Labour wins 2nd term in Norway general election

OSLO — Norway's Labour Party, led by Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, has claimed victory in Monday's general election, with most votes now counted and with a narrow but clear win by the center-left block over the right-wing parties.

Rapturous cheering erupted in Oslo on Monday night as Labour supporters gathered to celebrate a closely fought campaign in which the future of a wealth tax that dates to the late 19th century has been a central issue.

Addressing the crowd, Store thanked his supporters and said the victory showed it's possible for Social Democratic parties to win elections even with right-wing forces on the rise in Europe, according to broadcaster VG.

Norway should continue to explore oil and gas and remain a reliable energy supplier to Europe, the country's newly reelected prime minister said on Tuesday.

"It's a good result. It's a clear result. It demonstrates that center-left social democrats can win elections even when there are winds blowing from the right," Store told reporters outside his official residence in Oslo.

A short while earlier, Conservative leader Erna Solberg apologized for the dismal performance of her party, which fell to third place in parliament behind the right-wing Progress Party that saw its best result ever in a national election.

Addressing supporters, Progress Party leader Sylvi Listhaug was pleased with her party's result but lamented what she called "four tough years ahead for people and businesses".

About 4.3 million people in the Scandinavian nation were eligible to vote for the new 169-member parliament, known as the Storting. With almost all votes now counted, center-left parties have won just over 85 seats needed to form a majority.

Final results were expected on Tuesday, and they are likely to be followed by weeks of negotiations to build a coalition and agree on Cabinet positions before King Harald can swear in a new government.

Monday's result was never expected to have major implications for Norway's foreign policy. The country is a stalwart member of NATO and a strong supporter of Ukraine. It isn't a member of the European Union but has close economic ties with the 27-nation bloc.

Norway is one of the richest countries in the world. It has a generous welfare state, sits on billions of barrels of oil and gas, and has one of the world's largest sovereign wealth funds, worth around 20 trillion kroner ($2 trillion).

Gross domestic product per person is the sixth-highest in the world, one place above the US, according to the International Monetary Fund.

"We will continue to be a reliable partner, but also to take forward technological steps, cut emissions and live up to our climate obligations," Store said.

Agencies Via Xinhua