Parliamentary elections were held in Norway on 14 and 15 September 1997.Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p1438 Prior to the election Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland of the Labour Party had issued the 36.9 ultimatum declaring that the government would step down unless it gained 36.9% of the vote, the percentage gained by the Labour Party in 1993 under Gro Harlem Brundtland. Whilst Labour won a plurality of seats, they were unable to reach Jagland's 36.9% threshold, gaining 35% of the vote.
As a result of this, the Labour government stepped down, being replaced by a centrist coalition of the Christian People's Party, Liberal Party and the Centre Party, with Kjell Magne Bondevik being appointed Prime Minister, and confidence and supply support from the Conservative Party and the right-wing Progress Party.
Contesting parties
Name Ideology Position Leader 1993 result Votes (%) Seats Ap Labour PartyArbeiderpartiet Social democracy Centre-left Thorbjørn Jagland 36.9% H Conservative PartyHøyre Liberal conservatism Centre-right Jan Petersen 17.0% Sp Centre PartySenterpartiet Agrarianism Centre Anne Enger Lahnstein 16.7% SV Socialist Left PartySosialistisk Venstreparti Democratic socialism Left-wing Kristin Halvorsen 7.9% KrF Christian Democratic PartyKristelig Folkeparti Christian democracy Centre to centre-right Kjell Magne Bondevik 7.8% FrP Progress PartyFremskrittspartiet Conservative liberalism Right-wing Carl I. Hagen 6.2% V Liberal PartyVenstre Social liberalism Centre Lars Sponheim 3.6% R Red Electoral AllianceRød Valgallianse Communism Far-left Aslak Sira Myhre 1.0%
Campaign Slogans Party Original slogan English translation Labour Party«Eldre og helse først!»«Elderly and health first!» Centre Party«Ja til samholds-Norge, nei til forskjellsNorge»«Yes to a united Norway, no to a Norway of difference» Conservative Party«Jan Petersen best som sjef/Høyre best for Norge.»«Jan Petersen (Leader of party) best suited as boss/Conservative best suited for Norway» Socialist Left PartyChristian Democratic Party«Et varmere samfunn med kristne verdier»«A warmer society with Christian values» Progress Party«Frihet under ansvar. Nei til redusering av forsvaret»«Freedom under responsibility. No to reducing the army»Liberal PartyRed Electoral Alliance Sources:
Debates 1997 Norwegian general election debates Date Organisers Present Invitee Non-invitee ApHSpSvKrFFrpVRRefs NRKPThorbjørn Jagland, Hill-Marta SolbergPJan PetersenPAnne Enger LahnsteinPKristin HalvorsenPValgerd Svarstad HauglandPCarl I. HagenPLars SponheimPAslak Sira Myhre
Results
Voter demographics Cohort Percentage of cohort voting for Ap FrP H KrF Sp Sv V Others Total vote 35.00% 15.30% 14.34% 13.66% 7.93% 6.01% 4.45% Gender Females 34.8% 12.3% 12.4% 17.6% 7.9% 8.1% 4.1% Males 35.2% 18% 16% 10.2% 8% 4.2% 4.9% Age 18–30 years old 30.5% 19.4% 11.4% 11.4% 6.2% 9.8% 4.9% 30-59 years old 35.5% 14.4% 16.5% 11.9% 7.9% 6.4% 5% 60 years old and older 37.8% 14.6% 10.9% 20.7% 9.8% 1.1% 2.2% Work low income 33.5% 17% 7% 16.4% 9.2% 6.8% 5% Average income 36% 16.7% 11% 15.2% 9.2% 4.7% 3.8% High income 35.4% 11.7% 27% 8.2% 4.2% 7.1% 5.2% Education Primary school 44.7% 15.3% 5.6% 15.3% 10.6% 2.5% 1.6% High school 35.9% 17.2% 12.9% 13.8% 8.8% 4.8% 3.9% University/college 26.3% 9.9% 24.3% 12% 4.1% 11.6% 7.7% Source: Norwegian Institute for Social Research
Seat distribution ConstituencyTotalseatsSeats wonBy partyBy coalitionApFrPKrFHSpSVVTVFAkershus14521311186Aust-Agder421122Buskerud7411134Finnmark421113Hedmark941111145Hordaland165232112106Møre og Romsdal1032211173Nord-Trøndelag6311133Nordland12512111166Oppland7411134Oslo1763142198Østfold8421144Rogaland12322211184Sogn og Fjordane5211132Sør-Trøndelag1041121155Telemark6311133Troms62111142Vest-Agder5112141Vestfold7321143Total16565252523119619174Source: Statistics Norway
References