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The Norwegian Labour Party - a brief presentation
The Norwegian Labour Party has a vision of a just world without poverty, in peace and ecological balance, where people are free and equal and have influence on the conditions affecting their lives.
The Norwegian Labour Party is a social democratic party committed to liberty, democracy and social justice. It is a reformist party that believes in partnership and cooperation on national as well as international level. By acting together rather than just as individuals, we can make a better society for all.
The Norwegian Labour Party is the largest political party in Norway. Labour got 35,4 per cent of the votes in the general election in 2009 and has 64 out of 169 members of parliament. Together with the Socialist Left Party and the Centre Party there is a red-green majority in Parliament. These parties together have 86 out of 169 seats.
Brief history
The Norwegian Labour Party was founded in 1887. In gained its first parliamentary seats in 1903 and has been Norway`s largest political party since 1927. The party experienced a split in 1921 caused by a decision made two years earlier to join the Communist International. In 1923 the party left the Communist International and in 1927 Labour was once again united. The first labour government was formed in 1928, lasting only two weeks. During the early 1930s Labour abandoned its revolutionary profile and set for a reformist course. Labour then returned to government in 1935 and remained in power until 1965 (except for the exile period between 1940-45). Other periods in government have been 1971-72, 1973-81, 1986-89 , 1990-97 and 2000-2001.
Through 44 years in government the Labour Party has played a decisive role in shaping the Norwegian welfare state. Although recognising that there is still a lot to be done, the party is proud to be associated with the achievements being made by Labour governments during several decades: A society with a relatively small gap between rich and poor, a comprehensive welfare system and low unemployment compared to most other countries.
Party leaders since 1945
| 1945-65 | Einar Gerhardsen |
| 1965-75 | Trygve Bratteli |
| 1975-81 | Reiulf Steen |
| 1981-92 | Gro Harlem Brundtland |
| 1992-2002 | Thorbjørn Jagland |
| 2002- | Jens Stoltenberg |
Labour Prime Ministers since 1945
| 1945-51 | Einar Gerhardsen |
| 1951-55 | Oscar Torp |
| 1955-65 | Einar Gerhardsen |
| 1971-72 | Trygve Bratteli |
| 1973-76 | Trygve Bratteli |
| 1976-81 | Odvar Nordli |
| 1981 | Gro Harlem Brundtland |
| 1986-89 | Gro Harlem Brundtland |
| 1990-96 | Gro Harlem Brundtland |
| 1996-97 | Thorbjørn Jagland |
| 2000-01 | Jens Stoltenberg |
| 2005- | Jens Stoltenberg |
Organisational structure
A system whereby local trade unions could be affiliated to the party was abolished from 1997, and today The Labour Party has approximately 51 000 individual members. The party is organised in 19 counties, 434 municipalities and about 2 500 localassociations.
The Party Congress, being held every two years, is the supreme body of the Labour Party. This Congress elects the party leadership, consisting of a leader, a deputy leader and a secretary general. These three together with 16 other elected members constitutes the Executive Board. (The party leadership, consisting of a leader, a deputy leader and a secretary general, as well as the other members of the Executive Board, is elected by the Congress.) The highest body between the Congresses is the National Delegate´s Meeting, which consists of the Executive Board and two representatives from each of the 19 counties.
Relations with the trade union movement
The Labour Party and the trade union movement have common historical roots. There has always been a close cooperation between these two branches of the labour movement. However, the organisational and decision-making structures of the party and the Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) are separate and fully independent. Cooperation between the two is formally organised through a joint committee made up by the leadership of the party and LO, which meets on a weekly basis.
The party`s leadership
| Leader: | Jens Stoltenberg |
| Deputy Leader: | Helga Pedersen |
| Secretary General: | Raymond Johansen |
International affiliations
The Norwegian Labour Party is a full member of the Socialist International (SI), the Party of European Socialists (PES) and the Joint Committee of the Nordic Labour Movement (SAMAK).