Norway Democrats

File:Jan Simonsen cropped.jpg, who joined the Democrats while he was a member of parliament]]

The party was originally founded simply as the Democrats ({{langx|nb|Demokratene}} {{langx|nn|Demokratane}}, DEM), and it bore this name from 2002 to 2010, and again from 2018 to 2023. From 2010 to 2018, it was known as the Democrats in Norway ({{langx|nb|Demokratene i Norge}} {{langx|nn|Demokratane i Noreg}}, DiN).

The Democrats were founded on 24 August 2002 at Hotel Linne in Oslo,{{cite web|title=Organisasjonshåndbok For Demokratene i Norge|url=http://www.demokratene.us/dok/org_handbok.doc|access-date=2009-08-09|language=no|publisher=Demokratene}}{{Dead link|date=September 2011}} primarily by former Progress Party members, but also former members of the Labour Party, Conservative Party, Liberal Party and Socialist Left Party.{{cite news|title=Flere politiske partier|url=http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/article3158391.ece|date=14 August 2009|access-date=18 September 2011|language=no|work=Aftenposten|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629110806/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/article3158391.ece|archive-date=29 June 2011|url-status=dead}} In November of the same year, the party successfully gathered 5,200 signatures (5,000 required), and was legally registered as a party. The new party's leader, Vidar Kleppe, had a vision that the party should have a role as an ombudsman at grass roots level, similar to the role of Anders Lange, the first leader of the Progress Party.{{cite news|url=http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/article445469.ece|title=Demokratene registrert som politisk parti|date=27 November 2002|work=Aftenposten|publisher=Norwegian News Agency|access-date=6 September 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629123238/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/article445469.ece|archive-date=29 June 2011}}{{cite news|url=http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/article432577.ece|work=Aftenposten|publisher=Norwegian News Agency|title=Kleppe og Simonsen danner nytt parti|date=8 November 2002|language=no|access-date=6 September 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629123217/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/article432577.ece|archive-date=29 June 2011}} Since Member of Parliament Jan Simonsen (who was expelled from the Progress Party in 2001) joined the party upon its creation, the party was until 2005 also effectively represented in the Norwegian Parliament (technically, he had to sit as an independent).{{cite web|url=http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/norsk-politikk/dem/|title=Demokratene|work=Verdens Gang|access-date=6 September 2011|language=no|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110913072715/http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/norsk-politikk/dem/|archive-date=13 September 2011|url-status=dead}}

One of the components of the new party was the minor Social Democrats, previously known as the Generation Party, which in turn had been formed as a splinter group of the Pensioners' Party. The Democrats originally tried to take advantage of this party's status to run for election. This led to a struggle about the Democrats' right to put up lists in more counties. The conflict was resolved, and subsequently both the Democrats and the Social Democrats were eligible to contest elections in Norway.{{cite web|title=Sak 46 Protest på listenavnet Demokratisk Alternativ for Oslo|url=http://www.sak.oslo.kommune.no/dok/Bys%5C2007%5CBTU-V%5C2007004899-137731.htm|access-date=6 September 2011|language=no|publisher=Oslo Municipality|date=31 May 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120919183443/http://www.sak.oslo.kommune.no/dok/Bys%5C2007%5CBTU-V%5C2007004899-137731.htm|archive-date=19 September 2012}} Later, the Democrats went on to draw leading figures and members from parties such as the Fatherland Party and the Norwegian People's Party.{{cite news|url=http://www.aftenbladet.no/innenriks/politikk/--Ytre-hyre-samles-i-Demokratene-2597800.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120718142542/http://www.aftenbladet.no/innenriks/politikk/--Ytre-hyre-samles-i-Demokratene-2597800.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 July 2012|work=Stavanger Aftenblad|publisher=Norwegian News Agency|title=- Ytre høyre samles i Demokratene|date=24 May 2005|access-date=23 September 2011|language=no}}{{cite news|url=http://www.oblad.no/nyheter/jonstad-med-liste-likevel-1.3706754|work=Østlandets Blad|title=Jonstad med liste likevel|date=5 June 2003|first=Kristin Lilletvedt|last=Strøm|access-date=13 May 2011|language=no|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928120832/http://www.oblad.no/nyheter/jonstad-med-liste-likevel-1.3706754|archive-date=28 September 2011|url-status=live}}

Image:Demokratene logo.png

By August 2003, the headquarters of the Democrats in Kristiansand had reportedly been vandalised eight times.{{cite news|url=http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/article609566.ece|title=Kleppe raser mot steinkasting og ruteknusing|work=Aftenposten|date=23 August 2003|publisher=Norwegian News Agency|access-date=6 September 2011|language=no|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629133438/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/politikk/article609566.ece|archive-date=29 June 2011}} In its first elections, the 2003 local elections, the Democrats ran in 46 municipalities and boroughs,

{{cite news|url=http://www.adressa.no/nyheter/innenriks/article836581.ece|title=Demokratene stiller lister i flere kommuner|work=Adresseavisa|date=2 April 2007|publisher=Norwegian News Agency|access-date=6 September 2011|language=no|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611132436/http://www.adressa.no/nyheter/innenriks/article836581.ece|archive-date=11 June 2011|url-status=live}}

and won 0.3% of the nationwide vote in the county elections. It won two representatives in the Kristiansand municipal council, and one in the Vest-Agder county council.{{cite web|url=http://snl.no/Vidar_Kleppe|title=Vidar Kleppe|first=Knut Are|last=Tvedt|date=21 February 2009|access-date=18 September 2011|language=no|work=Store norske leksikon|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930123709/http://snl.no/Vidar_Kleppe|archive-date=30 September 2012|url-status=live}} In 2005, the Democrats became represented in the Bergen city council owing to the defection of a Progress Party councillor.{{cite news|url=http://www.bt.no/nyheter/lokalt/Fra-Frp-til-Demokratene-2287986.html|work=Bergens Tidende|title=Fra Frp til Demokratene|date=7 February 2005|language=no|access-date=18 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120921001337/http://www.bt.no/nyheter/lokalt/Fra-Frp-til-Demokratene-2287986.html|archive-date=21 September 2012|url-status=live}}

The party stepped up its activity with the aim of gaining a foothold in the Norwegian Parliament at the 2005 parliamentary election. Before the election, party leader Vidar Kleppe tried to bolster support for the party by calling for the closure of all Mosques in Norway if they did not clearly distance themselves from terrorism.{{cite news|url=http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/norsk-politikk/artikkel.php?artid=283785|title=- Steng alle moskeer hvis de ikke markerer klar avstand fra terror|work=Verdens Gang|last=Torvik|first=Line|date=23 July 2005|access-date=6 September 2011|language=no|location=Kristiansand/Oslo|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111212071750/http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/norsk-politikk/artikkel.php?artid=283785|archive-date=12 December 2011|url-status=live}} Candidates running for the party also had to withstand threats and attacks during the electoral campaign. This included Nordland county leader Amund Garfors receiving death threats,{{cite news|url=http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/valg-2005/artikkel.php?artid=106870|title=- Jeg ble drapstruet|work=Verdens Gang|last=Øverbye|first=Morten|date=23 August 2005|access-date=6 September 2011|language=no|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111212062713/http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/valg-2005/artikkel.php?artid=106870|archive-date=12 December 2011|url-status=live}} and party leader Vidar Kleppe being physically assaulted both by a former Workers' Communist Party deputy leader,{{cite news|url=http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/norsk-politikk/artikkel.php?artid=169251|title=Tiltalt for å ha slått Vidar Kleppe i hodet|work=Verdens Gang|date=28 November 2006|access-date=6 September 2011|language=no|publisher=Norwegian News Agency|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111212071656/http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/norsk-politikk/artikkel.php?artid=169251|archive-date=12 December 2011|url-status=live}} and by members of a demonstration by left-wing organisations SOS Rasisme, the Blitz-movement and Socialist Youth.{{cite news|url=http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2005/08/22/440994.html|title=Bombarderte Kleppe med egg|work=Dagbladet|last=Rognmo|first=Gro|date=22 August 2005|access-date=6 September 2011|language=no|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605105459/http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2005/08/22/440994.html|archive-date=5 June 2011|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/valg-2005/artikkel.php?artid=287681|title=Kastet egg på Kleppe|work=Verdens Gang|last=Jensen|first=Christine|date=22 August 2005|access-date=6 September 2011|language=no|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010220324/http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/valg-2005/artikkel.php?artid=287681|archive-date=10 October 2012|url-status=live}} Despite running a high-profile campaign, the Democrats failed to make any breakthrough in the election.

The Democrats increased their number of candidates for the 2007 local elections, and ran in 85 municipalities and boroughs, as well as in all 19 counties. The party won 0.3% of the overall vote in the county elections, and kept its representation in the Vest-Agder county council. It gained eight municipal councillors, among them in the cities Trondheim and Kristiansand.{{cite web|url=http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/innenriks/valg/val_2007/resultat/|publisher=Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation|title=Val 2007|access-date=31 March 2010|language=no|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100110031955/http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/innenriks/valg/val_2007/resultat/|archive-date=10 January 2010|url-status=live}} For the 2009 parliamentary election the Democrats for the first time ran in all the counties in Norway.{{cite news|url=http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/1.6550473|title=Demokratene i alle fylker|publisher=Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation|date=31 March 2009|access-date=6 September 2011|language=no|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604195958/http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/1.6550473|archive-date=4 June 2011|url-status=live}} The Democrats complained about the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation to the OSCE, as the party along with other extraparliamentary parties that ran in all 19 counties had been denied television coverage (except the Red Party).{{cite news|url=http://www.tv2nyhetene.no/innenriks/politikk/valg09/klager-paa-nrk-til-valgobservatoerene-2902911.html|title=Klager på NRK til valg-observatørene|work=TV 2|date=11 September 2009|access-date=6 September 2011|language=no|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090914053621/http://www.tv2nyhetene.no/innenriks/politikk/valg09/klager-paa-nrk-til-valgobservatoerene-2902911.html|archive-date=14 September 2009|url-status=live}} Only a few weeks before the 2009 election, the headquarters of the Democrats were broken into, and a computer containing material planned for use in the election campaign was stolen.{{cite news|url=http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/sorlandet/valg_2009_sorlandet/1.6751016|title=Innbrudd hos Demokratene|publisher=Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation|last=Sellevold|first=Terje|date=28 August 2009|access-date=6 September 2011|language=no|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023194706/http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/sorlandet/valg_2009_sorlandet/1.6751016|archive-date=23 October 2012|url-status=live}} In the election, the party remained at 0.1% of the vote.

The Democrats had to renew its public registration owing to the poor 2009 election result, and chose to re-register itself as the "Democrats in Norway".{{cite news|url=http://www.demokratene.no/2010/10/demokratenes-generalsekret%C3%A6r-malet-er-nadd/|title=Demokratenes generalsekretær: Målet er nådd|date=31 October 2010|access-date=18 September 2011|language=no|publisher=Demokratene i Norge|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323052709/http://www.demokratene.no/2010/10/demokratenes-generalsekret%C3%A6r-malet-er-nadd/|archive-date=23 March 2012}}{{cite news|url=http://www.demokratene.no/2010/11/fugl-f%C3%B8nix-reiste-seg-fra-asken/|title=Fugl Fønix reiste seg fra asken|date=12 November 2010|access-date=18 September 2011|language=no|publisher=Demokratene i Norge|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929181228/http://www.demokratene.no/2010/11/fugl-f%C3%B8nix-reiste-seg-fra-asken/|archive-date=29 September 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://w2.brreg.no/kunngjoring/hent_nr.jsp?orgnr=995574152|title=Kunngjøringer: Nyregistrering av parti|date=10 November 2010|language=no|publisher=Brønnøysund Register Centre}} The party only ran in 31 municipalities for the 2011 local elections.{{cite news|url=http://politisk.tv2.no/nyheter/noen-f%C3%A6rre-a-velge-mellom/|publisher=TV 2|work=Politisk.no|title=Færre lister til kommunevalget|date=1 April 2011|language=no|access-date=15 September 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322170741/http://politisk.tv2.no/nyheter/noen-f%C3%A6rre-a-velge-mellom/|archive-date=22 March 2012}} It nevertheless again won eight municipal councillors, this time in five councils (two councillors in three councils), and held its representation in the Vest-Agder county council.{{cite web|url=http://www.nrk.no/valg2011/valgresultat/parti/parti/demn/|title=Demokratane|publisher=Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation|work=Valg 2011|language=no|access-date=15 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926125935/http://nrk.no/valg2011/valgresultat/parti/parti/demn/|archive-date=26 September 2011|url-status=live}} Besides its two representatives in Kristiansand (in Vest-Agder), all of the party's municipal councillors were elected in Hordaland.{{cite news|url=http://nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/hordaland/1.7792682|title=Demokratane gjer det best i vest|first=Siri Kleiven|last=Strøm|date=14 September 2011|access-date=18 September 2011|language=no|work=NRK Hordaland|publisher=Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation}} After the election, the party became part of local cooperations that would govern Kristiansand{{cite news|url=http://www.fvn.no/tema/valg/article903842.ece|work=Fædrelandsvennen|title=Kristiansand-kabalen er klar|first1=Mads|last1=Ommundsen|first2=Frank|last2=Mersland|date=15 September 2011|access-date=16 September 2011|language=no|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110925170805/http://www.fvn.no/tema/valg/article903842.ece|archive-date=25 September 2011|url-status=dead}} and Stord.{{cite news|url=http://www.bt.no/nyheter/valg/Fortsetter-som-ordfrer-2575125.html|work=Bergens Tidende|language=no|title=Fortsetter som ordfører|first=Anders|last=Haga|date=14 September 2011|access-date=16 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120921001305/http://www.bt.no/nyheter/valg/Fortsetter-som-ordfrer-2575125.html|archive-date=21 September 2012|url-status=dead}}

Vidar Kleppe stepped down as leader in 2012 and was succeeded by Kjell Arne Sellæg.{{cite news|last=Moen|first=Sophie Bergersen|title=Overtar lederstolen i Demokratene|newspaper=Adresseavisen|date=23 April 2012|page=30|language=no}} The change in leadership was followed by internal strife and resignations. Eleven weeks after his appointment as leader, Sellæg left the Democrats to form a new party, the Moderates. He was succeeded by Elisabeth Rue Strencbo.{{cite book |last1=Strømmen |first1=Øyvind |author-link1=Øyvind Strømmen |title=Den sorte tråden |year=2013 |publisher=Cappelen Damm |language=no |isbn=978-82-02-37028-2 |page=231}} In 2013 the party elected Fredrik U. Litleskare as new leader of the party. Litleskare withdrew from the position in 2014 citing internal non-political conflicts, and was succeeded by Ellen Simonsen as acting leader.{{cite web|url=http://www.sunnhordland.no/article/20141020/NYHENDE/141029996 |title=No har han teke eit oppgjer med partiet - Sunnhordland |access-date=2014-10-26 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161103235805/http://www.sunnhordland.no/article/20141020/NYHENDE/141029996 |archive-date=3 November 2016 }} In 2015 Terje Svendsen was elected new leader.{{cite web |url=http://www.demokratene.no/blogg/terje-svendsen-valgt-som-leder-etter-ryddig-landsmote/ |title=Terje Svendsen valgt som leder etter ryddig landsmøte | Blogg : Demokratene i Norge |access-date=2015-05-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526155623/http://www.demokratene.no/blogg/terje-svendsen-valgt-som-leder-etter-ryddig-landsmote/ |archive-date=26 May 2015 }} In 2016, Kim Steinar Kjærner-Strømberg was elected new leader, until he was exposed and expelled for having given a fraudulent background. He was succeeded by Makvan Kasheikal, an immigrant from Iran.{{Cite news|title=Ny ledelse på plass i Demokratene|url=http://www.abcnyheter.no/nyheter/2016/06/18/195224073/ny-ledelse-pa-plass-i-demokratene|newspaper=Abc nyheter|agency=NTB|date=18 June 2016|language=no|access-date=2 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104002535/http://www.abcnyheter.no/nyheter/2016/06/18/195224073/ny-ledelse-pa-plass-i-demokratene|archive-date=4 November 2016|url-status=live}}

In the 2019 local elections, the party gained popularity and became the third political force in the city council of Kristiansand with 13.4% of the votes.{{Cite web|title=Valgresultat for Kristiansand – Valg 2019|url=https://www.nrk.no/valg/2019/resultat/nb/sted/4204|access-date=2021-08-26|website=NRK|language=nb}} The new party leader as of 2021, Geir Ugland Jacobsen who is a contributor to the Russian propaganda channel RT, then transformed the party into a pro-Russian voice in the political debate.{{cite news|url=https://www.transitmag.no/2021/09/13/demokratene-leder-bidrar-pa-russisk-propagandakanal/|title=Demokratene-leder bidrar på russisk propagandakanal|first=Terje|last=Karlsen|work=Transit Magasin|date=13 September 2021|language=no}}{{cite news|url=http://www.aftenposten.no/meninger/kommentar/i/pQ9jQW/man-skal-ikke-sy-putinister-under-armene-paa-folk|title=Man skal ikke sy putinister under armene på folk|first=Halvor|last=Hegtun|work=Aftenposten|date=16 March 2023|language=no}} The party's website refers to Ukraine as the "Kyiv regime" and accuses the West of warmongering in Ukraine.{{cite web|url=http://demokratene.org/ukraina/|title=Konflikten i Ukraina|work=Norway Democrats|date=8 March 2023 |accessdate=24 February 2024|language=no}}

The party underwent another name change in 2023, adopting its current name and logo. The same year, party founder Vidar Kleppe and all the party's elected representatives in Kristiansand and Southern Norway were expelled from the party after Kleppe criticised the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in opposition to the party's decision to oppose weapons support to Ukraine.{{cite news|url=https://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/i/kEKqmv/vidar-kleppe-kastes-ut-av-eget-parti-starter-kleppelista|title=Vidar Kleppe kastes ut av «eget parti» – starter Kleppelista|date=20 March 2023|work=Verdens Gang|language=Norwegian}} Kleppe stated that he cannot accept that the party should be associated with Putinism.{{cite news|url=https://www.nettavisen.no/norsk-politikk/demokratene/vidar-kleppe/vil-straffe-norsk-partitopp-etter-putin-fordommelser/s/5-95-957554|title= Vil straffe norsk partitopp etter Putin-fordømmelser |first=Jakob|last=Bjørnøy|work=Nettavisen|date=7 March 2023|language=no}} In the 2023 local elections the party received only 0.3% of the votes in Kristiansand, its previous stronghold.{{cite news|url=https://www.fvn.no/nyheter/lokalt/i/mQ4Abq/norgesdemokratene-utradert-i-kristiansand|title=Norgesdemokratene utradert i Kristiansand|work=Fædrelandsvennen|date=11 September 2023|language=no}}{{cite web|url=https://valgresultater.no/valg/2023/ko/agder/kristiansand|title=Valgresultat: Agder fylke / Kristiansand|work=Valgdirektoratet|date=2023|language=no}}

The main issues for the party are law and order, increased help for the elderly and disabled, and a restrictive immigration and asylum policy. The principles of the Norway Democrats are built on Christian values, and Norwegian culture and tradition. The party opposes mass immigration and increased Islamic influence, fearing that Western liberal values such as human rights and the Christian heritage will be endangered. It also seeks drastic measures against crime. When questioned about the party's place on the political spectrum, former Democrats' leader Vidar Kleppe responded that the Democrats are "in many ways a centrist party."{{cite news|url=http://www.nettavisen.no/innenriks/politikk/article367110.ece|work=Nettavisen|title=Demokratene i alle fylker|first=Trond|last=Lepperød|date=31 March 2005|language=no|access-date=19 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015131039/http://www.nettavisen.no/innenriks/politikk/article367110.ece|archive-date=15 October 2012|url-status=dead}} As of 2015, the party officially described itself as a "national value-conservative" party.{{cite web|url=http://www.demokratene.no/vedtekter/|title=Vedtekter|date=28 March 2015|language=no|publisher=Demokratene i Norge|access-date=4 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101230043202/http://www.demokratene.no/vedtekter/|archive-date=30 December 2010|url-status=live}} The Norway Democrats consider the Danish People's Party and the Sweden Democrats to be their sister parties.Jan Simonsen, [http://www.ledelse.as/synspunkt/jan-simonsen/nye-demokratene-med-klar-profil "Nye Demokratene med klar profil"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026013157/http://www.ledelse.as/synspunkt/jan-simonsen/nye-demokratene-med-klar-profil|date=26 October 2014}}, Ukeavisen Ledelse, 26.02.2014 The party has been characterised by media and scholars as a radical-right populist party.{{cite web|url=http://snl.no/h%C3%B8yreradikalisme|title=Høyreradikalisme|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019000502/http://snl.no/h%C3%B8yreradikalisme |archive-date=19 October 2016|work=Store norske leksikon|language=no}}{{cite news|url=http://www.mandagmorgen.no/7-prosent-vekst-ungdomspartiene-siden-227|work=MandagMorgen|title=7 prosent vekst for ungdomspartiene siden 22/7|date=28 August 2011|access-date=17 September 2011|language=no|first=Henrik Pryser|last=Libell|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130329173900/http://www.mandagmorgen.no/7-prosent-vekst-ungdomspartiene-siden-227|archive-date=29 March 2013|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1665371.ece|work=Aftenposten|title=Pig tactics threatened|first=Jonathan|last=Tisdall|date=28 February 2007|access-date=19 September 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101009110148/http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1665371.ece|archive-date=9 October 2010}}

The Norway Democrats identify the causes of the recent upsurge in serious crime in Norway to be a result of low penalties, liberal immigration policies, and a lack of funding for the police, courts and prison system. The party wants to raise the sentence frame of first-degree murder to life imprisonment, and otherwise raise minimum sentence frames. It does not support giving penalty discounts for multiple offences, and wants instead to add up penalties for every single offence. The party wants to double sentences for second-time offenders, triple sentences for third-time offenders and so on.{{cite web|title=Lov og orden|url=http://www.demokratene.no/lov-og-orden/|language=no|publisher=Demokratene i Norge|access-date=7 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822062614/http://www.demokratene.no/lov-og-orden/|archive-date=22 August 2011|url-status=dead}}

One of the main issues for the Norway Democrats is immigration to Norway, and the party wants a strongly restrictive immigration policy.[http://www.demokratene.no/prinsipp-program-2015/ "Prinsipp program 2015"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721165724/http://www.demokratene.no/prinsipp-program-2015/ |date=21 July 2015 }}. Demokratene i Norge. The party maintains that mass-immigration to western countries leads to considerable problems that are hard to solve, including considerable costs for social security payments and great increases in crime. The party believes that Norway's liberal values will be put in danger if a "Muslim mass immigration" is accepted. The party wants a stricter policy towards criminal immigrants, for instance allowing for the repatriation of immigrants participating in organized and gang-crime.

The party also claims that the current Norwegian refugee-policy is cynical in that it seeks to help the few refugees who can afford the journey to Norway, when there are millions of people suffering worldwide without such possibilities. The Norway Democrats seek to change the refugee-policy to instead helping people outside the Norwegian border. They claim that in that way the Norwegian state can afford to help much more refugees for the same amount of money that it requires to help considerably fewer people in Norway.{{cite web|title=Flyktning- asyl- og innvandringspolitikk|url=http://www.demokratene.no/flyktning-asyl-og-innvandringspolitikk/|language=no|publisher=Demokratene i Norge|access-date=6 September 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928223442/http://www.demokratene.no/flyktning-asyl-og-innvandringspolitikk/|archive-date=28 September 2011}}

The Norway Democrats are opposed to Norwegian membership in the European Union, and wants Norway to withdraw from the European Economic Area and the Schengen Agreement. The party wants to replace membership of the EEA with a free trade agreement.{{cite web|title=EU|url=http://www.demokratene.no/eu/|language=no|publisher=Demokratene i Norge|access-date=7 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315220909/http://www.demokratene.no/eu/|archive-date=15 March 2012|url-status=live}}

While supporting continued membership of NATO and the United Nations, it contends that the latter must reform. The party supports increased free trade, and wants to dissolve state-controlled foreign aid. The party only supports foreign aid to countries pursuing free-market policies, but maintains support to countries in cases of natural disasters, war and famine. Supportive of Israel, the party proposes to move the Norwegian embassy to what it describes as "the country's capital, Jerusalem."{{cite web|title=Utenrikspolitikk og u-hjelp|url=http://www.demokratene.no/utenrikspolitikk-og-u-hjelp/|language=no|publisher=Demokratene i Norge|access-date=7 September 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110821033354/http://www.demokratene.no/utenrikspolitikk-og-u-hjelp/|archive-date=21 August 2011}}

As of the 2011 local elections (0.3% county results), the party is represented in one county, Vest-Agder (1), and five municipalities; Kristiansand (2), Askøy (2), Odda (2), Fedje (1) and Stord (1)

The Democrats have been endorsed by several notable figures in Norway.{{cite news|url=http://www.fvn.no/lokalt/setesdal/article463637.ece|work=Fædrelandsvennen|title=Arly Karlsen og Åsmund Åmli stiller opp for Kleppe|first=Jon Anders|last=Møllen|date=12 April 2007|access-date=17 September 2011|language=no}}{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} One of the co-founders of the party was former coach of the football club IK Start, Karsten Johannessen, who has since been a repeated low-key candidate for the party.{{cite news|url=http://www.fvn.no/lokalt/kristiansand/article291416.ece|title=Karsten klager på bønnerop|language=no|access-date=17 September 2011|first1=Tor Hallvard T.|last1=Mosdøl|first2=Susanne|last2=Egenes|date=29 June 2005|work=Fædrelandsvennen}}{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite news|url=http://www.demokratene.no/2011/06/karsten-fikk-kongens-fortjenestemedalje/ |title=Karsten fikk Kongens fortjenestemedalje |publisher=Demokratene i Norge |date=22 June 2011 |language=no |access-date=18 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323052621/http://www.demokratene.no/2011/06/karsten-fikk-kongens-fortjenestemedalje/ |archive-date=23 March 2012 }}

In the 2005 parliamentary election, the Democrats were endorsed by former boxer Ole Klemetsen and former pop singer Gry Jannicke Jarlum, who both stood as low-key candidates.{{cite news|url=http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=272143|work=Verdens Gang|title=Ole Klemetsen blir politiker: Vil slåss for stortingsplass|first=Morten|last=Øverbye|date=31 March 2005|access-date=17 September 2011|language=no|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807012833/http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/artikkel.php?artid=272143|archive-date=7 August 2011|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.vg.no/musikk/artikkel.php?artid=271946|title=J-Diva vil på tinget|first=Frank|last=Ertesvåg|date=30 March 2005|access-date=17 September 2011|language=no|work=Verdens Gang|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110909115949/http://www.vg.no/musikk/artikkel.php?artid=271946|archive-date=9 September 2011|url-status=live}} Professional Elvis impersonator Kjell Elvis has long endorsed Vidar Kleppe, and subsequently the Democrats, and stood as a low-key candidate for it in 2011.{{cite news|url=http://www.nrk.no/kultur-og-underholdning/1.859488|publisher=Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation|title=Lever som Elvis|date=15 August 2003|access-date=26 October 2011|language=no|first=Stian|last=Fjelldal|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021021217/http://www.nrk.no/kultur-og-underholdning/1.859488|archive-date=21 October 2012|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.sfm.no/Arkiv-2009/Art-Jun-2009/070609.Demokratenes_landsmoete.htm |work=Samfunnsmagasinet |title=Kjell Elvis rocket på Demokratenes landsmøte |date=7 June 2009 |location=Kristiansand |language=no |first=Jan |last=Hansen |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402130941/http://www.sfm.no/Arkiv-2009/Art-Jun-2009/070609.Demokratenes_landsmoete.htm |archive-date=2 April 2012 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.nsd.uib.no/polsys/index.cfm?urlname=&lan=&MenuItem=N1_3&ChildItem=&State=collapse&UttakNr=97&fylke=Vest-Agder&valgaar=2011&partikode=249 |title=Fylkestingsvalget 2011: Valgliste for Demokratene i Vest-Agder |language=no |publisher=Norsk samfunnsvitenskapelig datatjeneste |access-date=21 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603215501/http://www.nsd.uib.no/polsys/index.cfm?urlname=&lan=&MenuItem=N1_3&ChildItem=&State=collapse&UttakNr=97&fylke=Vest-Agder&valgaar=2011&partikode=249 |archive-date=3 June 2012 }} Country artist Åsmund Åmli stood as a low-key candidate for the party in both the 2007 and 2011 local elections.{{cite web|url=http://www.nsd.uib.no/polsys/index.cfm?urlname=&lan=&MenuItem=N1_3&ChildItem=&State=collapse&UttakNr=97&fylke=Vest-Agder&valgaar=2007&Partikode=249|title=Fylkestingsvalget 2007: Valgliste for Demokratene i Vest-Agder|language=no|publisher=Norsk samfunnsvitenskapelig datatjeneste|access-date=18 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603215451/http://www.nsd.uib.no/polsys/index.cfm?urlname=&lan=&MenuItem=N1_3&ChildItem=&State=collapse&UttakNr=97&fylke=Vest-Agder&valgaar=2007&Partikode=249|archive-date=3 June 2012|url-status=dead}}

• Vidar Kleppe (2002–2012)
• Kjell Arne Sellæg (2012)
• Elisabeth Rue Strencbo (2012–2013)
• Fredrik U. Litleskare (2013–2014)
• Ellen Simonsen (2014–2015; acting)
• Terje Svendsen (2015–2016)
• Kim Steinar Kjærner-Strømberg (2016)
• Makvan Kasheikal (2016–2021)
• Geir Ugland Jacobsen (2021–)

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.demokratene.no/ Official website]

{{Norwegian political parties}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2002 establishments in Norway

Category:Anti-immigration politics in Norway

Category:Conservative parties in Norway

Category:Eurosceptic parties in Norway

Category:Nationalist parties in Norway

Category:Political parties established in 2002