History of the Socialist Left Party

Last updated

Former party leader Kristin Halvorsen at the World Economic Forum panel discussion in January 2008 Kristin Halvorsen - World Economic Forum Annual Meeting Davos 2008.jpg
Former party leader Kristin Halvorsen at the World Economic Forum panel discussion in January 2008

The Socialist Left Party of Norway (Norwegian : Sosialistisk Venstreparti or SV) was founded in 1975. Its history shows a long-term rise in political influence, resulting in part from its emergence from older left-wing parties, especially the Socialist People's Party. After initial political setbacks in the 1970s, the party reorganized and regained support, particularly under Theo Koritzinsky (1983–87) and Erik Solheim (1987–97). Support dropped in the 1997 parliamentary election but rose again by the 21st Century, thanks to the party's position as the only sizeable party to the left of the Norwegian Labour Party. Labour's move further to the right under Jens Stoltenberg also helped the party's rise. By 2005, the Socialist Left Party had joined the Labour and Centre parties in Norway's governing Red-Green Coalition. The party has been led by Audun Lysbakken since 11 March 2012.

Contents

Formation and early years (1973–76)

Socialist Electoral League (1973–75)

YearVote %Type
1973 11.2%Parliament

After losing all of its seats in the 1969 parliamentary election, the Socialist People's Party sought to create a coalition of various left-wing parties. [1] Although previously sceptical about working with the Communist Party, it became a member of the coalition, along with the Democratic Socialists – AIK and various independent socialists. [2] Reidar T. Larsen, then leader of the Communist Party, said that members at the party's national convention voted unanimously in favour of joining the coalition, which would later go by the name of the Socialist Electoral League. [3]

The four leading members of the coalition were Finn Gustavsen, Berge Furre (both from the Socialist People's Party), Berit Ås (from AIK) and Larsen (from the Communist Party). Furre and Ås emphasized that the three parties were still operating independently in 1973, while Larsen was very pleased with the outcome, saying that the main object of the Communist Party was to "unite all socialist parties" in one joint cause. The coalition also stressed that they did not want to create a joint platform for the three parties, claiming it to be unimportant for their image. [4] A meeting in September elected Gustavsen as parliamentary leader of the coalition, Roald Halvorsen from the Communist Party as general secretary, and Larsen and Ås to the group board. It was decided that Torild Skard would seek the position of President of the Storting. After the meeting, the party sought to build a closer relationship with the Labour Party and said they would support a Labour-run minority government. [5]

Communist Party and founding (1975)

By late 1975, most Communist Party members were against dissolving the party to join what would become the Socialist Left. Reidar T. Larsen, the party leader at the time, supported dissolving the party, while deputy leader Martin Gunnar Knutsen wanted it to continue. Signs before the election showed that the majority supported Knudsen. The media speculated that a faction led by Larsen would split from the party to join the ranks of the Socialist Left. [6]

In the Oslo chapter of the coalition, the Communist Party wanted Arne Jørgensen, editor-in-chief of the Norwegian newspaper Friheten , to get the top position on the election list for the 1975 local elections. However, most Socialist People's Party members in the Oslo chapter did not want him to top the list, because of his background in Norwegian local politics. Socialist People's Party members stated that they had nothing against nominating Communist Party members, pointing out that they had placed communist Karl Kromann in second place. Jørgensen lost the election for the first spot, instead obtaining 11th place on the list and eventually losing his nomination to Socialist People's Party official Fred Dunhaug. Parliamentary leader Finn Gustavsen officially endorsed Jørgensen's candidacy during the national convention in Trondheim, saying he did not want to "split the coalition", which would wreck his plan to unite the coalition into one political party. In May, the Oslo chapter of the coalition held an oral ballot for the top place on the election list, and Jørgensen received 189 votes against Dunhaug's 192. Because the margin was so small, they decided to hold a written ballot, and Dunhaug received 197 votes to Jørgensen's 196. After this result, twenty-one other communist candidates withdrew from their candidacy. This event damaged the unification process and internal conflict continued. [7]

Another conflict between the Socialist People's Party and the Communist Party was the proposal to merge the two party papers, Friheten and Orientering, into a new one. However, Larsen rejected this offer, preferring the two papers to continue even if the two parties merged. Berit Ås felt that the party leadership had weakened its position, saying that they had "kicked the ball over to the communists". [8] After the Communist Party rejected the offer, Orientering was replaced by Ny Tid . [9]

While it was always clear where Larsen stood in the unification process, ever since he became leader of the Communist Party in 1969, he had been able to maintain a strong following in the party. But his support started to waver when he wanted to put an end to the pro-Soviet line the party had held under the leadership of Emil Løvlien. Larsen had always held a vision of one single united left-wing party to the left of Labour, but this vision was not supported by the communist hardliners. In the aftermath of the Communist Party national convention, Larsen said that his speech was "behind closed doors – and behind closed ears". He suffered a clear defeat at the party conference, and he and his remaining supporters left the Communist Party to join the Socialist Left, [10] newly founded by the Socialist People's Party and the AIK without the Communist Party. Because the policies of the Socialist Left were nearly identical to those of the Socialist People's Party, it has often been seen as the latter's direct successor. [9]

Berit Ås (1975–76)

YearVote %Type
1975 5.5%
5.7%
Municipal
County

Berit Ås, a compromise candidate for the party leadership, was elected at the so-called unification congress. During the 1975 local elections she became the party's most influential figure. However, her campaigning and her debating skills were criticised both by the Norwegian press and within her own party. During the election campaign, Ås wanted to become the party's representative at the leader debates, a position held since the 1960s by Finn Gustavsen from the Socialist People's Party. The weekly newspaper Dag og Tid described Ås' performance at the leader debates as "messy". [11]

At the party's first national convention in November 1975, it was decided to maintain "a soft party line" towards the remaining Communist Party members still active in the Socialist Left Party. However, they did urge them to leave the Communist Party. Rune Fredh, who had supported Larsen in the Communist Party, called the situation "insane". He still believed that Larsen and the remaining communists would continue to fight for communism in the Soviet Union and the Eastern Bloc. [12]

After experiencing what many observers called a bad election in 1976, a national convention was held early in 1976. During her short tenure, Ås lost all trust amongst party members. Several leading members were calling for Berge Furre to take over as party chairman. However, early in the nomination process, there were rumours that the party's AIK-Communist wing would establish a united front against former Socialist People's Party members. No factions or party notables supported Ås for reelection. [13] It was decided at the convention that Socialist Left Party members could only be members of one party at the time, which meant that the remaining Communist Party members were forced to choose between the Socialist Left Party and the Communist Party. Larsen and Fredh, the Socialist Left Party Secretary, told delegates at the convention that "from now on, the road the Communist Party is following is its own". [14] Furre was elected as party chairman at this convention, with little or no opposition. [9]

On the election list for the 1977 election, Ås became the party's second candidate in Oslo for a seat in the Storting, having lost first place to Stein Ørnhøi. [15] Because of the party's internal difficulties, its electoral base was greatly weakened in 1977: [14] only one Socialist Left candidate from Oslo, and only two nationwide, won seats in the Storting. [16]

Berge Furre (1976–83)

Early leadership and internal strife (1976–77)

Berge Furre, previously known unofficially as the Socialist People's Party's "crown prince", became party chairman after the feud between Ås and Finn Gustavsen over who would represent the party during the 1975 local elections. Gustavsen resigned as parliamentary leader, as early signs indicated that he did not have the full support of the party's Election Committee. The party, which suffered several aftershocks after its founding, was severely disorganized. Verdens Gang speculated that the current leadership would be replaced by a troika consisting of Furre (from the Socialist People's Party) as party chairman, Larsen (from the Communist Party) as parliamentary leader and Ås (from the Democratic Socialists – AIK) as deputy leader. [17]

The establishment of the Socialist Left Party had several destabilising effects, such as weakening the party's voter base. Several opinion polls indicated that many voters were leaving, or thinking of leaving, the party or voting for the Labour Party in the 1977 election. [17] As the power struggle between the left- and right-wing factions worsened, Steinar Stjernø was accused of trying to expel the party's social democratic wing (the right-wing faction). However, Sternjø called the rumours absurd. The reason for the accusation was that Stjernø wanted to create a "new and radical alternative for the Norwegian working class". [18] By the time of the national convention where Ås stepped down as party chairwoman, the party had not succeeded in making itself a viable option for the common voter. Furre told the convention's delegates that the party would be able to win over voters, and take several from the Labour Party, if and when the internal situation stabilised. Another difficulty for the party, according to Furre, was that Odvar Nordli's Cabinet was moving the Labour Party further to the centre. [19] It caused some controversy that two of the newly elected Members of Parliament had been convicted of treason for collaborating with the Nazis during World War II. [20]

Electoral activities (1977–81)

YearVote %Type
1977 4.2%Parliament
1979 4.1%
4,4%
Municipal
County
1981 4.9%Parliament

Believing that the Labour Party had moved further to the political centre, Furre commented that the Socialist Left Party could only support a left-oriented minority government. [21] Labour Party Secretary Ivar Leveraas responded negatively to Furre's comment, saying "It isn't appropriate for the Labour Party to sit down together with the Socialist Left to discuss our political program and conditions for support, as Berge Furre requires." [22]

Late in 1977, it was known that both Furre and Finn Gustavsen had revealed classified information during an open meeting in the People's House of Oslo on 22 August 1977, after threatening to do so. [23] When this became known, the parliament established a Committee to investigate them. Not knowing what to do, representatives from the Odelstinget voted to shelve the case. [24] There were 44 for and 47 against prosecuting them. When the result was made official, the media speculated that it was some kind of "punishment" of the party, since the incident proved that the party was unable to protect valuable information which could have jeopardized Norway's security interests.[ clarification needed (see talk page)] [25]

After having what Verdens Gang described as a "disastrous election", in which the Socialist Left lost fourteen of their sixteen seats in the Storting, the party discussed changing its election platform. The platform, which had changed little since the 1973 election, was the centre of a power struggle, in which some Socialist Left Party members were calling for the removal of the peace paragraph (which called for the disbanding of the Norwegian military and the removal of foreign military bases located in Norway). Several leading party members opposed this paragraph. Furre and Gustavsen, both of whom came from the moderate camp, wanted to make the paragraph more moderate, and they succeeded at the 1977 national convention. [23] In the aftermath of the election, Odvar Nordli, then the Labour Prime Minister, criticised the Socialist Left for being "capitalists" who supported right-wing policies, and further claimed that the Labour Party was the only remaining "anti-capitalist" alternative. [26]

In the wake of the 1979 local elections, the internal struggle continued, and Verdens Gang claimed the situation inside the party was like a "civil war". When asked about the situation, Furre controversially claimed that there had never been so much stability within the party, considering that the main policy issues had been solved during the 1979 national convention. [27] The party's electoral base became even smaller during the 1979 election, when it won 4.1% in the municipal and 4.4% in the county elections. [28] At the national convention of 1983, the party was able to stabilise itself greatly. This national convention adopted socialism as the party's most important campaign promise during the election, with the majority of the delegates voting in favour. Hanna Kvanmo, parliamentary leader of the Socialist Left Party, claimed after the convention that, for the first time in the party's history, there was a "consensus in most areas". Furre was again reelected as party chairman, while Hilde Bojer and Torbjørn Dahl became the party's first and second deputy leader respectively. [29] The Socialist Left Party was able to increase its voting share by 0.7 percentage points, from 4.2% to 4.9% nationwide, during the 1981 parliamentary election. [28]

Resignation (1981–83)

Beginning in 1981, Party Secretary Erik Solheim became very critical of the party's left wing. He claimed that these radicals contributed nothing to the party and were more interested in being against everything than in supporting any policies. Writing for the party newspaper, Ny Tid, Solheim criticised the party's support for what he claimed to be extreme progressive taxation, and said he wanted to give the party a new public image. He also accused the party of having become conservative – objecting to change, for example – and claimed that there had not been any major changes to the party's policies since its establishment in 1975. Many members supported Solheim's criticism, and it led to renewed conflict between the right- and left-wing factions of the party. Several leading party officials agreed with Solheim's criticism. Furre, for example, shared several of his views and told the press that the party had discussed the same old topics ad nauseam for several years. [30]

Furre announced his resignation as party chairman early in 1983. None of the leading party members of the time, most notably Hanna Kvanmo, Per Maurseth and Hilde Bojer, sought the party's chairmanship. Because of this Theo Koritzinsky was elected the party's new chairman at its 1983 national convention. The majority in the party's Election Committee had officially endorsed him beforehand. [31]

Theo Koritzinsky (1983–87)

Electoral success (1983–85)

YearVote %Type
1983 5.1%
5.3%
Municipal
County
1985 5.5%Parliament

At its 1983 national convention, the Socialist Left Party initiated an action plan that supported an increase in government spending on the elderly and addressed what they called "serious issues with the welfare state". Theo Koritzinsky wanted to increase the pension up to at least 40,000 and at most 50,000 Norwegian kroner. The action plan was heavily promoted, and Koritzinsky tried to collaborate with both the Labour Party and the Conservative Party to get it passed in the Storting. Another worry of Koritzinsky and the party was that, in their eyes, the public sector had begun to decay, which they feared would lead to increased unemployment within that sector. [32]

During his campaign,[ which? ] Koritzinsky made a habit of campaigning outside the major cities. In an interview with the Norwegian News Agency, he expressed amazement at the support he was able to gather, and even claimed "renewed interest" in the party. [33] While disappointed with the initial results in the 1983 local elections, he was pleased with the overall outcome of both the Socialist Left Party and the Labour Party. However, he was worried about the increased interest in right-wing parties, especially the Progress Party. [34]

After the American invasion of Grenada, the party organised protests in Oslo against the war, during which Koritzinsky accused the political right of being slaves to the United States Government. Over 200,000 demonstrators attended the protests, and many Latin American interest groups were vocal in their support for the demonstrations. Koritzinsky criticised western diplomacy for condemning the Soviet Union, saying it was unfair that the First World only denounced military action when the Soviet Union or the communist bloc engaged in it, while remaining passive if the United States did so. [35]

At the 1983 national convention, the majority of the delegates sought to collaborate with the Labour Party in the 1985 parliamentary elections. Gro Harlem Brundtland, the Labour chairwoman at the time, told the press that she was considering a proposal by the Socialist Left Party that the two parties make joint lists during the elections. [36] In another press conference, Koritzinsky told the press that he was worried that, if an election pact was not established between the two parties, the "bourgeois right-wing parties" would create their own, and maybe even win the election if the left did not respond properly. [37]

Theo Koritzinsky in Stavanger in 2008, after retiring from national politics Theo Koritzinsky.jpg
Theo Koritzinsky in Stavanger in 2008, after retiring from national politics

In 1984, Koritzinsky wanted party members who were teachers to leave local trade unions for the much larger Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (NCTU). He was not the only one promoting this idea: the Labour and Communist parties had done so for years. [38] While supporting his original goal of enlarging the NCTU, Koritzinsky also recognized that there existed good reasons for teachers to work in traditional organisations – before being elected party chairman he was a member of a local trade union himself. [39] On another subject, Koritzinsky favored a referendum on the question of arming Norway with nuclear weapons, or letting foreign powers position nuclear weapons on Norwegian soil. [40]

When Stein Ørnhøi retired from active politics in 1984, [41] Koritzinsky was seen as a likely candidate to replace him in the Storting, but it emerged that other party members were also interested in the Storting seat, most notably prominent Oslo city councillor Per Maurseth and veteran politician Finn Gustavsen. Early speculations were highly skeptical of Gustavsen's candidacy. [42] The Socialist Left Party's Oslo nomination committee was split between Koritzinsky and Maurseth – they won 12 and 11 votes respectively, while Gustavsen won only one vote. [41] As it turned out, Koritzinsky became the Socialist Left Party's first candidate for the Storting and Maurseth became the second, winning a contest against Kristin Halvorsen for second place. Gustavsen was not even on the list. [43]

At the national convention of 1985, Koritzinsky told the delegates that

The voters accepted us as part of the labour movement a long time ago. This is proved by the fact that around one third of Labour voters consider the Socialist Left Party as their second voting preference. However, the Labour Party leadership has not accepted us a political force, and it is clear to us, and to them, that more voters will take us seriously if the Labour Party starts treating us with mutual respect. In it there is a political gain. [44]

Kvanmo quickly corrected "in it there is a political gain" to "it may be a political gain". She further stated that the party's most realistic goal was not to collaborate with the Labour Party, but to increase the party's voter base to five or six percent. [44] At the 1985 national convention, Koritzinsky wanted the party to promote itself as a "red-green alternative" to the Labour Party, an idea which had broad support within the Socialist Left. [45] One month after the national convention, Koritzinsky visited West Germany with officials from the International Department of the Socialist Left Party to discuss green politics with members of the German Green Party. [46]

In June 1985, the Socialist Left rejected an offer made jointly by the Communist Party, the Workers' Communist Party and the Red Electoral Alliance (the electoral organisation of the Workers' Communist Party) to establish an electoral coalition in the 1985 parliamentary elections. Instead, Koritzinsky continued with his plans to establish some sort of electoral collaboration with the Labour Party by encouraging all local party chapters to initiate formal contact with their Labour Party counterparts. However, the Labour Party still showed no great interest in a coalition; it neither accepted nor rejected Koritzinsky's offer. Koritzinsky vehemently opposed any notion that his party could collaborate with the Liberal Party, claiming that that party had chosen its own path – a path "to suffer a slow and beautiful death in Norwegian politics". [47] Optimism within the party had been able to manifest itself in the weeks before the election, with Party Secretary Erik Solheim believing that the 1985 election could be the party's best election yet. [48]

When the results were announced, Christian Democratic Party chairman Kjell Magne Bondevik told the press: "If the Labour Party had supported electoral reform, the socialists would have had a majority in the Storting". In response to Bondevik's statement, Koritzinsky said; "It is obvious that the lack of cooperation may have ruined the chances of a new socialist government", further claiming that he and his party had been open to cooperation with both the Liberal Party and Labour Party all along. Odd Einar Dørum, a Liberal Party member, also criticised the Labour Party's unwillingness to collaborate with other parties. [49] Although there was no socialist majority in parliament, most Socialist Left members were pleased with the outcome, increasing their vote from 4.9% to 5.4% nationwide and gaining two more seats in parliament. [50]

Leaving office (1985–87)

By the mid-1980s, several key party members wanted to move the party closer to the centre of Norwegian politics and make it a viable and open social democratic alternative on the left. Many supported the idea and believed it would expand the party's electoral base. According to Aftenposten , both Erik Solheim, leader of the party's right wing, and the ageing Finn Gustavsen, leader of its left wing, were likely candidates for the party chairmanship. [51] On 27 August 1986, Koritzinsky announced in Dagbladet that he would step down as party chairman at the 1987 national convention. When asked why, he replied that he found it difficult to combine the chairmanship, his work in the Storting and the extensive travelling, which strained his family life. By August, Solheim and Tora Haug were the most likely candidates for the position, as Gustavsen had become editor-in-chief of Ny Tid, the party's newspaper. [52]

During his tenure, Koritzinsky became a well-known and respected public figure, although several leading Socialist Left Party members were discontented with his leadership style, some even complaining that "he was not clever enough" to lead the party. In self-defense, Koritzinsky stated that he himself believed he had received criticism for his unusual working methods, explaining further that during his party chairmanship, he had been worried that leading members had concentrated much power in their own hands. [53] At the 1986 national convention, the party again tried to improve its relations with the Labour Party, but this time, the Socialist Left Party would only collaborate with them if they moved more to the left. They were certain this could happen, considering that 39 percent of Labour Party members in a recent opinion poll said the Socialist Left Party was the second closest party to them in political views and policies. [54]

The race between Solheim and Haug was close, so several members sought a compromise by trying to persuade Koritzinsky to extend his chairmanship two more years, until the next national convention. When this proved unfruitful, others tried to persuade Kvanmo to run for the chairmanship, but Kvanmo declined. [55] On 2 March 1987 Solheim beat Haug and became the party's new chairman. [56]

Erik Solheim (1987–97)

Early leadership

The "Museum Guardians"

EU referendum and 1993 election

Internal strife and resignation

Kristin Halvorsen (1997–2012)

Opposition (1997–2005)

From left:Kristin Halvorsen (SV), Jens Stoltenberg (AP), Liv Signe Navarsete (Sp) Liv Jens Kristin.jpg
From left:Kristin Halvorsen (SV), Jens Stoltenberg (AP), Liv Signe Navarsete (Sp)

In spite of the belief expressed in the media that it would be close to impossible for the two parties to collaborate, the Socialist Left and the Labour Party managed to negotiate a tax settlement. This settlement was met with strong criticism from leading trade unionist Jan Davidsen of the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions, who claimed that higher taxes would help the municipalities and counties. [57] The party later stated that the sitting government had weakened its position after handling[ clarification needed ] Norway's national budget with the Progress Party. [58]

Red-Green Coalition (2005–present)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carl I. Hagen</span> Norwegian politician

Carl Ivar Hagen is a Norwegian politician and former Vice President of the Storting, the Norwegian parliament. He was the leader of the Progress Party from 1978 to 2006, when he stepped down in favour of Siv Jensen. Under his leadership, he was the undisputed leader and, in many ways, personally controlled its ideology and policies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Socialist Left Party (Norway)</span> Left-wing political party in Norway

The Socialist Left Party is a democratic socialist political party in Norway. Positioned on the left-wing of the political spectrum, it is opposed to European Union and the European Economic Area membership. SV supports a strong public sector, stronger social welfare programs, environmentalism, and republicanism. As of 2018, the party had 11,385 members; the number has steadily increased since a low point in 2015. The party leader is Kirsti Bergstø, who was elected on 18 March 2023

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kristin Halvorsen</span> Norwegian politician

Kristin Halvorsen is a Norwegian politician of the Socialist Left Party. She served as Minister of Finance from 2005 to 2009 and as Minister of Education from 2009 to 2013. She also served as the party's leader from 1997 to 2012 and a member of parliament representing Oslo, from 1989 to 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erling Folkvord</span> Norwegian politician (1949–2024)

Erling Folkvord was a Norwegian politician for the Red Party and a member of the Parliament of Norway. A revolutionary socialist, he was one of the leading members of the Workers' Communist Party and the Red Electoral Alliance before they merged to form Red. He sat as a member of the Parliament of Norway from 1993 to 1997, becoming the first socialist to the left of the Socialist Left Party and the Labour Party in parliament since 1961. He later lost his position in 1997 and was a candidate for parliament until his death. He was a member of the Oslo City Council from 1983 to 1993, and again from 1999 to 2011. Folkvord became one of the best-known Norwegian politicians on the left who was not connected with the Labour Party and the Socialist Left Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Berge Furre</span> Norwegian politician

Berge Ragnar Furre was a Norwegian historian, theologian and politician for the Socialist Left Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trygve Slagsvold Vedum</span> Norwegian politician

Trygve Magnus Slagsvold Vedum is a Norwegian politician who has served as Minister of Finance since 2021. A member of the Centre Party, which he has led since 2014, he has been a Member of Parliament (MP) for Hedmark since 2005. Vedum also served as Minister of Agriculture and Food from 2012 to 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Berit Ås</span> Norwegian politician (1928–2024)

Berit Ås was a Norwegian politician, social psychologist, and feminist.

The Red Party is a socialist political party in Norway. It was founded in March 2007 by a merger of the Red Electoral Alliance and the Workers' Communist Party. A Marxist party, it has been described as left-wing and far-left on the political spectrum. In its political programme, the Red Party sets the creation of a classless society to be its ultimate goal, which the party says is "what Karl Marx called communism". The party's other goals are replacing capitalism with socialism, an expansive public sector and nationalisation of large enterprises. It strongly opposes Norway becoming a member of the European Union.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raymond Johansen</span> Norwegian politician

Raymond Johansen is a Norwegian politician for the Labour Party. He served as Governing Mayor of Oslo from 2015 to 2023. A former member of the Socialist Left Party, Johansen previously served as the Oslo city commissioner for transport and environment from 1992 to 1995, when his party withdrew from the city cabinet. After joining Labour, he served as the party secretary from 2009 to 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Audun Lysbakken</span> Norwegian politician (born 1977)

Audun Bjørlo Lysbakken is a Norwegian politician who served as the leader of the Norwegian Socialist Left Party from 2012 to 2023. His career in national politics began when he was elected to the Norwegian parliament in 2001. In 2006, he became deputy leader of the Socialist Left Party. He held the post as Minister of Children and Equality in Jens Stoltenberg's second government from October 2009 to March 2012, when he resigned due to a conflict of interest. Under his leadership, the Socialist Left Party had strong gains in its vote share in Parliamentary elections and membership.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 Norwegian parliamentary election</span>

Parliamentary elections were held in Norway on 13 and 14 September 2009. Elections in Norway are held on a Monday in September, usually the second or third Monday, as determined by the king. Early voting was possible between 10 August and 11 September 2009, while some municipalities also held open voting on 13 September. Voters elected 169 members for the Storting, each for a four-year term. Voter turn-out in the 2009 general elections was 76.4%.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guri Melby</span> Norwegian politician (born 1981)

Guri Melby is a Norwegian politician for the Liberal Party. She has served as the party leader since 2020 and Minister of Education from 2020 to 2021. She is also a member of parliament for Oslo since 2021, having previously been a deputy member for the same constituency between 2013 and 2021. Locally, she has also served as Oslo's City Commissioner for Transport and the Environment between 2013 and 2015.

Rune Fredh was a Norwegian politician who was Party Secretary of the Socialist Electoral League and later the Socialist Left Party from 1973–1977.

The 1994 national convention of the Progress Party of Norway was held from 15 April to 17 April at the hotel Bolkesjø Turisthotell in Bolkesjø, Telemark. It was originally set up to be a normal convention with 157 delegates in a non-election year, but because of mounting antagonism between a traditionalist and a libertarian faction, it became clear some months before the conventions that personal positions could be at stake. The party leader seat, held by Carl I. Hagen since 1978, was up for re-election. The deputy leaders Ellen Wibe and Hans J. Røsjorde was not up for election until 1995, but there were talks about forming a motion of no confidence against Wibe. The political disagreements roughly corresponded to a cleavage between two factions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1997 Socialist Left Party national convention</span> Norwegian political event

The 1997 national convention was held by the Socialist Left Party was held from May 3–5 at the Oslo People's House in the city of Oslo. Erik Solheim had held the party leader seat since 1987, was forced to resign after being the main reason for the escalations in the party conflict between the left and right-wing faction. After announcing his resignation, Kristin Halvorsen became the only likely successor to him, even if she was a moderate and wanted to continue his modernization reforms within the party.

The 1987 national convention of the Socialist Left Party of Norway was held from April 3-7 in the city of Oslo. Erik Solheim was elected party leader, while Kjellbjørg Lunde and Per Eggum Mauseth were elected 1st and 2nd deputy leader respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Torgeir Knag Fylkesnes</span> Norwegian politician

Torgeir Knag Fylkesnes is a Norwegian politician for the Socialist Left Party. He has been one of the party's deputy leaders since 2019 and a member of parliament for Troms since 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Norwegian parliamentary election</span>

Parliamentary elections were held in Norway on 11 September 2017 to elect all 169 members of the unicameral Norwegian Parliament, the Storting. The non-socialist parties retained a reduced majority of 88 seats, allowing Prime Minister Erna Solberg's Conservative-Progress coalition to remain in government. The Liberal Party joined the coalition in January 2018 but it remained a minority cabinet until the Christian Democratic Party joined the coalition in 2019. The three largest centre-left parties won 79 seats. The Green Party retained its single seat, while the Red Party won its first ever seat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Norwegian parliamentary election</span>

Parliamentary elections were held in Norway on 13 September 2021. All 169 seats in the Norwegian legislature, the Storting, were up for election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kari Elisabeth Kaski</span> Norwegian politician

Kari Elisabeth Kaski is a Norwegian politician. A member of the Socialist Left Party, she has been an MP for Oslo since 2017, and the second vice chair of the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs since 2021.

References

  1. "Farvel til SF". Verdens Gang (in Norwegian). 9 September 1969. p. 2.
  2. "Allianser og perspektiver". Verdens Gang (in Norwegian). 18 April 1973. p. 3.
  3. "Sosialistisk Valgforbund". Verdens Gang (in Norwegian). 13 April 1973. p. 6.
  4. Røiseland, Øystein (28 August 1973). "Reidar Larsen inn in utenrikskomiteen". Verdens Gang (in Norwegian). p. 3.
  5. Stemland, Jens Henrik; Snare, Knut (24 September 1973). "SV Vil Bli Nytt Parti". Verdens Gang (in Norwegian). p. 14.
  6. Stemland, Jens Henrik (29 September 1975). "Nå Går SV I Oppløsning". Verdens Gang (in Norwegian). p. 8.
  7. "Tross Apell fra Gustavsen: Oslo SV Sprakk". Verdens Gang (in Norwegian). 13 May 1975. p. 7.
  8. Kleivan, Kåre (12 May 1975). "Ingen sammenslutning Friheten/Orientering: SVs reduserte plass forbauser Berit Ås". Verdens Gang (in Norwegian). p. 3.
  9. 1 2 3 "Sosialistisk Venstreparti" (in Norwegian). Store Norske Leksikon.no . Retrieved 21 February 2010.
  10. Halvorsen, Terje. "Reidar T. Larsen" (in Norwegian). Store Norske Leksikon.no . Retrieved 21 February 2010.
  11. Talen, Bjørn (2 October 1975). "Skulle holde kjeft om TV-striden, men Berit Ås "sladret"". Verdens Gang (in Norwegian). p. 4.
  12. Talen, Bjørn; Fure, Reidar (10 November 1975). "Myk SV-linje ovenfor NKP, men NKP'er hardest ut mot sine egne: "Vanvittig Brudd"". Verdens Gang (in Norwegian). p. 6.
  13. Kleivan, Kåre (20 February 1976). "Sprengstoff på SV-kongressen". Verdens Gang (in Norwegian). p. 3.
  14. 1 2 Stamland, Jens Henrik; Iversen, Arne (21 February 1976). "Oslo-Bitter Indre Strid: Berit Ås satt punktum for seg selv". Verdens Gang (in Norwegian). p. 5.
  15. Malmø, Morten (12 December 1976). "Ørnhøi slo ut Berit Ås". Verdens Gang (in Norwegian). p. 3.
  16. "Stortingsvalget 1977. Valgte representanter etter parti. Fylke". Statistics Norway. 2001. Retrieved 19 December 2009.
  17. 1 2 Stemland, Jens H. (14 February 1976). "Troika-ledelse eller Furre i SV?". Verdens Gang (in Norwegian). p. 4.
  18. Kleivan, Kare; Iversen, Arne (11 September 1976). "Klassekampen lanseres fraksjonskamp i SV". Verdens Gang (in Norwegian). p. 3.
  19. Stemland, Jens Henrik (21 February 1976). "SV fra kruttrøyk til abrakadabra". Verdens Gang (in Norwegian). p. 4.
  20. Dahl, Hans Fredrik (21 July 2008). "Dommen over Hanna". Dagbladet . Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  21. Kristiansen, Stein K.; Aaserud, Ivar (5 March 1977). "SV-krav om venstrevri i AP". Verdens Gang (in Norwegian). p. 5.
  22. Kristiansen, Stein K. (5 March 1977). "Furres skulder møter kald skulder". Verdens Gang (in Norwegian). p. 5.
  23. 1 2 Stemland, Jans Henrik (21 December 1977). "SV etter skjebneåret: – uten illusjoner". Verdens Gang (in Norwegian). p. 3.
  24. Forr, Gudleiv. "Berge Furre" (in Norwegian). Store Norske Leksikon.no . Retrieved 28 February 2010.
  25. "Folkets Selv Knuste SV". Verdens Gang (in Norwegian). 13 October 1977. p. 5.
  26. "Er Nordli Blitt Helt Desperat?". Verdens Gang (in Norwegian). 5 February 1979. p. 33.
  27. Kristiansen, Stein K. (7 August 1979). "Er Proletår "borgekrig"". Verdens Gang (in Norwegian). p. 4.
  28. 1 2 "Elections" (PDF). Norsk Samfunnsvitenskapelig datatjeneste (NSD). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 July 2010. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
  29. Kristiansen, Stein K.; Bjaaland, Nils (16 March 1981). "SV går i vannet". Verdens Gang (in Norwegian). p. 3.
  30. Talen, Bjørn (9 November 1981). "Nei til flere Nei". Verdens Gang (in Norwegian). p. 3.
  31. Gauslaa, Stein; Solberg, Trond (4 January 1983). "Koritzinsky ny SV-leder". Verdens Gang (in Norwegian). p. 4.
  32. "SV: Eldres trygghet må bedres". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). 17 August 1983. p. 18.
  33. "Demostrativt Usosialis Politikk". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). 8 September 1983. p. 4.
  34. Solvoll, Einar; Svabø, Terje (13 September 1983). "Et skuffende valg, et dårlig valg!". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). p. 15.
  35. Godager, Alf B. (4 November 1983). "Tjenerne Tier". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). p. 5.
  36. "Ap. avviser ikke valg samarbeide". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). 5 December 1983. p. 12.
  37. Julsrud, Ottar (15 December 1983). "SV: Listeforbund på venstresiden?". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). p. 3.
  38. Hammer, Anne-Lise (10 January 1984). "Exit SV i Lektor laget?". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). p. 10.
  39. Frost, Stein (12 January 1984). "Ingen SVutmarsj fra Norsk Lektorlag!". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). p. 2.
  40. Ottar, Julsrud (12 March 1984). "Krav fra SV: Folkeavstemning om atomvåpen". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). p. 3.
  41. 1 2 "Tre menn kjemper i Oslo SV". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). 30 October 1984. p. 5.
  42. Skjævlesland, Odd Inge (2 October 1984). "Gustavsen på klar jumboplass". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). p. 2.
  43. Svabø, Terje (2 November 1984). "Gustavsen den store taper". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). p. 14.
  44. 1 2 Hellberg, Lars (11 March 1985). "SV appell om listeforbund". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). p. 3.
  45. Hellberg, Lars (7 March 1985). "Kan SV gjøre seg synlig?". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). p. 5.
  46. Selgård, Gunnar (19 April 1985). "SV inn i samarbeide med de tyske "grønne"". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). p. 9.
  47. Wettrejohnsen, Egil (3 June 1985). "SV inviterer til listesamarbeide med Ap". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). p. 3.
  48. Carlsen, Carsten (20 June 1985). "Vår beste valgkamp, tror SV". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). p. 3.
  49. "Hvis Arbeiderpartiet hadde gått inn for forslagene til ny valgordning" (in Norwegian). Norwegian News Agency. 10 September 1985.
  50. Talen, Bjørn (10 September 1985). "SV fremgang – bitterhet mot Ap". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). p. 13.
  51. Talen, Bjørn (4 January 1986). "Søkelys på Sosialistisk Venstreparti i gammelsosialismens fotefar". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). p. 3.
  52. "SV formann trekker seg". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). 28 August 1986. p. 16.
  53. Erlandsen, Hans Christian (29 August 1986). "Aktuell profil SVs snille leder". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). p. 3.
  54. Talen, Bjørn (8 December 1986). "Stadig flere i Ap liker SV nest best". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). p. 3.
  55. Andreassen, Thorleif (21 January 1987). "Trolig løsning på SVs lederproblem: Koritzinsky tar gjenvalg". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). p. 3.
  56. Andreassen, Thorleif (3 March 1987). "Erik Solheim ny SV-leder". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). p. 10.
  57. "Stoltenberg vil ikke øke skattene". Stavanger Aftenblad (in Norwegian). 20 September 2004. p. 10.
  58. Christensen, Per (26 September 2004). "SV: – Opposisjonen styrket etter Hagens utfall" (in Norwegian). Norwegian News Agency.