Liberalism in Norway

This article gives an overview of liberalism in Norway. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having been represented in the Norwegian Parliament, Stortinget.

Background

Venstre (literally "Left") was the first organised political force in Norway, and was for long times the dominant political party (from the 1880s to the 1920s). Since the Second World War, it has been one of the minor parties. Today, Venstre is a centrist liberal party. Venstre is also one of the founding members of the Liberal International. Competing liberal parties have been in existence from time to time, but today only Venstre is represented in Parliament. Most other self-awovedly liberal parties and groupings muster only negligble electoral support.

History

* 1884: The liberal and radical groups in Stortinget (up until that time collectively referred to as "venstre", without capitalisation) organised a political party, Venstre. Venstre deposes the incumbent conservative government in an impeachment trial in the same year, and the leader of Venstre, Johan Sverdrup, becomes the first Prime Minister of Norway taken from the ranks of Stortinget.

* 1888: A group of Christian conservatives leaves Venstre to form "Moderate Venstre" (The Moderate Left). The party is later reunited with Venstre, but the present-day Christian People's Party also claims Moderate Venstre as its forerunner.

* 1903: The right wing of Venstre leaves the party and forms "Frisinnede Venstre" (The Liberal Left).

* 1911: A radical faction leaves Venstre to form "Arbeiderdemokraterne" (Labour Democrats). This party is later renamed "Radikale Folkeparti" (Radical People's Party).

* 1936: Radikale Folkeparti is reabsorbed into Venstre. Frisinnede Venstre is merged with the main conservative party, Høyre (literally "Right")

* 1972: Venstre is split over the issue of Norway's accession to the European Economic Community. The Pro-EEC faction forms "Nye Venstre" (New Left), later renamed "Det Liberale Folkeparti" (Liberal People's Party).

* 1988: Venstre and Det Liberale Folkeparti are reunited.

* 1994: A libertarian wing of the populist Progress Party, counting among them four members of Stortinget, forms its own party, Fridemokratene (Free Democrats). The party is reduced to insignificance after the general elections of 1997.

* 2005: Venstre gains ten seats in Parliament at the general elections, forming the largest Liberal group in Stortinget since 1972.

Liberal leaders

* Johan Sverdrup - Johannes Steen - Gunnar Knudsen - Lars Sponheim

See also

* History of Norway
* Politics of Norway
* List of political parties in Norway