Published: 12:06, February 5, 2025
Norway's Labour Party rules alone for first time in 25 years
By Xinhua
Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store holds a press conference at the Prime Minister's Office in Oslo, Norway, Jan 30, 2025, after it became clear that the Centre Party is breaking off the government cooperation with the Labour Party. (PHOTO / AP)

OSLO - The Norwegian Labour Party is governing alone for the first time in 25 years, with the country's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store presenting his new government on Tuesday.

"I stand here today with the first purely Labour Party government in 25 years," Store said at a press conference held at the Royal Palace Square in Oslo. "We are ready to govern Norway in a very challenging time ahead."

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The government transition ceremony was held at the Royal Palace, where Store and his newly appointed ministers were introduced.

A key highlight of the reshuffle is the return of Jens Stoltenberg, former prime minister and secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), as Norway's finance minister.

Jens Stoltenberg, the new Minister of Finance in Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store's new government looks on as they are presented, in Oslo, Feb 4, 2025. (PHOTO / AP)

The Centre Party officially withdrew from the government last Thursday. Its parliamentary leader, Marit Arnstad, stated that the party would adopt a "factual and constructive" approach in opposition, but also promised to be critical when necessary.

"We will particularly scrutinize the government's energy policies and certain aspects of its climate strategy," Arnstad said.

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The opposition leader has raised concerns over the government's stability. Conservative Party leader Erna Solberg argued that the political shift would not bring about a new direction.

"Although Labour is bringing in new faces, their policies remain unchanged. With a weaker position in Parliament, they will have to negotiate with both the Centre Party and the Socialist Left Party, leading to more unpredictable governance," Solberg told Norwegian news agency NTB.