On Sunday, Norwegians began two days of voting in a parliamentary election pitting the center-left Labour Party, led by Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere, against a right-wing bloc of the Progress Party and Conservatives.
The election, concluding Monday, will determine the 169-seat Storting, with results expected Tuesday.
Key issues include the cost of living, public services, and the wealth tax, a policy since 1892.
Polls suggest Labour and allies may secure 88 seats, just enough for a majority, while the right-wing bloc could claim 81.
The wealth tax, a levy of up to 1.1% on assets over 1.76 million kroner ($176,000), is a central issue.
Labour supports it to reduce inequality, while the Progress Party, led by Sylvie Listhaug, demands its abolition, arguing it stifles entrepreneurship.
“The money paid in wealth tax could have been spent creating businesses, new jobs and more innovation,” Listhaug wrote.
The Conservatives, under former Prime Minister Erna Solberg, propose reducing the tax, claiming it unfairly targets businesses.
Social media, particularly platforms like YouTube’s Gutta, has amplified the issue, especially among younger voters.
Stoere’s Labour may need a broader coalition, including the Greens and Communists, to govern.
This could lead to policies like stricter oil and gas rules or increased sovereign wealth fund spending.
Geopolitical tensions, including Russia’s war in Ukraine and U.S. leadership changes, influence voters, favoring Stoere’s experience.
Norway’s $2 trillion sovereign wealth fund and energy exports to Europe hang in the balance.
Voter frustration, like that of doctor Sigrid Dehli Jensrud, highlights neglected issues such as climate change.