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Norway's government is re-elected | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Norway's centre-left ruling coalition has won a narrow victory in general elections, near-complete results show. | |
With 99% of votes counted from Monday's poll, PM Jens Stoltenberg's Labour-led coalition secured 86 seats in the 169-seat parliament. | |
If confirmed, it would be the first time a government in the oil-rich Scandinavian country has survived an election in 16 years. | |
A total of 85 seats are needed for an absolute majority. | A total of 85 seats are needed for an absolute majority. |
The centre-right opposition parties were expected to win 83 seats. | |
Final results are expected later on Tuesday. | |
'Four more years!' | |
"All the votes have not been counted and it is close," Mr Stoltenberg said. | |
Siv Jensen's party wants to broaden privatisation in health and education | |
"But the way it seems now, it looks like we can continue," he added. | |
And he the jubilant prime minister told his supporters at a rally in Oslo: "Four more years!" | |
Siv Jensen, the leader of the right-wing opposition Progress Party, said: "Everything suggests that... Jens Stoltenberg and Labour have won the election". | |
Mr Stoltenberg, in power since 2005, has emphasised his success in guiding Norway through the economic crisis. | Mr Stoltenberg, in power since 2005, has emphasised his success in guiding Norway through the economic crisis. |
The Progress Party campaigned on a platform of lower taxes. | |
Ms Jensen also wants to see tighter immigration, and stoked controversy by claiming Norway is being "Islamified". | |
More than 10% of Norway's residents have foreign origins. They include many asylum seekers from Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia and Eritrea. | More than 10% of Norway's residents have foreign origins. They include many asylum seekers from Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia and Eritrea. |
'Safe hands' | 'Safe hands' |
Mr Stoltenberg had said voting for the government was the safest option. | Mr Stoltenberg had said voting for the government was the safest option. |
"The Labour Party has the best policies for stabilising the economy and protecting jobs," he said after casting his vote. | "The Labour Party has the best policies for stabilising the economy and protecting jobs," he said after casting his vote. |
The world's fifth-largest exporter of oil experienced only a brief recession and has Europe's lowest unemployment rate. | The world's fifth-largest exporter of oil experienced only a brief recession and has Europe's lowest unemployment rate. |
The Progress Party had pledged to spend more of the country's vast oil wealth at home and to broaden privatisation in both the health and education sectors. |