Formalities, royal tradition and lots of historic rituals characterized the grand re-opening of the Norwegian Parliament on Saturday. It’s starting its new session amidst ongoing international tension and a harsh political climate elsewhere, but in Norway, efforts continue to keep the debate respectful and civil.

The Parliament’s own choice of selected members formed its welcoming committee led by MP Sunniva Holmås Eidsvoll of the Socialist Left party (SV). PHOTO: Morten Brakestad/Stortinget

The highly formal opening of Parliament (Stortinget) itself seeks to preserve dignity among members. Everyone complies with a parliamentary dress code, not least on the one day of the year when the monarch is welcomed and performs specific tasks. Many Members of Parliament (MPs) dress for the opening in a traditional Norwegian bunad, all of which represent various regions around the country.

The MPs had already gathered earlier for the first time following last month’s national election. It ushered in the Labour Party for another four-year term in government but otherwise resulted in major changes across the political spectrum. Labour’s former government partner, the Center Party, lost more than half its voters while the right-wing Progress Party doubled its standing at the expense of both the Conservatives and the Liberals.

All newly- or re-elected Members of Parliament already knew where they’ll be sitting for the next four years before the new session formally opened. PHOTO: Hans Kristian Thorbjørnsen/Stortinget

Election results last month led to a shift in the political order that’s expected to result in some unlikely coalitions forming on various issues. The very organization of the Parliament’s seating plan (by geographic area, not party lines) and its committees is meant to help keep the debate respectful and even friendly. An MP from the Progress Party can be seated right next to an MP from the left-wing Reds (each at opposite ends of the political spectrum), for example. “Then you get to know each other,” noted former Labour MP Jette Christensen while commenting on the opening for state broadcaster NRK on Saturday. And you need to get along.

King Harald, followed by Queen Sonja and Crowen Prince Haakon arrived promptly amidst lots of cheers and applause from Norwegians gathered outside the Parliament. PHOTO: Morten Brakestad/Stortinget

Once King Harald, Queen Sonja and Crown Prince Haakon enter the building, rituals take over inside the Parliament’s main assembly room that’s always packed for the occasion. The prime minister hands the so-called trontale (speech from the throne) to the king with a customary bow. It’s read aloud by the monarch but written by the reform-minded government. It contained some news this year, outlining plans for no less than five commissions charged with reforming Norway’s tax system, how local governments are financed and run, how health care is delivered, how schools should be run over the next 20 years and how the police can better carry out their duties.

King Harald also read aloud about how Norway lacks workers and needs to get at least 150,000 more people into the workforce in order to ensure value creation and essential services like day care for children and elder care for seniors. The government also wants to boost investment in research, digitalization and artificial intelligence, and Norwegian workers’ competence in all of the above.

Everyone stands while Norway’s 88-year-old monarch, with his heir at his side, reads the government’s speech at the formal opening of Parliament. PHOTO: Peter Mydske / Stortinget
It’s the only day of the year when Norway’s monarch actually sits on a throne, accompanied by spouse and heir. PHOTO: Hans Kristian Thorbjørnsen/Stortinget

The 169 newly elected or re-elected Members of Parliament for the next four years have an average age of 45 and 100 of them are men. The youngest is just 19 years old, Frøya Skjold Sjursøther from Hordaland. She represents the Greens Party, which won enough voter support to more than double its number of seats in Parliament from three to seven.  The oldest MP is 67-year-old Morten Kolbjørnsen from Hedmark, representing the Progress Party.

The 65-year-old leader of the Labour Party, Jonas Gahr Støre, will continue as prime minister since Labour remained the largest party in Parliament with 28.2 percent of the vote. The next-largest is the Progress Party, with 23.9 percent. Left-leaning parties including the Greens won a majority, but Støre will have to find support for all his government’s proposals almost on an issue-by-issue basis.

Members of Parliament, formally dressed for the opening, listen while the government’s youngest minister, Nils Kristen Sandtrøen, delivers another traditional speech about Norway at present. PHOTO: Hans Kristian Thorbjørnsen/Stortinget

While the new Parliament is dominated by men, holding nearly 60 percent of the seats, it also has a record number of members (12) with immigrant or non-western background. The politician who’s served in Parliament longest is now the Conservatives’ leader Erna Solberg, with 40 years. The 64-year-old Solberg is stepping down as party leader, though, after losing her latest bid to return as prime minister.

All members of the government must stand throughout the entire opening of Parliament, also here when Agriculture Minister Nils Kristen Sandtrøen was speaking about the year ahead. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (third from right) and his finance minister Jens Stoltenberg will go on the offensive next week, over both their program and their proposed state budget. PHOTO: Morten Brakestad/Stortinget

Now it’s mostly up to the government to win enough support in Parliament to carry out its program. Two days of debate over the contents of its “speech from the throne” that King Harald read aloud will begin on Monday, followed by release of the governement’s proposed state budget for next year on Wednesday. The new session ends in June for a long summer break begins.

NewsinEnglish.no/Nina Berglund