Green Party (Norway)

The Green Party (Bokmål: Miljøpartiet De Grønne, Nynorsk: Miljøpartiet Dei Grøne, Northern Sami: Birasbellodat Ruonát, lit. 'Environment Party The Greens'; MDG) is a centre-left[2][3] green[4] political party in Norway. The party holds three seats in the Parliament of Norway (gaining 3.8% in the 2021 elections) and also has representation in municipal councils and county councils (gaining 4.1% in the 2023 elections).

Green Party
Miljøpartiet De Grønne
AbbreviationMDG
LeaderArild Hermstad
Deputy leaderLan Marie Berg
Founded29 October 1988 (1988-10-29)
HeadquartersOslo
Youth wingYoung Greens of Norway
Membership (2021)Increase 12,370[1]
Ideology
Political positionCentre-left
European affiliationEuropean Green Party
International affiliationGlobal Greens
Colours  Green
Storting
3 / 169
County Councils
36 / 574
Municipal Councils
157 / 9,344
Website
mdg.no
Part of a series on
Green politics
Sunflower symbol
Core topics
Four pillars
Perspectives
Organizations
Related topics

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.[5][6] 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.[7][8] The party claims distance from the two dominant right-wing and left-wing political blocks, jointly denominated as "the fossil block".[9] 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[10] 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."[11]

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.[12] It maintains close ties to other Green parties including the German Greens and the Swedish Greens. It is led by Arild Hermstad.[13]

History

The process of forming a new national green party in Norway was initiated in December 1984, with the official launch in 1988.[14] Among the pioneers were the late philosopher Arne Næss,[15] peace researcher Johan Galtung,[16] and the philosopher Sigmund Kvaløy Setreng.

In the local elections between 1991 and 2009 the Green Party had 6 to 8 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.[17]

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.[18] In the election, the Greens gathered over 79,000 votes, making them the 8th 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.[19]

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.[20]

Ideology

The Green Party is one of the global ecologist and environmentalist political parties and movements.[21] As a member of the pan-European European Green Party, the Norwegian Greens subscribe to social progressivism and social justice.[22][23] 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.[24]

The Green party seeks to reduce the Norwegian petroleum extraction in order to counteract serious climate change. The proposal is to stop extraction by 2035.[25]

Leadership
Arild Hermstad and Une Aina Bastholm, the party's last spokespeople, pictured in October 2018
The party's member of Parliament, Rasmus Hansson, being interviewed by the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation on the 2013 election night
Former national spokeswoman Hanna Marcussen, pictured in September 2013

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

Deputy leaders

Electoral results
Storting
Date Votes Seats Position Size
#  % ± pp # ±
1989 10,136 0.4 New
0 / 165
 New Extra-parliamentary 9th
1993 3,054 0.1 Decrease 0.3
0 / 165
 Steady 0 Extra-parliamentary Decrease 12th
1997 5,884 0.2 Increase 0.1
0 / 165
 Steady 0 Extra-parliamentary Increase 11th
2001 3,785 0.2 Steady 0.0
0 / 165
 Steady 0 Extra-parliamentary Decrease 13th
2005 3,652 0.1 Decrease 0.1
0 / 169
 Steady 0 Extra-parliamentary Increase 12th
2009 9,286 0.3 Increase 0.2
0 / 169
 Steady 0 Extra-parliamentary Increase 10th
2013 79,152 2.8 Increase 2.5
1 / 169
 Increase 1 Opposition Increase 8th
2017 94,427 3.2 Increase 0.4
1 / 169
 Steady 0 Opposition Steady 8th
2021 117,647 3.9 Increase 0.7
3 / 169
 Increase 2 Opposition Steady 8th
Local
Year 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

See also

Notes

    References
    1. "Sirin Stav on Twitter" (in Norwegian). 16 January 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
    2. Jupskås, Anders Ravik (14 September 2011). "En mild grønn vind i norske byer: MDGs lokale gjennombrudd" (in Norwegian). UiO: Institutt for statsvitenskap (ISV): Det samfunnsvitenskapelige fakultet. I mine undersøkelser av partienes landsmøtedelegater (de som vedtar partiets politikk) kommer det frem at partiet i all hovedsak plasserer seg på «venstresiden» i norsk politikk.
    3. Arnesen, Sveinung (9 March 2015). "Ligger Miljøpartiet De Grønne i sentrum eller til venstre?". Vox Publica (in Norwegian). Data fra Norsk medborgerpanel viser at velgerne plasserer partiet til venstre for sentrum.
    4. Nordsieck, Wolfram (2017). "Norway". Parties and Elections in Europe. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
    5. Jupskås, Anders Ravik (14 September 2011). "En mild grønn vind i norske byer: MDGs lokale gjennombrudd" (in Norwegian). UiO: Institutt for statsvitenskap (ISV): Det samfunnsvitenskapelige fakultet. I mine undersøkelser av partienes landsmøtedelegater (de som vedtar partiets politikk) kommer det frem at partiet i all hovedsak plasserer seg på «venstresiden» i norsk politikk.
    6. Arnesen, Sveinung (9 March 2015). "Ligger Miljøpartiet De Grønne i sentrum eller til venstre?". Vox Publica (in Norwegian). Data fra Norsk medborgerpanel viser at velgerne plasserer partiet til venstre for sentrum.
    7. Ordførerkandidat (MDG) jubler over «historisk» vedtak
    8. MDG har vedtatt at de er et interseksjonelt feministisk parti
    9. Av Miljøpartiet De Grønne (21 May 2013). "Verken rød eller blå, men grønn" (in Norwegian). Miljøpartiet De Grønne. Archived from the original on 16 October 2014. Retrieved 2013-11-21.
    10. MDG vil forhandle om norsk EU-medlemskap – Vedum er bekymret
    11. Grønn og Gal ja til EU
    12. "De Grønne banker på - Preik". bt.no. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
    13. "Elected The Green's First Party Leader: Draws Inspiration from the Corona Crisis" (in Norwegian). 25 April 2020. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
    14. "Miljøpartiet Dei Grøne" (in Norwegian). Allkunne. Retrieved 2013-11-21.
    15. Schwarz, Walter (15 January 2009). "Obituary: Arne Næss". The Guardian.
    16. "Nordlys : Johan Galtung mottok æresmedlemskap" (in Norwegian). Nordlyspuls.no. Archived from the original on 2012-07-12. Retrieved 2013-11-21.
    17. "De Grønnes historie - Siste nytt - innenriks, utenriks" (in Norwegian). Tv2.no. 2013-05-24. Retrieved 2013-11-21.
    18. Tom Hetland (2013-08-16). "Blir Dei Grøne årets sensasjon?" (in Norwegian). TV 2. Retrieved 2013-11-21.
    19. MP.http://www.nettavisen.no/politikk/article3675551.ece
    20. Rognli, Trine; Tomter, Line (14 August 2021). "Halve Norge vil lete etter olje – Berg er ikke sjokkert" [Half of Norway wants to continue drilling for oil - Berg is unsurprised]. NRK Nyheter (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 15 August 2021.
    21. "Om oss" (in Norwegian). Miljøpartiet De Grønne. Retrieved 2013-11-21.
    22. "Velferd og arbeidsliv" (in Norwegian). Miljøpartiet De Grønne. Archived from the original on 2013-11-09. Retrieved 2013-11-21.
    23. "Utvikling og bistand" (in Norwegian). Miljøpartiet De Grønne. Archived from the original on 2013-11-09. Retrieved 2013-11-21.
    24. "Livskvalitet | Miljøpartiet De Grønne". Mdg.no. Archived from the original on 2013-11-09. Retrieved 2013-11-21.
    25. "Fornybar fremtid" (in Norwegian). Miljøpartiet De Grønne. Archived from the original on 2015-05-17. Retrieved 2013-11-21.
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