The Norwegian government coalition of the work party of Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Senterpartiet fell apart on Thursday on a disagreement regarding the converting of European energy policy into national legislation. Støre will simply remain as prime minister of the minority government. There will be no early elections.
The disagreement relates to the conversion of the EU package ‘Schone energy for all Europeans’. Norway is not a member of the European Union, but is one of the European Economic Area (EEA). As a result, it is obliged to convert certain European legislation into national legislation. Norway is also the most important gas supplier of the 27 Member States.
However, the Eurosceptic Senterpartite did not want to know about that. According to the party, Norway would damage the sovereignty about the energy sector in this way and a closer bond with the European energy market would lead to higher electricity prices.
Due to the loss of the 28 seats of the Senterparite, Støre now has to continue with a weakened minority government that has only 48 of the 169 parliament seats. This means that the government must constantly look for supporters to get legislation approved. It is the first time in 25 years that the Norwegian government will only consist of one party.
New elections will take place in the country from Northern Europe on 8 September. Early elections are not possible in Norway.