Oslo faces intense budget negotiations as the city's minority coalition government seeks support from opposition parties. The conservative Høyre and Venstre administration requires four additional votes to pass its budget proposal through the city council. This sets the stage for difficult political bargaining in Norway's capital city.
The Progress Party (Frp) holds three council seats and has presented five key demands. Their group leader Magnus Birkelund insists the city cannot afford new cycling infrastructure projects costing over 300 million kroner. He argues this money should instead fund elderly care services and nursing home placements. Oslo's current economic situation makes bicycle path expansion unaffordable, according to Frp representatives.
Venstre immediately rejected the cycling cuts. Party transport representative Eili Vigestad Berge called the proposal completely unacceptable. She emphasized that continued investment in bicycle infrastructure remains crucial for safety. Existing gaps in the cycling network create dangerous situations between cyclists and motorists. Berge confirmed her party prioritizes green transportation and youth initiatives despite budget constraints.
Refugee policy represents another major sticking point. Frp demands a temporary halt to refugee settlement in Oslo. The party points to integration challenges and new directives requiring Oslo to accept 600 refugees in 2026, up from 450. Birkelund argues the city needs to pause new arrivals until existing integration issues are resolved. Current year numbers are even higher, with the council previously approving 850 refugees for 2025.
The Christian Democratic Party (KrF) brings its own priorities to the negotiations. Group leader Øyvind Håbrekke emphasizes physical school textbooks and preventive youth work. He reacted to parents at Bjølsen school collecting money for paper books. Håbrekke also wants to reconsider planned property tax cuts given the city's strained finances.
Property tax revenue has dropped dramatically from nearly 1 billion kroner in 2023 to a projected 464 million next year. Håbrekke acknowledges his party signed an agreement to eliminate the tax but suggests revisiting this commitment. He believes the economic situation has worsened beyond initial projections. The debate mirrors recent decisions in Lørenskog, where Høyre broke election promises to maintain property taxes and preserve public services.
Security measures also feature in budget discussions. The city proposes allocating 3.2 million kroner for community safety officers in areas like Grønland. These positions resemble earlier Oslo guard initiatives designed to combat drug sales along the Akerselva river.
Negotiation leaders from Høyre and Venstre remain tight-lipped about specific demands. Høyre's group leader Merete Agerbak-Jensen anticipates good and constructive talks with cooperation partners. She perceives all four conservative parties genuinely want agreement that ensures responsible policy for the city.
The budget negotiations reveal fundamental tensions in Oslo's political landscape. Parties must balance fiscal responsibility against service provision and ideological commitments. The outcome will shape Oslo's development priorities and determine which party compromises most to secure a governing majority. These discussions occur against Norway's unique political backdrop where minority governments frequently negotiate individual policy agreements rather than forming formal coalitions.