July 21, 2008

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Three-in-ten voters in Norway back the main opposition party, according to a poll by TNS Gallup released by TV2. 30.3 per cent of respondents would vote for the Progress Party (FrP) in the next federal election, up four points since June.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Three-in-ten voters in Norway back the main opposition party, according to a poll by TNS Gallup released by TV2. 30.3 per cent of respondents would vote for the Progress Party (FrP) in the next federal election, up four points since June.

The governing Labour Party (DNA) is second with 28.3 per cent, followed by the Conservatives (H) with 16.5 per cent, the Socialist Left (SV) with 7.7 per cent, the Christian People (KrF) with 6.1 per cent, the Liberal Left (V) with 5.2 per cent, and the Agrarians (Sp) with 3.4 per cent.

In September 2005, Norwegian voters renewed the Stortinget (the Norwegian Parliament). Final results gave the Red-Green alliance—encompassing Labour, the Socialist Left and the Agrarians—87 seats in the 169-member legislative branch. Labour leader Jens Stoltenberg—who held the highest office from March 2000 to October 2001—took over as prime minister for the second time.

In this survey, the level of support for the governing parties stands at 39.4 per cent, while the two main opposition forces—Progress and the Conservatives—reach 46.8 per cent.

On Jul. 16, Stoltenberg announced that Norway has received the go-ahead from the European Union (EU) to invest more state funds into a project that seeks to capture carbon dioxide emissions from a gas-fired power plant. The prime minister expressed his satisfaction with the decision, saying, "This is a significant step for the development and testing of new technology to handle carbon dioxide."

Although Norway is not a member of the EU, it is an economic partner and must abide by its rules on the issue of public spending.

Polling Data

What party would you support in the next federal election?

	Jun. 2008	May 2008	Apr. 2008
Progress Party (FrP)	30.3%	26.3%	23.5%
Labour Party (DNA)	28.3%	26.5%	31.6%
Conservatives (H)	16.5%	18.4%	18.2%
Socialist Left (SV)	7.7%	8.3%	6.4%
Christian People (KrF)	6.1%	6.0%	6.9%
Liberal Left (V)	5.2%	6.6%	4.9%
Agrarians (Sp)	3.4%	4.7%	5.2%

Source: TNS Gallup / TV2
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 950 Norwegian voters, conducted from Jun. 24 to Jun. 30, 2008. Margin of error is 2.8 per cent.