Norway's Labor Party governs alone after coalition split

Norway's Labor Party now governs alone after the Center Party left the coalition government on January 30. Parliamentary and Sami assembly elections will take place in September.

Progress Party leader Sylvi Listhaug celebrated her party's historic election performance. She told party members they delivered the best election result in the party's history.

Listhaug directly attacked the Labor Party during her Friday speech to the national board. She accused them of spreading lies to voters during the campaign.

The truth is the Labor Party knowingly lied to their voters, Listhaug claimed. She said the party spread false claims about the Progress Party and the Conservatives.

One controversial campaign video from Labor deputy leader Jan Christian Vestre drew particular criticism. Listhaug said political commentators had wrongly predicted her party would collapse before election day.

Norwegian politics faces a volatile period with a minority government and elections approaching. The Progress Party's strong performance suggests conservative parties may gain ground in the fall.

Why would a party leave government months before elections? The Center Party likely wanted distance from unpopular policies before voters go to the polls.