2021 Norwegian parliamentary election

In the previous election, held on 11 September 2017, Erna Solberg of the Conservatives retained her position as prime minister after four years in power. Her premiership additionally received the support of the Progress Party, the Liberals and the Christian Democrats, who combined secured 88 of the 169 seats in parliament.[2] The opposition, led by Jonas Gahr Støre and his Labour Party, won 81 seats. Other opposition parties included the Centre Party, Socialist Left, the Greens and the Red Party.

The Christian Democrats voted at a party conference to join Solberg's government on 2 November 2018 and on 16 January 2019, Solberg's Conservatives struck a deal with the Christian Democratic Party. This marked the first time since 1985 that Norway would have a majority government representing right-wing parties in the Storting.[3][4]

On 20 January 2020, the Progress Party decided to withdraw from the government due to a decision by Solberg to repatriate a woman linked to Islamic State and her children back to Norway. Despite this, Solberg said that she and her party would continue to head a minority government and the other parties in the coalition (Liberal Party, Christian Democrats) have also stated they would continue to serve in it.[5][6][7]

On 21 June 2017, the Solberg government established a committee tasked with reviewing the electoral system used in Norwegian parliamentary elections.[8] The 17-member committee, which is led by court judge Ørnulf Røhnebæk, is obliged to finish its report on the electoral system by 2019.[9] Electoral reform is expected to accompany a reform of the country's counties, and is likely to include changes to the size and borders of electoral districts (currently 19), the electoral threshold (currently 4%) and the overall number of MPs (currently 169).

According to the Norwegian constitution, parliamentary elections must be held every four years. The Norwegian parliament may not be dissolved before such a parliamentary four-year term has ended, which in practice makes snap elections impossible.[10] As the last election was held in September 2017, the next election is set for 13 September 2021.