Norwegian parliamentary election 2017

[Otern]

So, not posting a lot lately, but figured y'all need some in depth thread about the Norwegian parliamentary election this year. English sources usually lacks any in depth understanding of our parties and issues, so people outside won't get a proper view of the whole system at all. Screw BBC, Breitbart, CNN and Fox, they might use a minute or two the 12th of September this year, but it will be full of simplifications, misconceptions and flaws, all dipped in a whole lot of bias. (I have my own bias too, but will try to be as objective as possible).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian ... tion,_2017

So, our system is a democratic parliamentary representative constitutional monarchy. Basically, people vote for parties, and the party members vote for candidates within those parties, (although people do also vote for candidates within the parties in local elections). Since it's a multi party system, governments are formed by coalitions of multiple parties, rather than one party getting all the bacon after a victory.

So, quick rundown of parties, and their politics, and ideology. Listed by most votes first, and fewest votes last, from the last election:

Arbeiderpartiet (AP) (Labour Party, direct translation; "Worker party"):
30,8% votes in the last election. Our largest party, and historically the most significant factor in Norway's success as a social democracy. They get most of the credit for turning Norway into a great place to live after WW2.
They're publicly social democrats, but in reality, after the nineties and the leadership of Gro Harlem Brundtland, they've changed to social market liberalism.
Potential coalition allies: Very likely SP and SV, or SP alone. Less likely SP and KrF. Unlikely KrF and V.
Political stances:
EU: Their EU stance is somewhat complicated, a lot of their members are fierce EU-opponents, but their central leadership is very pro EU. In the nineties, they campaigned hard for Norwegian EU-membership, which led to a lot of infighting over the party's stance on the EU. Now, the leadership is still pro-EU, but they're not too vocal about it, considering the public opposition to the Union. They are for Norway eventually joining the EU, and is for the Schengen treaty, the EEC and the EU-battlegroup.
Immigration: They used to be more open to immigration, but after the refugee crisis, they've been somewhat more open to restrictive non-EU immigration policy. Still very pro-EU immigration.
Worker's rights: almost all thrown out the window after the nineties, still a bit more focus on it than their main opposition, but a lot of the classical Social Democrats have jumped ship and joined SV instead for this reason. Still a close partner to the largest labor union in Norway, although the relationship is getting strained with their market liberal shift.
Economic policy: market liberalism, but with crucial social services like health care, schools, welfare covered by the public. Somewhat less pro-privatization of natural resources, than their main opposition, Høyre.
Social issues: very feminist, pro gay rights, anti nationalistic, and pro-globalization.

Høyre (H) (Conservative, direct translation; "Right"):
26,8% votes in the last election. Historically AP's main opposition, and have always been very market liberal. Their ideology haven't changed much over the years, but they have adopted some of AP's more successful stances, like public health care and education.
Currently in coalition government with FrP.
Potential coalition allies: FrP, or V and KrF. (Or, very unlikely; KrF and SP).
Political stances:
EU: Pro-EU. This is the "EU-party". Anything related to economics, trade, military and borders, coming from Brussels, these guys will adopt as policy. Pro-schengen, pro EEC, and pro EU-battle group.
Immigration: pretty similar to AP, very pro immigration, especially from the EU, but have adopted a somewhat more restrictive non-EU immigration policy.
Worker's rights: If they can chip away at them, they will, but they try to be quiet about it.
Economic policy: same as AP, but with the added focus on privatization of natural resources, and tax reduction. Also, more open to privatized health care and education, but also don't want to take the public education and health care away.
Social issues: egalitarian, neither feminists, nor anti feminists, pro gay rights, but not as strong as AP, anti nationalistic, and pro-globalization.

Fremskrittspartiet (FrP) (Progress party, direct translation; "Progress party"):
16,3% votes in the last election. A pretty new party, gaining traction in the eighties and nineties, at first for their anti-tax policy, later as an anti immigration party. These are our "populist right wingers". Social conservative libertarians. Currently in coalition government with H.
Political stances:
EU: pro EU, but they've recently changed their official policy as anti-EU, because of the anti-EU sentiment in Europe. Still in favor of all directives coming from Brussels. Want to join the EU army.
Immigration: Our anti-immigration party. Very opposed to non-EU immigration. About the same as AP, and H when it comes to EU-borders and EU-immigration.
Worker's rights: more openly opposed to most worker's rights than H. The free market will solve it all.
Economic policy: Lower all kinds of taxes and remove tariffs, even more than what H wants. Privatize everything, but as with H, pretty careful in touching education and health care. Actually in favor of spending more on care for the elderly.
Social issues: Egalitarian, but more anti-feminist, than H. Somewhat opposed to gay's adopting kids, artificial insemination, and gay marriage. Nationalistic, but pro economical globalization.

Kristelig folkeparti (KrF) (Christian democrats, direct translation; "Christian people's party"):
5,6% votes in last election. Popular among the religious, a decent turnout on the coast. Core issues are christian values, family, and solidarity.
Political stances:
EU: opposed to EU membership, but in favor of Schengen, the EEC and the EU battle group.
Immigration: Extremely pro non-EU immigration. And about the same as AP when it comes to EU-immigration.
Worker's rights: in favor of worker's rights relating to family leave, but more focused on the women's right to paid leave than AP. Also very much in favor of keeping the Sunday a non-work day. Otherwise pretty similar to AP.
Economic policy: more protective of natural resources than AP. Somewhere in the middle of H and AP on taxes, want high tax on alcohol and tobacco.
Social issues: conservative social values. Not a fan of feminism at all. Opposed to gay marriage, adoption and artificial insemination. Although their current leader is somewhat more in favor of gays getting these things than previous leaders. Soft nationalists, somewhat opposed to economical globalization, but in favor of refugees and migrants.

Senterpartiet (SP) (Agrarian party, direct translation "Center party):
5,5% votes in last election. Popular among farmers, and people from the districts, people in rural areas. In favor of decentralized government, Norwegian agriculture and fishing, and combating urbanization. Our national conservative social democrats.
Political stances:
EU: Extremely opposed to EU membership. Opposed to the Schengen treaty. Opposed to the EEC. Opposed to the EU-battlegroup. Our most anti-EU party.
Immigration: more restrictive than AP and H on non-EU immigration, but falls somewhat short of FrP on this issue. Our most anti EU-immigration party.
Worker's rights: Less focused on worker's rights than SV, but way more than AP, taking their anti-EU sentiment in account.
Economic policy: Tax cuts in the agricultural sector, and keep tariffs high on foreign agricultural products. In favor of keeping natural resources under public control, and exploiting these resources. Otherwise close to AP on taxes.
Social issues: Egalitarian, pretty close to H, no feminists, but not vocal anti feminism. Pro gay marriage and gay adoption, but not very vocal about it either. Mild mannered nationalists, but very opposed to globalization.

Venstre (V) (Liberals, direct translation "Left")
5,2% votes in last election. One of our oldest parties. Popular among urban journalists, academics, and business owners. Neo-liberalism, with libertarian and classical liberal values.
Political stances:
EU: Probably our most pro-EU party. Even more than H. Pro-Schengen, EEC and EU battle group.
Immigration: Extremely pro all kinds of immigration, both EU, and non-EU.
Worker's rights: same as H.
Economic policy: Same as FrP, but not as vocal about it.
Social issues: egalitarian. Pro gay marriage, adoption, insemination, surrogacy, and very vocal about it. Extremely anti nationalistic, pro economical globalization.

Sosialistisk venstreparti (SV) (Socialistic left, direct translation; "Socialist left party"):
4,1% votes in last election. Democratic socialists, mainly focused on worker's rights, environmentalism and women's rights. Popular among young people, teachers, journalists and older people that have abandoned AP. Also, anti authoritarian and somewhat in favor of decentralization.
EU: Very opposed to EU membership, very opposed to the EEC, extremely opposed to the EU battle group. Somewhat opposed to the Schengen treaty.
Immigration: Very pro non-EU immigration, but opposed to unregulated EU immigration.
Worker's rights: Their main issue. Getting good working conditions for all workers, and welfare for the ones out of work.
Economic policy: high taxes, and tax anything hurting the environment. High taxes, and high public spending, but don't spend it on the military.
Social issues: radical feminists. Pro gay marriage, adoption and insemination, but not surrogacy. Extremely vocal about it. Extremely anti nationalist, but also very anti globalization. More vocal about the anti nationalism.

Miljøpartiet de Grønne (MdG) (Green party, direct translation; "The Environment party the Green"):
2,8% votes in last election. Got a parliamentary mandate for the first time. Popular among students. Environmentalism, clean energy and animal rights.
EU: Not an issue.
Immigration: somewhat pro immigration both EU, and non-EU, but not a big issue.
Worker's rights: somewhere between SP and AP.
Economic policy: high taxes on anything that pollutes. Otherwise close to SP.
Social issues: feminists, but not too vocal about it. Pro gay rights of all kinds. Blames a lot of environmental issues on globalization, but has no view on globalization as a whole.

[Martin Hash]

Thanks for that clarification. Very interesting.

[Otern]

Thanks for that clarification. Very interesting.

I may have simplified it a bit, but I think it's more accurate than the usual articles the English speaking world are served. Could go more in depth on issues and clarify things if there's any interest.

It's a bit irritating at times, reading posts by Americans and Brits about our politics, but after reading the same sources they've been having access to, it's no wonder how their perception has turned out this way. Basically, the journalists, whose job it is to inform the public, fails at their task, either because they don't understand what they're trying to write about, or because they're biased one way or another, or have to present the news in a way that makes it more relatable to the anglosphere.

So, in this thread, I'll do my best to do what the anglosphere journalists should be doing, relating to this year's election. Because you guys deserve better than what you get from most news sources now.

[TheReal_ND]

EU: opposed to EU membership, but in favor of Schengen, the EEC and the EU battle group.
Immigration: Extremely pro non-EU immigration. And about the same as AP when it comes to EU-immigration.

Jesus Christ Christians are such cucks

[TheReal_ND]

BEIRUT, LEBANON – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA), alongside Hezbollah and the National Defense Forces (NDF), made a big push into the rebel-held parts of east Damascus, Friday, targeting the Dakwah area near the Tishreen Power Plant.

According to Al-Masdar’s Damascus correspondent, Ibrahim Joudeh, the Syrian Arab Army and their allies advanced in the Dakwah area after launching a powerful assault against the Free Syrian Army (FSA) units in this desert region located east of the Syrian capital city.

On Saturday, Iraqi military commander Shakir Abid said a unit of Norwegian special forces had been allowed to enter Syria through the Al-Waleed border crossing in western Anbar.

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/no ... -crossing/

http://www.nrttv.com/EN/Details.aspx?Jimare=14571

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/sy ... qi-border/

http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/norske- ... r/67615327


Wtf are you doing Norway?

[Otern]

Wtf are you doing Norway?

If we're there, it's because you told us to be there.

[TheReal_ND]

No god damnit. Get out! Fuck.

Anyway, I figured this might be a political move since you say elections are coming up.

[Otern]

No god damnit. Get out! Fuck.

Anyway, I figured this might be a political move since you say elections are coming up.

Doubt it. And if it's the case, it's a poor political move, since it will not get a lot of support anywhere.

Also, a bit too soon for political moves to take place. The election season in Norway is way shorter than in the US. It will usually ramp up the next month or so.

[Otern]

Just three more days now.

Any interest, or did I make a wall of text for no reason?

Anyway, I've already voted in advance. And it looks like the one's I'm voting for will do pretty great this election.

[StCapps]

Just three more days now.

Any interest, or did I make a wall of text for no reason?

Anyway, I've already voted in advance. And it looks like the one's I'm voting for will do pretty great this election.

Is AP going to blow it? They've taken quite the hit in the polls right before y'all vote.