.9% of the votes. In the event it obtained 35%, and other parties had to form a government. Originally, there were serious discussions between Høyre, the Christian Democrats and Venstre concerning this task, but in the end the two latter parties joined forces with the Centre Party to create a minority government without Høyre.

Today

In the parliamentary election in September 2001, Høyre obtained 21.2 percent of the votes. After a series of discussions Høyre was once again able to take part in a coalition government, this time with the Christian Democratic Party (KrF), and the Liberal Party (V). The total percentage obtained for these three parties at last general election was 37.5. Høyre, as the largest party in the coalition government, had 38 members in the present Storting, and 10 of the 19 ministers in the Government were Høyre representatives. Høyre's three focal areas this period were to establish a rise in quality in Norway's educational system, lower taxes and produce a higher service level in state sectors.

In the 2005 parliamentary election, Høyre obtained 14.1% of the votes. The election outcome put Høyre back in opposition, and the party got 23 members in the present Storting.

In the 2009 parliamentary election, Høyre obtained 17.2% of the votes, and 30 members in the present Storting.

During the local elections of 2011, however, the party gained 27.6 percent of the vote, and it has since then, without exceptions, polled first and second.

In the 2013 parliamentary election, Høyre obtained 26.8 percent of the votes, and 48 members in the present Storting. Høyre formed a minority government, with confidence and supply from KrF and V. The Government was reelected in 2017 and became a majority Government in 2019.

Ideology

Høyre has been described as a conservative ^{[22] [23] [24] [25]} or liberal conservative party, ^{[5] [25] [26] [27]} and it defines itself as a party pursuing a "conservative progressive policy based on Christian cultural values, constitutional government and democracy." ^[10]

Høyre is considered a centre-right reform party profess to the moderately conservative political tradition, similar to the CDU of Germany. The party broadly supports the Nordic model, like all large parties in Norway. In relative terms, the party advocates a degree of fiscal free-market policies, including tax cuts and relatively little government involvement in the economy, while still supporting the welfare state and the social market economy. Høyre is also the only party in the Storting which proposes a reduction in public spending.

Traditionally, the party supports established institutions such as the monarchy, the armed forces, and the state Church of Norway. Its social policies were always considered moderate and pragmatic for its time, but have gradually become more socially liberal. The party voted in 2008 for a law that recognised same-sex marriage and gay adoption rights. ^[28]

Membership and voter demographic

The party has around 30,000 registered members (2018). The Central Board of the Conservative Party meets seven times a year to discuss important matters such as budget, organisational work, plans, party platforms, and drawing up political lines.

The party traditionally caters to the educated elite; it has the most highly educated voters of all parties, and is the most popular party among elite groups. ^{[15] [16]}

List of party chairmen and leaders

Chairperson and former Prime Minister Erna Solberg

Former Prime Minister and Chairperson Jan P. Syse

Former Prime Minister and Chairperson Kåre Willoch

• Emil Stang, 1884–1889
• Christian Homann Schweigaard, 1889–1891
• Emil Stang, 1891–1893
• Christian Homann Schweigaard, 1893–1896
• Emil Stang, 1896–1899
• Francis Hagerup, 1899–1902
• Ole Larsen Skattebøl, 1902–1905
• Edm. Harbitz, 1905–1907
• Fredrik Stang, 1907–1911
• Jens Bratlie, 1911–1919
• Otto Bahr Halvorsen, 1919–1923
• Ivar Lykke, 1923–1926
• Carl Joachim Hambro, 1926–1934
• Johan H. Andresen, 1934–1937
• Ole Ludvig Bærøe, 1937–1940
• Arthur Nordlie, 1945–1950
• Carl Joachim Hambro, 1950–1954
• Alv Kjøs, 1954–1962
• Sjur Lindebrække, 1962–1970
• Kåre Willoch, 1970–1974
• Erling Norvik, 1974–1980
• Jo Benkow, 1980–1984
• Erling Norvik, 1984–1986
• Rolf Presthus, 1986–1988
• Kaci Kullmann Five, 1988
• Jan P. Syse, 1988–1991
• Kaci Kullmann Five, 1991–1994
• Jan Petersen, 1994–2004
• Erna Solberg, 2004–present

Electoral results

Storting

Date	Votes			Seats		Position	Size
	#	%	± pp	#	±
1885	33,284	36.6	0.6 [lower-alpha 1]	30 / 114	1	Opposition	2nd
1888	36,564	38.7	2.1	51 / 114	21	Opposition (1888)	1st
						Minority (from 1889)
1891	50,059	49.2 [lower-alpha 2]	10.5	35 / 114	16	Opposition	2nd
1894	81,462	49.3 [lower-alpha 2]	0.1	40 / 114	5	Opposition	2nd
1897	77,682	46.7 [lower-alpha 2]	2.6	25 / 114	15	Opposition	2nd
1900	96,092	40.8 [lower-alpha 2]	5.9	31 / 114	6	Opposition	2nd
1903	106,042	44.8 [lower-alpha 2]	4.0	47 / 117	16	Coalition (1903–1905, H–V–S)	2nd
						Coalition (1905–1906, H–V–MV)
1906	Within the Coalition Party		12.0 [lower-alpha 3]	36 / 123	26 [lower-alpha 3]	Opposition	2nd
1909	175,388	41.5 [lower-alpha 4]	8.7	64 / 123	29	Opposition (1909–1910)	1st
						Coalition (from 1910, H–FV)
1912	162,074	33.2 [lower-alpha 4]	8.3	24 / 123	40	Coalition (1912–1913, H–FV)	2nd
						Opposition (from 1913)
1915	179,028	29.0 [lower-alpha 4]	4.2	21 / 123	3	Opposition	2nd
1918	201,325	30.4 [lower-alpha 4]	1.4	49 / 126	28	Opposition (1918–1920)	2nd
						Coalition (from 1920, H–FV)
1921	301,372	33.3 [lower-alpha 4]	2.9	57 / 150	8	Opposition (1921–1923)	1st
						Coalition (from 1923, H–FV)
1924	316,846	32.5 [lower-alpha 4]	0.8	54 / 150	3	Opposition (1924–1926)	1st
						Coalition (from 1926, H–FV)
1927	240,091	24.0 [lower-alpha 4]	8.5	31 / 150	23	Coalition (1927–1928, H–FV)	3rd
						Opposition (from 1928)
1930	327,731	27.4 [lower-alpha 4]	3.4	44 / 150	13	Opposition	2nd
1933	252,506	20.2 [lower-alpha 4]	7.2	30 / 150	14	Opposition	2nd
1936	310,324	21.3 [lower-alpha 4]	1.1	36 / 150	6	Opposition	2nd
1945	252,608	17.0	4.3	25 / 150	11	Opposition	2nd
1949	279,790	18.3 [lower-alpha 5]	1.3	23 / 150	2	Opposition	2nd
1953	327,971	18.6 [lower-alpha 5]	0.3	27 / 150	4	Opposition	2nd
1957	301,395	18.9 [lower-alpha 5]	0.3	29 / 150	2	Opposition	2nd
1961	354,369	20.0 [lower-alpha 5]	1.1	29 / 150	0	Opposition [lower-alpha 6]	2nd
1965	415,612	21.1 [lower-alpha 5]	1.1	31 / 150	2	Coalition (1965–1969, H–V–Sp–KrF)	2nd
1969	406,209	19.6 [lower-alpha 5]	1.5	29 / 150	2	Coalition (1969–1971, H–V–Sp–KrF)	2nd
						Opposition (from 1971)
1973	370,370	17.4 [lower-alpha 5]	2.2	29 / 155	0	Opposition	2nd
1977	563,783	24.8 [lower-alpha 5]	7.4	41 / 155	12	Opposition	2nd
1981	780,372	31.7	6.9	53 / 155	12	Minority (1981–1983)	2nd
						Coalition (from 1983, H–KrF–Sp)
1985	791,537	30.4	1.3	50 / 157	3	Coalition (1985–1986, H–KrF–Sp)	2nd
						Opposition (from 1986)
1989	588,682	22.2	8.2	37 / 165	13	Coalition (1989–1990, H–KrF–Sp)	2nd
						Opposition (from 1990)
1993	419,373	17.0	5.2	28 / 165	9	Opposition	3rd
1997	370,441	14.3	2.7	23 / 165	5	Opposition	4th
2001	534,852	21.2	6.9	38 / 165	15	Coalition (H–KrF–V)	2nd
2005	372,008	14.1	7.1	23 / 169	15	Opposition	3rd
2009	462,465	17.2	3.1	30 / 169	7	Opposition	3rd
2013	760,232	26.8	9.6	48 / 169	18	Coalition (H–FrP)	2nd
2017	732,897	25.0	1.8	45 / 169	3	Coalition (2017–2018, H–FrP)	2nd
						Coalition (2018–2019, H–FrP–V)
						Coalition (2019–2020, H–FrP–V–KrF)
						Coalition (from 2020, H–V–KrF)
2021	607,316	20.5	4.5	36 / 169	9	Opposition	2nd

See also

• Conservatism portal
• Norway portal
• Politics portal

• Politics of Norway

Notes

1. Compared to the Conservatives, a broad movement opposing parliamentarism prior to the creation of political parties (in contrast with the Liberals which supported it). The Conservative Party was formed in 1884 in connection with this dispute.
2. Contested the election in alliance with the Moderate Liberal Party.
3. Compared to the combined seats and vote share of the Conservative Party, the Moderate Liberal Party, and the Coalition Party in the previous parliament.
4. Includes vote share and seats of the Free-minded Liberal Party (Statistics Norway). ^[29]
5. The Conservative Party ran on joint lists in a limited number of constituencies from 1949 to 1977. Vote numbers are from independent Conservative lists only, while vote percentage also includes the Conservative Party's estimated share from joint lists (Statistics Norway estimates). ^[30]
6. In government coalition from 28 August 1963 to 25 September 1963, see Lyng's Cabinet.

References

1. "Forsiden - Åpne Høyre" . Retrieved 5 April 2021.
2. "God medlemsvekst". Hoyre (in Norwegian). 14 January 2020.
3. "Høyre - Vi tror på Norge" . Retrieved 5 April 2021.
4. "Høgre". Valg 2011 (in Norwegian). Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 26 September 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
5. Nordsieck, Wolfram (2017). "Norway". Parties and Elections in Europe. Archived from the original on 24 August 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
6. "Valgomaten: Riksdekkende 2007". Aftenposten . 2007. Archived from the original on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
7. "The political framework of Norway". Nordea. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
8. "Norway election: Terror survivors run for parliament". BBC News. 8 September 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
9. "Norway's opposition Labour party leads in opinion poll". Reuters. 19 August 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
10. Information about Høyre
11. Wayne C. Thompson (2012), Nordic, Central and Southeastern Europe 2012 , p.54.
12. "Høyre" Archived 26 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine . Store norske leksikon. "Ved EF/EU-avstemningene i 1972 og 1994 var Høyre det klareste ja-partiet."
13. "Høyre" Archived 1 June 2019 at the Wayback Machine Høyre's Politikk. "Høyre ønsker å erstatte EØS-avtalen med full deltagelse i EU."
14. Tvedt, Knut Are (31 October 2009). "Høyre". In Pettersen, Henrik (ed.). Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. Archived from the original on 2 January 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
15. "Syv grafer som viser hvor forskjellige Høyre og Frp-velgerne faktisk er". www.aftenposten.no. 23 April 2015.
16. Nicolajsen, Av Stian. "Eliten skyr Frp og Sp". Klassekampen.
17. "På sitt beste har Ap ført bedre høyrepolitikk enn Høyre". Civita. 5 April 2020.
18. Helljesen, Vilje; Bakken, Laila Ø. "Høyre – skatter, skole og frihet". Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 17 September 2009. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
19. "Partienes historie". Eidsvoll 1814. Archived from the original on 21 April 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
20. Milne, Richard (15 September 2023). "Conflicts of interest rattle Norway's political class". Financial Times. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
21. Nina (15 September 2023). "Erna's husband lands her in trouble". Norway's News in English — www.newsinenglish.no. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
22. Slomp, Hans (2011). Europe, A Political Profile: An American Companion to European Politics. ABC-CLIO. ISBN   978-0-313-39182-8 . Retrieved 13 August 2018.
23. "Norway - Political parties" Archived 5 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine . Norsk samfunnsvitenskapelig datatjeneste.
24. "Høyre" Archived 26 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine . Store norske leksikon. "Høyre er et norsk konservativt politisk parti... Høyres politikk bygger på tankegods fra konservatismen og liberalismen."
25. Hårstad, Renate M. B. (18 August 2022). "Political parties' framing of farm animal welfare: A fragmented picture". European Policy Analysis. 9: 30–47. doi: 10.1002/epa2.1154 . S2CID   251677264 . Retrieved 5 January 2022.
26. Bentzen, Naja (September 2017). "Norway's political parties ahead of the elections" (PDF). European Parliament . Retrieved 5 January 2022.
27. Lake, Tom. "MNI POLITICAL RISK ANALYSIS – Norway Election Preview" (PDF). MNI – Market News . Retrieved 5 January 2022.
28. John Kaare Bjerkan: Historisk vedtak Archived 11 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine NRK, 11 June 2008
29. "Statistisk årbok 2000, Tabell 2: Stortingsvalg. Valgte representanter, etter parti. 1906–2001". ssb.no. Archived from the original on 10 June 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
30. "Tabell 25.3 Stortingsvalg. Godkjente stemmer etter parti1. Prosent". ssb.no. Archived from the original on 16 September 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2018.

External links

• (in Norwegian) Høyre – Official site
• (in English) Conservative Party (Høyre) – Information in English
• (in Norwegian) Unge Høyre – Official site of the Young Conservatives
• (in Norwegian) Høyres Studenterforbund – Site of the Conservative Students' Union
• Election results for the Conservative Party in the 2011 local elections