Green Party (Norway)
Template:Short description Template:Infobox political party Template:Green politics sidebar The Green Party (Template:Langx, Template:Langx, Template:Literal translation, MDG; Template:Langx) is a centre-left<ref name="uio2">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="vox2">Template:Cite news</ref> green<ref name="Nordsieck2">Template:Cite web</ref> political party in Norway. The party currently holds eight seats in the Storting and is represented in municipal and county councils, having attained 4.7% and 4.1% in 2025 parliamentary election and 2023 local elections respectively. Its 2025 result marks the first time the party surpassed the 4% electoral threshold required to qualify for leveling seats in the Storting, securing an all-time high of eight representatives.
Similar to its German role model Alliance 90/The Greens, MDG represents green politics with social liberal features. It has been described as centre-left by academics and voters.<ref name="uio">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="vox">Template:Cite news</ref> The party has historical roots partly in the new left of the 1960s and 1970s, and partly in the broader environmental movement of the 1970s and 1980s, which itself was highly diverse and attracted support from both the new left and environmentally-oriented liberals and conservatives who rallied around environmental issues. Over time the party has moved in a more centrist and socially liberal direction. MDG stands in a progressive tradition and also defines itself as an intersectional feminist party.<ref name=ap-in>Ordførerkandidat (MDG) jubler over «historisk» vedtak</ref><ref>MDG har vedtatt at de er et interseksjonelt feministisk parti</ref> The party claims distance from the two dominant right-wing and left-wing political blocks, jointly denominated as "the fossil block".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The party has gradually moved closer to liberal internationalism over time, allowing for the use of military force when it can promote peace and human rights. MDG supports Norwegian EU membership<ref name=nrkeu>MDG vil forhandle om norsk EU-medlemskap – Vedum er bekymret</ref> and NATO membership, while also advocating for a focus on arms control and peaceful conflict resolution. The party's voters are among the most pro-EU, and MDG has been described as a party for "urban, liberal, moderately left-wing academics."<ref name=e2423>Grønn og Gal ja til EU</ref>
The Green Party is a member of the European Green Party and the Global Greens and was founded with the German Greens as its stated model.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It maintains close ties to other Green parties including the German Greens and the Swedish Greens. It is led by Arild Hermstad.<ref name="vg.no">Template:Cite web</ref>
History
The process of forming a new national green party in Norway was initiated in December 1984, with the official launch in 1988.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Among the pioneers were the late philosopher Arne Næss,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> peace researcher Johan Galtung,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the philosopher Sigmund Kvaløy Setreng.
In the local elections between 1991 and 2009, the Green Party had six to eight representatives elected each time. In the national elections the party never exceeded 0.5% support.
Since 2005, the Greens have seen a significant membership rise, with the new members coming from a wide variety of other parties, including the seven established parliamentary parties.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In the municipal elections of 2011, the party saw its first local breakthrough, having garnered close to 22,000 votes on a national basis. Two years later, during the campaign for the 2013 general election, the party saw a significant rise in support in the opinion polls. The Greens were widely expected to gain parliamentary representation to some extent.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the election, the Greens gathered over 79,000 votes, making them the eighth biggest party in the country. This vote count translates to 2.8 percent of the vote. Rasmus Hansson, the party's top candidate from Oslo was elected to parliament, becoming the first ever Green MP.<ref>MP.http://www.nettavisen.no/politikk/article3675551.ece</ref>
In the local elections of 2015 the Green Party overtook the 4% nationally for the first time in its history and got the third place in Oslo.
The party have stated their refusal to form a government with any parties that will continue to drill for oil in the North Sea.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
The party had its best result at the 2021 parliamentary election, winning three seats in the Storting and falling just short of the 4% threshold for levelling seats. In 2025, the party expanded even further, winning 4.7% of the vote and eight seats in the Storting.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Ideology
The Green Party is one of the global ecologist and environmentalist political parties and movements.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> As a member of the pan-European European Green Party, the Norwegian Greens subscribe to social progressivism and social justice.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The main focus of the party is environmental protection and ecological sustainability. The party seeks to introduce a tax on wasteful consumption, and to reorganise the food industry. The Greens have also pledged support for a reform in the agrarian industry, increasing the production of organic crops and strengthening the eco-friendly agricultural sector.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The Green Party seeks to reduce the Norwegian petroleum extraction in order to counteract serious climate change. The proposal is to stop extraction by 2040.
The Green Party is also in favor of the replacement of the monarchy with a republican form of government.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Leadership
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Spokespersons
- Ove Braaten, 1989–1991
- Olav Benestad, 1991–1992
- Jan Bojer Vindheim, 1993–1996 /1997–2001
- Ane Aadland, 1995–1997
- Arne Gravanes, 1996–1997
- Birte Simonsen, 1998–1999
- Brynmor Evans, 1998–1999
- Gunter Schotz, 1999–2000
- Lisa Fröyland, 1999–2002
- Tove Funderud Johansen, 2000–2001
- Birte Simonsen, 2002–2004
- Brynmor Evans, 2004–2005
- Trude Malthe Thomassen, 2004–2007
- Gaute Busch, 2005–2006
- Mats Indrefjord Høllesli, 2006–2007
- Birte Simonsen, 2007–2008
- Sondre Båtstrand, 2008–2011
- Hanna Marcussen, 2008–2014
- Harald August Nissen, 2011–2014
- Hilde Opoku, 2014–2016
- Rasmus Hansson, 2016–2018
- Arild Hermstad, 2018–2020
- Une Aina Bastholm, 2016–2020
Leaders
- Une Aina Bastholm, 2020–22
- Arild Hermstad, 2022–
Deputy leaders
- Arild Hermstad, 2020–2022
- Kriss Rokkan Iversen, 2020–2022
- Ingrid Liland, 2022–
- Lan Marie Berg, 2022–
Electoral performance
Storting
| Election | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 10,136 | 0.4 | Template:Composition bar | New | Template:Increase 9th | Template:N/A |
| 1993 | 3,054 | 0.1 | Template:Composition bar | Template:Steady | Template:Decrease 12th | Template:N/A |
| 1997 | 5,884 | 0.2 | Template:Composition bar | Template:Steady | Template:Increase 11th | Template:N/A |
| 2001 | 3,785 | 0.2 | Template:Composition bar | Template:Steady | Template:Decrease 13th | Template:N/A |
| 2005 | 3,652 | 0.1 | Template:Composition bar | Template:Steady | Template:Increase 12th | Template:N/A |
| 2009 | 9,286 | 0.3 | Template:Composition bar | Template:Steady | Template:Increase 10th | Template:N/A |
| 2013 | 79,152 | 2.8 | Template:Composition bar | Template:Increase 1 | Template:Increase 8th | Template:No2 |
| 2017 | 94,427 | 3.2 | Template:Composition bar | Template:Steady | Template:Steady 8th | Template:No2 |
| 2021 | 117,647 | 3.9 | Template:Composition bar | Template:Increase 2 | Template:Steady 8th | Template:No2 |
| 2025 | 152,782 | 4.7 | Template:Composition bar | Template:Increase 5 | Template:Increase 7th | Template:Partial2 |
Local elections
| Election | Vote % | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 0.3 0.4 |
Municipal County |
| 1995 | 0.3 0.4 |
Municipal County |
| 1999 | 0.3 0.4 |
Municipal County |
| 2003 | 0.2 0.2 |
Municipal County |
| 2007 | 0.3 0.6 |
Municipal County |
| 2011 | 0.9 1.3 |
Municipal County |
| 2015 | 4.2 5.0 |
Municipal County |
| 2019 | 6.8 7.6 |
Municipal County |