Norway's parliamentary opposition, led by the populist Progress Party (Frp), has submitted nearly half of all written and oral questions to the government since the 2025 election. An analysis of parliamentary records shows Frp politicians are responsible for 46.4 percent of all queries directed at Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre's cabinet. This intense scrutiny from the largest opposition bloc highlights a strategic shift in Norwegian politics, where parliamentary oversight has become a primary battleground.
"It is interesting to see how many are asking questions, and who it is. It is not so surprising that the Progress Party, as the largest opposition party, takes the lead in asking critical questions to the government," said Troy Saghaug Broderstad, an associate professor of comparative politics at UiT The Arctic University of Norway. The data reveals a clear pattern of Frp using its expanded 47-seat bloc to pressure the Labour-led coalition on issues from energy policy to healthcare.
The Machinery of Parliamentary Scrutiny
Norwegian MPs possess a powerful tool for holding the executive branch accountable: the right to submit written and oral questions that ministers are obligated to answer. This process, a cornerstone of the Storting's oversight function, has seen a dramatic surge in activity. From autumn 2025 to the new year, MPs posed a total of 3,234 questions. The Progress Party alone accounted for 807 of these, or 25 percent, during the final year before the election when they had only 21 seats. Their current share of 46.4 percent reflects their new status as the dominant opposition force.
Anne Kristin Hjukse, communications chief at the Office of the Prime Minister, acknowledged the importance of this democratic mechanism. "We have no overall overview of how much time each individual ministry spends on its various tasks, but answers to questions from the Storting naturally have high priority," Hjukse said. The administrative burden of responding to hundreds of detailed inquiries is significant, diverting civil service resources across ministries in Oslo.
The Top Questioners and Their Tactics
A ranking of the most active MPs reveals Frp's dominance is not just broad, but deep. The party holds eight of the top ten spots for question submissions. Topping the list are Frank Sve and BĂĄrd Hoksrud, each with 30 questions. Party leader Sylvi Listhaug herself has submitted six. This coordinated effort suggests a party-wide strategy to keep ministers on the defensive and Frp's policy alternatives in the headlines.
Perhaps the most striking figure is Kristian Eilertsen, a first-term MP from Harstad who shares fourth place. "It is a little funny that I, as a fresh representative, throne at the top of the table," Eilertsen remarked. "While it is fun for my own part, it is because one does a job for the voters – those who voted me into the Storting. We in Frp are very keen to get our politics across, for more freedom and security." As the party's health policy spokesperson, Eilertsen's questions frequently target Health Minister Ingvild Kjerkol's handling of hospital reforms and waiting lists.
Professor Broderstad was not surprised by the newcomer's high ranking. "He has a clear desire to mark himself in national politics and dominate the written questions from the Troms bench," Broderstad noted, highlighting how regional representation and national ambition intersect through this parliamentary tool.
A Strategic Shift in Opposition Politics
The data signals a deliberate tactical move by the Progress Party. After a period in coalition government that some critics said muted their ideological edge, Frp has returned to its roots as a fierce opposition voice. The sheer volume of questions serves multiple purposes: it forces the government to publicly justify its policies, exposes potential administrative weaknesses, and provides Frp with a steady stream of content for political messaging. Their focus areas reliably include oil and gas industry regulations, tax policy, immigration, and law and order – core issues for their voter base.
This approach contrasts with the behavior of other opposition parties. The analysis suggests a more measured pace of questioning from the Conservative Party (Høyre) and the Socialist Left Party (SV), though they remain active. The imbalance raises questions about resource allocation within party groups, as researching and drafting effective questions requires significant staff and MP time. For Frp, this investment is clearly a priority.
The Government's Burden of Response
For the Labour and Centre Party coalition, the barrage of questions represents a constant administrative pressure. Each query, whether on the specifics of Norway's sovereign wealth fund management or local road maintenance in Finnmark, triggers a formal process. The relevant ministry must prepare a thorough, fact-checked response for the minister's approval. This draws resources away from policy development and implementation.
The dynamic creates a unique rhythm in the Storting building. Opposition MPs score political points by highlighting government failures or ambiguities, while ministers must demonstrate competence and control. The public record of questions and answers becomes a permanent ledger of accountability. For political journalists and researchers, it is a rich source of data on policy conflicts and government priorities.
The Democratic Function Under Pressure
While the high level of scrutiny is healthy for democracy, the concentration of activity in one party prompts reflection. Does this represent vigorous oversight, or a form of political obstructionism? Professor Broderstad's analysis suggests it is largely the former, expected from a large opposition party. However, the efficiency of the Storting's work could be impacted if the question process becomes overly politicized or voluminous, potentially drowning out substantive debate in a flood of procedural inquiries.
The system relies on good faith from both sides: opposition parties asking questions of genuine public interest, and the government providing clear, timely answers. The current data shows the system is being used intensively, particularly by MPs from the north, like Eilertsen, ensuring regional issues gain national attention. This aligns with Norway's tradition of balancing local and central governance.
Looking Ahead to the Next Fiscal Debate
The intensity of Frp's questioning is likely a precursor to their strategy for the upcoming state budget negotiations and the 2029 election cycle. By establishing a record of constant challenge, they build a case that the current government is underperforming and needs replacing. Each answered question is a data point; each evasive or unsatisfactory answer is potential ammunition.
For the Storting as an institution, this activity underscores its vital role beyond merely passing laws. It is a theater of daily accountability. The quiet work of drafting questions in MPs' offices, and the public responses published online, form the less dramatic but essential backbone of Norwegian parliamentary democracy. As long as the questions keep coming—and are answered—the system is functioning. The current statistics reveal a system under heavy use, testing both the opposition's creativity and the government's administrative endurance. The true measure of its success will be whether this scrutiny leads to better-informed public debate and more effective policy, or simply to greater political noise.