Green Party (Norway)

History

The process of forming a new national green party in Norway was initiated in December 1984, with the official launch in 1988. Among the pioneers were the late philosopher Arne Næss, peace researcher Johan Galtung, 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.

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. 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.

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.

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.

Ideology

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

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.

Leadership

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

Local elections

Notes

References

References

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