Norway’s government faces budget crisis as coalition partner rebels

Norway’s minority government suffered a major setback Thursday night after its coalition partner, the Centre Party, defied a budget agreement and voted with opposition parties to cut fuel taxes, Dagbladet reports.

The move has sparked a political crisis, with the Green Party (MDG) questioning Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre’s leadership and the future of the red-green cooperation.

“What is the point of being prime minister if you let the opposition control the budget?” MDG’s finance spokesperson Ingrid Liland asked, referring to the Conservative Party (H), the Progress Party (FrP), and the Centre Party (Sp) effectively dictating fiscal policy.

Liland stopped short of demanding Støre’s resignation but warned that the Centre Party’s decision had made red-green collaboration “very difficult.” Earlier, Liberal Party leader Guri Melby had urged the government to table a confidence vote, arguing Labour had lost control of parliament.

Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg acknowledged the defeat, stating that while minority governments must expect such setbacks, “the parliament has now adopted something against the government’s advice.” He had previously warned that the unbudgeted tax cut would increase oil fund spending.

Labour’s parliamentary leader Tonje Brenna ruled out a confidence vote, calling the situation “serious” but not severe enough to trigger a government collapse.