2007 Norwegian local elections

Country-wide local elections for seats in municipality and county councils were held throughout Norway on 10 September 2007, with some areas polling on 9 September as well. For most places this meant that two elections, the municipal elections and the county elections ran concurrently. In addition, several municipalities held direct mayoral elections.

For the country at large, the election produced a major setback for the Socialist Left Party, while most other parties, including the two other parties of the governing Red-Green Coalition, the Norwegian Labour Party and the Centre Party, made some advances or held their position from 2003.

Term of office was 1 January 2008 until 31 December 2011.

Identification requirement

A new rule required voters to produce an identity document in order to vote. This change was criticized by the Red Electoral Alliance who argued that poor people without such documents would be unable to afford such a document, and thus wind up disenfranchised. The minister in charge of the election, Åslaug Haga, prompted the local election authorities to exercise discretion, and aid people who need identification if necessary. It was also not necessary to have identification if the ballot recipient knew the voter and could vouch for him or her.[http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/ostlandssendingen/valg_2007_oslo_og_akershus/1.3362861 -Fattige har ikke stemmerett] ("The poor don't have the right to vote") NRK Østlandssendingen, September 3, 2007

Voter turnout concerns

Ahead of the election, it was feared that voter turnout would be lower than the 59% of the 2003 local elections, which was already low by Norwegian standards. Even so, a few days before the early voting deadline had past, about 291,200 ballots had been cast prior to the election, up from the 249,022 ballots cast in 2003.[http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1979485.ece Low voter turnout predicted] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070909125352/http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1979485.ece |date=2007-09-09 }} Aftenposten, September 6, 2007

The final result showed a turnout of 61.7% in the municipal election,[http://www.regjeringen.no/krd/html/valg2007/bk5.html Election results: municipal] and 57.5% in the county election.[http://www.regjeringen.no/krd/html/valg2007/bf5.html Election results: county]

Results and response

=Municipal elections=

2,209,706 valid votes were cast for the municipal elections, a turnout of 61.7%. These are the aggregate results:[http://www.regjeringen.no/krd/html/valg2007/bk5.html Official municipal election results from the Norwegian government website.][http://www.ssb.no/kommvalg_en/tab-2008-01-04-09-en.html ssb.no - Municipal council election 2007. Valid votes, by party/electoral list and municipality][http://www.ssb.no/kommvalg_en/tab-2008-01-04-10-en.html ssb.no - Municipal council election 2007. Valid votes by party/electoral list1 and municipality. Percentage]

{{Election results

|party1=Labour Party|votes1=655093|seats1=

|party2=Conservative Party|votes2=425694|seats2=

|party3=Progress Party|votes3=387476|seats3=

|party4=Centre Party|votes4=175673|seats4=

|party5=Christian Democratic Party|votes5=141019|seats5=

|party6=Socialist Left Party|votes6=137041|seats6=

|party7=Liberal Party|votes7=129656|seats7=

|party8=Red Electoral Alliance|votes8=41340|seats8=

|party9=Pensioners' Party|votes9=20501|seats9=

|party10=Coastal Party|votes10=8982|seats10=

|party11=Environment Party The Greens|votes11=6963|seats11=

|party12=Sunnmøre List|votes12=5595|seats12=

|party13=Sámi People's Party|votes13=1140|seats13=

|party14=Social Democratic Party|votes14=537|seats14=

|party15=Communist Party|votes15=526|seats15=

|party16=Society Party|votes16=393|seats16=

|party17=Joint, local and other lists|votes17=72077|seats17=

}}

In the large cities, Oslo and Bergen retained a majority for the non-socialist parties. The Labour Party enjoyed significant gains in Trondheim and Tromsø. A Conservative-Labour coalition will share the power in Stavanger (continue) and Kristiansand (new).[http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/article1987643.ece Nå starter kampen om byene] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070918071455/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/article1987643.ece |date=2007-09-18 }} Now the battle of the cities start, Aftenposten, September 11, 2007 {{in lang|no}}

=County elections=

2,076,609 valid votes were cast for the county elections, a turnout of 57.5%. These are the aggregate results:[http://www.regjeringen.no/krd/html/valg2007/bf5.html Official county election results from the Norwegian government website]

{{Election results

|party1=Labour Party|votes1=639781|seats1=236|sc1=+28

|party2=Conservative Party|votes2=389437|seats2=120|sc2=+7

|party3=Progress Party|votes3=384982|seats3=141|sc3=+14

|party4=Centre Party|votes4=162660|seats4=73|sc4=–7

|party5=Christian Democratic Party|votes5=139584|seats5=54|sc5=−3

|party6=Socialist Left Party|votes6=135461|seats6=46|sc6=−44

|party7=Liberal Party|votes7=116316|seats7=37|sc7=+10

|party8=Red Electoral Alliance|votes8=42920|seats8=8|sc8=+2

|party9=Pensioners' Party|votes9=22649|seats9=5|sc9=–3

|party10=Environment Party The Greens|votes10=12379|seats10=0|sc10=0

|party11=Coastal Party|votes11=9104|seats11=3|sc11=−1

|party12=Democrats|votes12=6352|seats12=1|sc12=0

|party13=Sunnmøre List|votes13=5595|seats13=3|sc13=0

|party14=Christian Unity Party|votes14=2811|seats14=0|sc14=0

|party15=Vestfold List|votes15=1593|seats15=0|sc15=–2

|party16=Oslo City Action|votes16=1466|seats16=0|sc16=–

|party17=Communist Party|votes17=1210|seats17=0|sc17=0

|party18=Sámi People's Party|votes18=1140|seats18=1|sc18=–1

|party19=Sámi People's Party list 2|votes19=393|seats19=0|sc19=–

|party20=Immigrant Party|votes20=329|seats20=0|sc20=–

|party21=Democratic Alternative Oslo|votes21=191|seats21=0|sc21=–

|party22=Society Party|votes22=129|seats22=0|sc22=0

|party23=Liberal People's Party|votes23=127|seats23=0|sc23=0

|total_sc=0

}}

Image:Norwegianelection2007.PNG

=Response=

For the country at large, the Socialist Left Party's (SV) popularity plummeted, and the result was described as a "catastrophe". Most other main line parties could log slight gains or a result comparable with the previous election.

Part of the explanation for SV's poor performance has been laid on their performance in the cabinet. In particular Helen Bjørnøy, the minister of environmental affairs, and Øystein Djupedal, the minister of education and research have faced criticism. Bjørnøy has been well respected, but has suffered due to having to make compromises on environmental issues, in particular to the Centre Party which favors rural development, often over conservation. Djupedal has had to contend with accusations of arrogance, and several teachers, who SV have traditionally fared well amongst, have complained about the lack of improvement in the country's education system. Also, SV's party leader and Norway's minister of finance, Kristin Halvorsen has been behind some unpopular economic measures.[http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1987874.ece Government changes loom after election 'catastrophe'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070915141209/http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1987874.ece |date=2007-09-15 }} Aftenposten, September 11, 2007 Olav Gunnar Ballo, an SV member of parliament has called for the resignation of both Bjørnøy and Djupedal,[http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/article1987489.ece Krever hoderulling etter SV-fiaskoen] Demands head rolling after SV fiasco, Aftenposten, September 11, {{in lang|no}} but on the day after the election, Halvorsen announced that none of the SV cabinet members would be dismissed.[http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/innenriks/valg/val_2007/1.3446486 Sparker ikke SV-ministre] ("Will not fire SV ministers") NRK, September 11, 2007 {{in lang|no}}

Allegations of electoral fraud in Drammen

In the election in Drammen Municipality, it was revealed that a number of drug addicts had been offered {{NOK|50}} (approximately 8 US Dollars) if they would vote for the Labour Party, and with a personal vote for the candidate Yousuf Gilani. There were also allegations that Gilani had escorted voters into the election booths.[http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/article2004235.ece - Så Ap-politiker geleide velgere] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610005141/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/article2004235.ece |date=2008-06-10 }} ("Saw Labour politician escort voters") Aftenposten, September 19, 2007 {{in lang|no}} Another allegation was that a person who declined a bribe to vote in this manner was subjected to death threats.[http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/ostafjells/buskerud/1.3530256 - Jeg ble drapstruet] ("I received death threats") NRK Buskerud, September 21, 2007 {{in lang|no}} The police investigating the allegations indicated that electoral fraud had indeed taken place, Gilani was asked by his party to take a leave from his political duties.[http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article2008322.ece Politiet tror på valgfusk – Gilani bedt om å ta perm] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610003546/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article2008322.ece |date=2008-06-10 }} (The police believes in electoral fraud, Gilani asked to take a leave) Aftenposten, September 22, 2007, {{in lang|no}} Gilani took a leave, and both he and the Labour Party have stated that this was a decision made on Gilani's initiative.[http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/article2008276.ece Fullt kaos i Drammen Ap] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001152521/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/article2008276.ece |date=2007-10-01 }} ("Full chaos in the Drammen Labour Party") Aftenposten, September 22, {{in lang|no}}

Gilani himself reported the case to the police, denying any wrongdoing and stating his belief that the incident was part of a smear campaign.[http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/article2004329.ece Gilani anmeldte stemmekjøp til politiet] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610005152/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/article2004329.ece |date=2008-06-10 }} ("Gilani reported vote buying to the police") Aftenposten, September 19, 2007 {{in lang|no}} Gilani also reported death threats and incidents of harassment directed against him during the run-up to the election.[http://www.nettavisen.no/innenriks/article1346534.ece - Jeg ble drapstruet] ("I received death threats") Nettavisen, September 20, 2007 {{in lang|no}}

Two members of the Drammen council, from the Progress Party and the Socialist Left Party called for the result to be cancelled, and for new elections to be held in the city. Åslaug Haga, the minister whose cabinet was in charge of the elections, also hinted that a rerun might become necessary.[http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/article2004103.ece Haga: – Kan bli omvalg i Drammen] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610005139/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/article2004103.ece |date=2008-06-10 }} (Haga says there may be rerun of the election in Drammen) Aftenposten, September 19, 2007 {{in lang|no}} However, the mayor, Tore Opdal Hansen (Conservative), while expressing shock at the revelations, said that would probably not happen. It was pointed out that the scope of the fraud appeared small, and that even if all the 364 Labour ballots with a personal vote for Gilani were thrown out, that there would be no effect on the council's composition partywise.[http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/article2010340.ece - Det blir ikke omvalg] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610005159/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/article2010340.ece |date=2008-06-10 }} ("There will not be a rerun of the election") Aftenposten, September 24, 2007 {{in lang|no}} A meeting in the Drammen election board on 24 September approved the result, prompting demands for law amendments ro allow election reruns even if the party composition in the council remained unchanged. Mayor Hansen was among those expressing disappointment at the board not having the authority to reject the result, even if the personal composition of the council could be altered.[http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/article2011987.ece Ikke omvalg i Drammen] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610005208/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/article2011987.ece |date=2008-06-10 }} ("No rerun of the election in Drammen") Aftenposten, September 24, 2007 {{in lang|no}} Magnhild Meltveit Kleppa, the new minister of Local Government and Regional Development, and in charge of the Norwegian elections at large, promised to consider amendments to the tighten the law if needed to prevent such incidents happening again.[http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/article2012248.ece Kleppa vil se på saken] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610005210/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/article2012248.ece |date=2008-06-10 }} ("Kleppa will look at the case") Aftenposten, September 24, 2007 {{in lang|no}}

Direct mayoral elections

Several municipalities held direct mayoral elections rather than having the council appoint the mayor. The municipalities holding these elections were (municipalities who held such elections for the first time are marked "(new)"):[http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/innenriks/valg/val_2007/1.2675499 Kommuner med direkte ordførervalg] (Municipalities with direct mayoral elections)

Among the notable results in these elections was Knut Henning Thygesen's victory in Risør Municipality, making him the first mayor ever for the Red Electoral Alliance.[http://www.nettavisen.no/innenriks/article1328558.ece RVs første ordfører] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080530160505/http://www.nettavisen.no/innenriks/article1328558.ece |date=2008-05-30 }} (RV's first mayor) Nettavisen, September 11, 2007 {{in lang|no}}

References

2007

Norway

Category:2007 in Norway

Category:September 2007 in Europe