Conservative Party (Norway)

Conservative Party Høyre
130px
Leader	Erna Solberg
Parliamentary leader	Trond Helleland
Slogan	"Muligheter for alle" (Opportunities for everyone)
Founded	25 August 1884
Headquarters	Stortingsgaten 20 0161 Oslo (Høyres hus)
Youth wing	Norwegian Young Conservatives
Membership	33,000 (2014)
Ideology	Conservatism Liberal conservatism Pro-Europeanism Economic liberalism
Political position	Centre-right
European affiliation	European People's Party (associate)
International affiliation	International Democrat Union
Colours	Blue
Storting	48 / 169
County Councils	167 / 728
Municipal Councils	1,953 / 10,781
Sami Parliament	2 / 39
Website
www.høyre.no
Politics of Norway Political parties Elections

The Conservative Party (Norwegian: Høyre, H, literally "right") is a conservative and liberal-conservative political party in Norway. It is the major party of the Norwegian centre-right, and the leading party in the governing Solberg cabinet. The current party leader is the Prime Minister of Norway Erna Solberg.

In national elections in September 2013, voters ended eight years of Labour Party rule. A coalition of the Conservative Party and the Progress Party (FrP) entered office based on promises of tax cuts, better services and stricter rules on immigration, with the support of the Liberal Party and Christian Democratic Party. After winning the elections, Solberg said her win was "a historic election victory for the right-wing electoral bloc".

The party advocates economic liberalism, reduction of taxes, and individual rights, and defines itself as a "conservative party of progress". It has historically been the most outspokenly pro-European Union party in Norway, supporting Norwegian membership during both the 1972 and 1994 referendums. The party generally supports semi-privatization through state-funded private services and tougher law and order measures.

Founded in 1884, the Conservative Party is the second oldest political party in Norway after the Liberal Party. In the interwar era, one of the main goals for the party was to achieve a centre-right alliance against the growing labour movement, when the party went into decline. In the post-war era until 2005 the party participated in six governments; two 1960s national governments (Lyng's Cabinet and Borten's Cabinet), one 1980s Conservative Party minority government (Willoch's First Cabinet), two 1980s three-party governments (Willoch's Second Cabinet and Syse's Cabinet), and in the 2000s Bondevik's Second Cabinet.

History

Emil Stang, founder

The Conservative Party of Norway ("Høyre") was founded in 1884 after the implementation of parliamentarism in Norway. The jurist Emil Stang was elected the first chairman of the party. Stang underlined important principles for the work in Høyre. The party was to be a social party of reforms that worked within the constitutional frames set by a parliamentary democracy. Høyre's electoral support has varied. In the 1981-election, Høyre got 31.7%. It was the best election since 1924. The result in 1993 was 17%. This election was influenced by the EU membership issue which divided the Liberal Party. The 1997 parliamentary election resulted in the lowest support since 1945, with only 14.3% of the votes. Høyre has since then seen increased popular support, and got 21.3% in the 1999 local elections and 21.2% in the 2001 parliamentary election.

Throughout the years Høyre has supported a policy that aims to stimulate growth in order to avoid unemployment and raise economic strength to solve various necessary tasks in Norwegian society.

Early 1900s

In the beginning of the 20th century Høyre took the initiative to construct a modern Norwegian communications network. After the devastating First World War it was important for Høyre to work for the reconstruction of sound, economic politics. An example of this is the resolution Høyre passed in 1923 introducing old-age insurance. But because of the State's finances it was not possible to continue this effort. Høyre was the leading party in opposition in the post-war years in Norway. Høyre fought against the Labour Party's regulating policy. Høyre wanted another future for Norway consisting of private initiative and creative forces.

Høyre has been a protagonist in the construction of the welfare system in this country, and has on several occasions taken initiative to correct injustices in social care regulations. Additionally Høyre has advocated that the State's activity must concentrate on its basic problems and their solutions.

Post-war years

During the post-war years Høyre has consolidated its position as a party with appeal to all parts of the nation. Non-socialist co-operation as an alternative to socialism has always been one of Høyre's main aims. Høyre has led several coalition governments. The Christian Democratic Party was one of Høyre's coalition partners both in 1983–86 and 1989–90.

At the parliamentary election in 1993 it was impossible to present a credible non-socialist government alternative because Høyres former coalition parties, The Christian Democrats and the Centre Party both campaigned strongly against Norwegian membership in the EU.

Before the parliamentary election in 1997 the Labour party proclaimed that they would not be willing to govern the country if they did not obtain more than 36.9% of the votes. As it turned out, they got 35%, and other parties had to form government. Originally, there were serious discussions between Høyre, The Christian Democrats and Venstre to take on this task, but the end result was that the two latter parties joined forces with the Centre Party to create a minority government without Høyre.

Today

In the parliamentary election in September 2001, Høyre obtained 21.2 percent of the votes. After a series of discussions Høyre was once again able to take part in a coalition government, this time with the Christian Democratic Party (KrF), and the Liberal Party (V). The total percentage obtained for these three parties at last general election was 37.5. Høyre, as the largest party in the coalition government, had 38 members in the present Storting, and 10 of the 19 ministers in the Government were Høyre representatives. Høyres three focal areas this period were to establish a rise in quality in Norways educational system, lowered taxes and a higher service level in state sectors.

In the 2005 parliamentary election, Høyre obtained 14.1% of the votes. The election outcome put Høyre back in opposition, and the party got 23 members in the present Storting.

In the 2009 parliamentary election, Høyre obtained 17.2% of the votes, and 30 members in the present Storting.

During the local elections of 2011, however, the party gained 27.6 percent of the vote, and it has since then, without exceptions, polled first and second.

In the 2013 parliamentary election, Høyre obtained 26.8 percent of the votes, and 48 members in the present Storting. Høyre formed a minority government, with confidence and supply from KrF and V.

Høyre is currently in power in four of Norway's five largest cities: Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger and Kristiansand, also being the largest party in all of these four cities. Over half of the Norwegian population lives in a municipality governed by Høyre.

Ideology

Høyre is considered a reform party profess to the moderately conservative political tradition, adhering to the thoughts of Edmund Burke. The party is committed to fiscal free market policies, including tax cuts and relatively little government involvement in the economy. It does, however, support the continued existence of the Norwegian welfare state.

Høyre is also the only party in the Storting which proposes a reduction in public spending. The party is often associated with wealth and has historically been attacked by the left for defending the country's richest, though this argument is rarely presented any more. The Conservative Party's social policies are quite liberal: the party voted in 2008 for a law that recognised same-sex marriage and gay adoption rights.

It is also in favour of Norwegian membership in the European Union, although stating that this is not a priority, nor realistic in the short term, as Norwegians have rejected membership in two referendums and opinion polls show that two-thirds of Norwegians oppose membership.

Membership

The party has 37,033 registered members (2012). The Central Board of the Conservative Party meets seven times a year to discuss important matters such as budget, organisational work, plans, party platforms, drawing up political lines.

List of party chairmen and leaders

Chairwoman and Prime Minister Erna Solberg

Former Prime Minister and Chairman Jan P. Syse

Former Prime Minister and Chairman Kåre Willoch

• Emil Stang, 1884–1889
• Christian Homann Schweigaard, 1889–1891
• Emil Stang, 1891–1893
• Christian Homann Schweigaard, 1893–1896
• Emil Stang, 1896–1899
• Francis Hagerup, 1899–1902
• Ole Larsen Skattebøl, 1902–1905
• Edm. Harbitz, 1905–1907
• Fredrik Stang, 1907–1911
• Jens Bratlie, 1911–1919
• Otto Bahr Halvorsen, 1919–1923
• Ivar Lykke, 1923–1926
• Carl Joachim Hambro, 1926–1934
• Johan H. Andresen, 1934–1937
• Ole Ludvig Bærøe, 1937–1940
• Arthur Nordlie, 1945–1950
• Carl Joachim Hambro, 1950–1954
• Alv Kjøs, 1954–1962
• Sjur Lindebrække, 1962–1970
• Kåre Willoch, 1970–1974
• Erling Norvik, 1974–1980
• Jo Benkow, 1980–1984
• Erling Norvik, 1984–1986
• Rolf Presthus, 1986–1988
• Kaci Kullmann Five, 1988
• Jan P. Syse, 1988–1991
• Kaci Kullmann Five, 1991–1994
• Jan Petersen, 1994–2004
• Erna Solberg, 2004-

Parliamentary (Storting) elections 1906–2013

Distributions of seats for the parliamentary election in 2013

Date	Votes			Seats		Size	Notes
	#	%	±	#	±
1906	88,323	32.8%	−12.0	35 / 123	27	2nd	as the Coalition Party
1909	175,388*	41.5%*	+8.7	64 / 123	29	1st	government 1910−13
1912	162,074*	33.2%*	−8.3	24 / 123	40	2nd
1915	179,028*	29.0%*	−4.2	21 / 123	3	2nd
1918	201,325*	30.4%*	+1.4	49 / 126	28	2nd	government 1920−21
1921	301,372*	33.3%*	+2.9	57 / 150	8	1st	government 1923−24
1924	316,846*	32.5%*	−0.8	54 / 150	3	1st	government 1926−28
1927	240,091*	24.0%*	−8.5	31 / 150	23	3rd
1930	327,731*	27.4%*	+3.4	44 / 150	13	2nd
1933	252,506*	20.2%*	−7.2	30 / 150	14	2nd
1936	310,324*	21.3%*	+1.1	36 / 150	6	2nd
1945	252,608	17.0%	−4.3	25 / 150	11	2nd
1949	279,790**	18.3%**	+1.3	23 / 150	2	2nd
1953	327,971**	18.6%**	+0.3	27 / 150	4	2nd
1957	301,395**	18.9%**	+0.3	29 / 150	2	2nd
1961	354,369**	20.0%**	+1.1	29 / 150	0	2nd	government 1963
1965	415,612**	21.1%**	+1.1	31 / 150	2	2nd	government 1965−69
1969	406,209**	19.6%**	−1.5	29 / 150	2	2nd	government 1969−71
1973	370,370**	17.4%**	−2.2	29 / 155	0	2nd
1977	563,783**	24.8%**	+7.4	41 / 155	12	2nd
1981	780,372	31.7%	+6.9	53 / 155	12	2nd	government 1981−85
1985	791,537	30.4%	−1.3	50 / 157	3	2nd	government 1985−86
1989	588,682	22.2%	−8.2	37 / 165	13	2nd	government 1989−90
1993	419,373	17.0%	−5.2	28 / 165	9	3rd
1997	370,441	14.3%	−2.7	23 / 165	5	3rd
2001	534,852	21.2%	+6.9	38 / 165	15	2nd	government 2001−05
2005	372,008	14.1%	−7.1	23 / 169	15	3rd
2009	462,465	17.2%	+3.1	30 / 169	7	3rd
2013	760,232	26.8%	+9.6	48 / 169	18	2nd	government 2013−

• * Includes seats of the Liberal Left Party (Statistics Norway).
• ** The Conservative Party ran on joint lists in a limited number of constituencies from 1949 to 1977. Vote numbers are from independent Conservative lists only, while vote percentage also includes the Conservative Party's estimated share from joint lists (Statistics Norway estimates).

See also

• Politics of Norway

External links

• (Norwegian) Høyre - Official site
• (English) Conservative Party (Høyre) - Information in English
• (Norwegian) Unge Høyre - Official site of the Young Conservatives
• (Norwegian) Høyres Studenterforbund - Site of the Conservative Students' Union
• Election results for the Conservative Party in the 2011 local elections