History Socialist Left Party (Norway)

1 history

1.1 formation (1973–1975)
1.2 years (1976–1997)
1.3 leadership of halvorsen (1997–2005)
1.4 red-green coalition (2005–2013)

history

formation (1973–1975)

after losing parliamentary seats in 1969 parliamentary election, socialist people s party sought create election coalition between various left-wing parties. while being sceptical of working communist party of norway, party became member of coalition, along information committee of labour movement against norwegian membership in european community , various non-party-aligned independent socialists. reidar t. larsen, leader of communist party, said members @ party s national convention unanimously agreed join coalition, later go name of socialist electoral league.

it took 16 days negotiate settlement between groups. members agreed coalition way socialist government in norway. 1973, labour party had suffered decrease in popular support, @ time estimated around 100,000 voters. speculation arose voters had left labour party newly created socialist electoral league. labour party predictions electoral league dissolve because of internal strife. reiulf steen later stated had more respect maoist red electoral alliance party electoral league. coalition gained 11.2% of popular vote , 16 seats in parliament in 1973 parliamentary election.

the party known socialist left founded in 1975. communist party did not want dissolve become member of socialist left party, , voted against membership. led internal struggle within party, party s official newspaper, friheten, suggesting party not dissolve, because mean death of revolutionary movement. official newspaper of socialist people s party, orientering, attacked called hard-core leaders of communist party. without communist party, other parties voted dissolve coalition , replace political party.

early years (1976–1997)

erik solheim, party leader 1987–1997, seen in june 2009

the first years not successful, party lost many of seats in parliament, under berge furre s leadership during 1980s, party s popularity rose again. internal conflicts within party escalated; there rumours sitting deputy leader steinar stjernø trying throw out social democratic wing of party. more serious problem party 2 of party s mps had been convicted of betrayal of country in aftermath of world war ii, notable being hanna kvanmo. later, kvanmo became 1 of leading , most-liked politicians in norway. under leadership of theo koritzinsky later in 1980s, party became prominent in efforts peace, disarmament, employment, green politics, , economic equality.

at beginning of 1990s under erik solheim, party popularity again declined. lost of no eu voters centre party, when party fought actively against norwegian membership in european union, , when norwegians again voted against membership in referendum. solheim s tenure leader—while praised some—was seen controversial. socialist wing of party, museum guardians called, worried solheim moving party centre. outside critics of solheim said policies had led grey-blue social democratic party little or no differences labour party. solheim tried party change direction , form coalition government labour , centre party. solheim forced resign in 1997, party seeing him main reason new power struggle between left- , right-wing factions of party.

early leadership of halvorsen (1997–2005)

with election of kristin halvorsen new party leader in 1997, party s popularity rose again. under leadership, main focus became education, , slogan children , youth first coined. party steadily built voter base during labour stoltenberg s first cabinet, moved labour party more centre while privatising government-held assets. led historic high voter turnout socialist left; earned 12.5% of national vote in 2001 election. labour party earned record-low turnout, 24.3% of vote. turnout worsened inner struggle within party, party leader thorbjørn jagland , jens stoltenberg accusing each other. right-wing faction of party wanted continue move party further centre, while left-wing faction wanted move party closer socialist left. 2005, polls showed on 20% of norwegian voters vote socialist left.

halvorsen (centre) during oslo may day march erling folkvord (left, red) , jens stoltenberg (right, labour party)

prime minister kjell magne bondevik christian democratic party believed 3 parties unclear , vague when talking red-green coalition ideological , political position. after discussing national budget socialist left , centre party, jens stoltenberg agreed halvorsen needed create universal free day care service. february 2005, opinion poll gave coalition 96 of 169 seats in parliament, socialist left increasing 3.9%. later in february, small faction within party called future coalition red-grey coalition, believing environmental policies of labour , centre party not radical enough .

before 2005 parliamentary election, deputy leader Øystein djupedal said socialist left not contribute radical changes if earned position within government. erna solberg, leader of conservative party, accused party of being communist , because of present , earlier connections communist organisations around europe. august, socialist left party having progress in opinion polls, 17% of people voted socialist left unsure party vote in 2005 election. late august party labelled 1 of big losers in election, along conservative party. many election researchers believed socialist left had lost voter s interest when entered coalition , worked alongside labour party. bad election results led internal struggles within party, djupedal claiming hardest election in party history. party had 5 of 19 ministers in government, 1 more centre party.

red-green coalition (2005–2013)

in 2009 parliamentary election, party lost 4 seats , left 11, three-seat gain labour party secured red-green coalition 86–83 majority. shift of power within coalition resulted in loss of 1 socialist left cabinet minister, leaving them four, same centre party. socialist left , halvorsen conceded influential ministry of finance labour party in order keep control of ministry of education , research. halvorsen announced resignation following 2011 local elections. new leader chosen on extraordinary party congress in 2012. audun lysbakken, heikki holmås , bård vegar solhjell have announced candidature leader position. lysbakken elected party s leader on 11 march 2012.