Righest Party Gains in Norway Vote
- Share via
OSLO — The far-right-wing Progress Party, calling for fewer Third World immigrants, lower taxes and less bureaucracy, became Norway’s third largest political force in local elections, near-complete returns showed today.
The Progress Party won 12.2% of the ballots cast Monday, up 6% from the 1983 local elections and up 8.5% from the 1985 parliamentary election, according to official projections.
The result was a blow to the leading opposition party, the Conservatives, which received 23.6% of the vote, down 6% from 1985.
Contrary to opinion polls, Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland’s ruling Labor Party also suffered a setback. Labor won 36.2%, down 3% from the 1983 result and 4% below 1985.
A major theme in Progress Party leader Carl I. Hagen’s successful campaign was his opposition to the sudden influx of Third World immigrants. Other party leaders accused him of being a racist for wanting to put a low ceiling on the number of refugees allowed to enter.
About 2,700 asylum-seekers came to this homogeneous welfare nation of 4.1 million last year, and the numbers are expected to reach 10,000 this year.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
