The dispute over an EU energy market package has led to the government coalition in Norway. The government party left the government. The Social Democrats now want to continue to rule alone.
The government coalition in Norway broke out in the dispute over the implementation of EU regulations for the energy market. The Center Party, as the previous junior partner of the Social Democrats, emerges from the government. This was announced by the party leader and previous finance minister Trygve Slagsvold Vedum and parliamentary group leader Marit Arnstad in Oslo.
No premature new elections
The Social Democrats can now continue to rule until the next election. However, you have to fill ministerial posts again. So far, the center party has provided eight ministers – including the finance minister, the Minister of Defense and the Minister of Justice and Public Security. It wants Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, despite the end of the coalition, government headed, said Arnstad.
Shortly afterwards, Støre himself left no doubt that he and his Social Democrats will continue alone. In the course of the next week he wanted to introduce the new government members, he had already informed King Harald V., he said at a press conference. He emphasized that he would like a further good cooperation with the Center Party and that he was separating about disagreement in a specific question of fact. “We separate ourselves as political friends,” said Støre.
The party of Prime Minister Støre had already formed a minority government with its previous coalition partner and was dependent on other parties for majorities in parliament. The next parliamentary election is scheduled to take place in September. The Norwegian constitution does not provide early new elections.
Dispute has been smoldering for a long time
The dispute over EU requirements has been smoldering for a long time. In 2019, the EU passed an energy market package called “Clean Energy for all Europeans”. It comprises a total of eight regulations and guidelines.
Norway is not a EU member, but as a state of the European Economic Area (EEA) is closely connected to it and, moreover, its most important gas supplier. Brussels had pushed Oslo to implement the package as an EEA state and nearby EU partner.
Center party faced implementation
Støre wanted to water at least three less controversial guidelines of the package in Norwegian law. However, the EU-skeptical party completely opposed and declined primarily to expand the powers of the EU agency for the cooperation of the energy regulators.
The party justified the attitude with the fact that Norway's package could weaken national control over the energy sector and a closer bond with the EU energy market at higher electricity prices.
