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The '''Progress Party''' (''Fremskrittspartiet'' or ''Framstegspartiet'', Frp) is a ] ] ] of ]. It was founded on ], ] at a famous address held by the rugged individualist and popular public speaker ]. The party adopted its current name in ]. In the ], it was the second-largest party, with 22.1 % of the votes and 37 seats (up from third-largest with 14.6 % and 26 seats in the ]). The current chairman is ] who, as representative of the largest ], is now Vice President (vice speaker) of the parliament, the ]. The '''Progress Party''' (''Fremskrittspartiet'' or ''Framstegspartiet'', Frp) is a ] ] ] of ]. It was founded on ], ] at a famous address held by the rugged individualist and popular public speaker ]. The party adopted its current name in ]. In the ], it was the second-largest party, with 22.1 percent of the votes and 37 seats (up from third-largest with 14.6 percent and 26 seats in the ]). The current chairman is ] who, as representative of the largest ], is now Vice President (vice speaker) of the parliament, the ].


== History == == History ==

=== Foundation === === Foundation ===
The founder, Anders Lange, intended the party to be more like a ] than a regular political ]. The protest was directed against what was perceived to be an unacceptably high level of ], ], and ]s, against government ], and against the ] "]" (]: ''formynderstaten''). The founder, Anders Lange, intended the party to be more like a ] than a regular political ]. The protest was directed against what was perceived to be an unacceptably high level of ], ], and ]s, against government ], and against the ] "]" (]: ''formynderstaten'').
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=== Electoral Support === === Electoral Support ===

The first election, in ], gave Anders Lange 5 %, and four seats in the ]. The first election, in ], gave Anders Lange 5 percent, and four seats in the ].


Following Lange, there was a brief series of party leaders, until ], after the party's poor result in the ], took control of the party in ]: Following Lange, there was a brief series of party leaders, until ], after the party's poor result in the ], took control of the party in ]:
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Carl I. Hagen became the chairman of Frp in ], and has been practically uncontested. There has never been a really strong opposing candidate. Hagen has been determined to build up a strong party organization{{ref|NSR2}}, and to move his party into the mainstream of Norwegian politics. Under his leadership Frp has played an increasingly important role in the ]. In ] he declared that he was going to withdraw as chairman in ]. His expected successor is the current vice-chairman, the economist ]{{ref|jensenNewLeader}}. Carl I. Hagen became the chairman of Frp in ], and has been practically uncontested. There has never been a really strong opposing candidate. Hagen has been determined to build up a strong party organization{{ref|NSR2}}, and to move his party into the mainstream of Norwegian politics. Under his leadership Frp has played an increasingly important role in the ]. In ] he declared that he was going to withdraw as chairman in ]. His expected successor is the current vice-chairman, the economist ]{{ref|jensenNewLeader}}.


In the ], the party obtained 13 %, and became the third largest party in Norway. It started to receive some responsibility in local administrations, but was still mostly insignificant in that scope. In ], ], of Frp, became the ] of ]. In the ], the party obtained 13 percent, and became the third largest party in Norway. It started to receive some responsibility in local administrations, but was still mostly insignificant in that scope. In ], ], of Frp, became the ] of ].


Because of inner struggles, the ] halved the party to 6.3 % and 10 representatives. In ], four representatives of the "libertarian wing" broke out, formed an independent group in parliament, and founded another party the '']''. Because of inner struggles, the ] halved the party to 6.3 percent and 10 representatives. In ], four representatives of the "libertarian wing" broke out, formed an independent group in parliament, and founded another party the '']''.


In the ], Frp obtained 15.3 %, and it returned to be the third largest party. In the ], Frp obtained 15.3 percent, and it returned to be the third largest party.


In the local election in ], the very popular local Progress-Party leader ] was elected mayor of ]. 20 municipalities got a deputy mayor from the Progress Party. In the local election in ], the very popular local Progress-Party leader ] was elected mayor of ]. 20 municipalities got a deputy mayor from the Progress Party.
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Before the ], Frp enjoyed a high level of popular support in 1999–2000, but its support fell back to 1997 levels in the actual election, following both internal turmoil (the then second vice-chairman of the party, Terje Søviknes, was involved in a sex scandal) and internal disagreements. This time, several "populist" local representatives in Oslo and some parliamentarians resigned from the party. Some "soloists", as they were called, where suspended, including ], who was suspended for two years, or expelled, as ]. The "populists" formed a party called ], with Vidar Kleppe as chairman and Jan Simonsen as vice-chairman. Before the ], Frp enjoyed a high level of popular support in 1999–2000, but its support fell back to 1997 levels in the actual election, following both internal turmoil (the then second vice-chairman of the party, Terje Søviknes, was involved in a sex scandal) and internal disagreements. This time, several "populist" local representatives in Oslo and some parliamentarians resigned from the party. Some "soloists", as they were called, where suspended, including ], who was suspended for two years, or expelled, as ]. The "populists" formed a party called ], with Vidar Kleppe as chairman and Jan Simonsen as vice-chairman.


In the ], Fr.p. lost the advance it had on polls, but maintained its position from the 1997 election, and got 14.6 % and 26 members in the parliament. In the ], Fr.p. lost the advance it had on polls, but maintained its position from the 1997 election, and got 14.6 percent and 26 members in the parliament.


Frp had run a campaign promising to unseat the ] government of ], and kept that promise by supporting the new ] of ], although the three parties in that coalition declined to govern together with Fr.p., since their policies were considered to be unacceptably populistic in a number of points. Frp had run a campaign promising to unseat the ] government of ], and kept that promise by supporting the new ] of ], although the three parties in that coalition declined to govern together with Fr.p., since their policies were considered to be unacceptably populistic in a number of points.
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The local election in ] was a breakthrough for the party as a political player in Norwegian municipalities. In 30 municipalities, the party gained more votes than any other, but it succeeded to elect the mayor only in 13 of these. The Progress Party has participated in local elections since ], but until 2003 the party has only gained the mayoral position twice. The Progress Party vote in Os—the only municipality that elected a Progress Party mayor in 1999—increased from 36.6% in 1999 to 45.7% in 2003. The party gained ground across the country, but more so in municipalities where the party had the mayor or the deputy mayor{{ref|NSR}}. The local election in ] was a breakthrough for the party as a political player in Norwegian municipalities. In 30 municipalities, the party gained more votes than any other, but it succeeded to elect the mayor only in 13 of these. The Progress Party has participated in local elections since ], but until 2003 the party has only gained the mayoral position twice. The Progress Party vote in Os—the only municipality that elected a Progress Party mayor in 1999—increased from 36.6% in 1999 to 45.7% in 2003. The party gained ground across the country, but more so in municipalities where the party had the mayor or the deputy mayor{{ref|NSR}}.


Until January 2004 the Progress Party has contended for the position as the second largest party with the '']'' and the '']''. As of January 2005, it has been stable at just below 20 percent on the polls, since January 2004.
== Program ==
:''The party's official program (in Norwegian) can be found at .''


=== Principles === == Political Platform ==
The Progress Party declares itself to be ], built on Norwegian and western ]s and ]s, with basis in a ] conception of life. Its main declared goal is a strong reduction in taxes, charges, and public intervention.


The platform of Frp for ]–] starts off with these general principles:
;] and ]:The Progress Party places highly in its program the right of the individual to decide about its own life and economy, and claims the individual is, together with the ] and the right to own ], the fundament of society. The party does not want the state to solve problems that can be handled better by individuals, private companies or organisations. It also proposes to increase ] to compensate for reduced ].
;]:The party suggests to introduce ] and binding ] (in Norway, the result of a referendum is not binding, even if in practice politicians follow their indications). Furthermore, it is for an abolition of the current laws that make a vote cast in a large ] more important than one cast in Oslo. Since it is considered a entity based on ], the party wants to abolish the Norwegian branch of the ] ].
;]:The party proposes a ] in the job market, so that laws shall not pose any limit on the type of contract that employer and employee want, except for safety and health requirements.
;]:Compared to many similar parties in other European countries, the Progress Party is not for a reduction of the welfare state, but does suggest an increased use of control to check whether these services are actually needed for their beneficiaries. The Progress Party has also long been known to be in favour of increased support for the elderly, that have become one of their main electoral groups.
;]:The Party has not had ecology as a main issue, but does maintain to be in favour of ].


{|id="toc" style="margin: auto;" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1"
=== Role of the State ===
|The Progress Party is a ] party. It builds on the ], Norwegian and western traditions and cultural heritage with a basis in the ] culture.
The role of the state is considered to be limited to a few areas:
|-
;]:With a close cooperation with ];
|The main objective of the Progress Party is strong reduction in taxes and government intervention.
;]:Based on the protection of Norwegian interests, with closer cooperation with the ] and closer relationship with ], and abolition of state-financed help to ] countries.
|-
;]:The party proposes a simplification and update of laws in form and content, and reduction of the use of ]ping, that should be limited to serious crimes and threats to the state's security.
|The fundament of the Progress Party's view of society is the belief in and respect for the uniqueness of the individual human being, and the right of the individuals to self-determination over their own life and economy.
;]:The main point of difference with other parties is the support for state funding of ]s and ], in order to provide equal conditions.
|}
;Social responsibility:The party declares its principle to be "helping people help themselves". It is in favour of using money to help the families of the ], instead of financing public institutions for education of the young and care for the sick or elderly. A notable point is the connection of such right to ], since many immigrants do not have it.
;]:The Progress Party has often been considered "the motorist's party". They are for increased spending in road building and maintenance, and are against the commonplace system of financing public roads with ]s.
;]:An increased degree of independence for the Bank of Norway is advocated.
;]:The party supports outsourcing of some public services.


==Why did it succeed?==
== Reasons for Success ==
It is remarkable that a new political party immediately succeeds in being represented in the parliament and that it does not become a "mayfly party". With Frp it is even more remarkable, because it did not come into existence because of any peeling off from other parties, and its representatives were political novices.
Frp is an atypical party in many ways in Norwegian politics. Its success during the last decade have been attributed to a series of causes.
⚫ *Television as a powerful channel for the party. The 1973 election campaign was the first to be covered by nationwide television, which functioned as an effective medium for Anders Lange's Party.
*Widespread discontent with an ever-increasing tax level. Frustrated expectations among non-socialist voters who had hoped for tax-cuts. During the 1960s and beginning of the 1970s, there had been an unprecedented increase of taxes. In this period, a non-socialist coalition government led by Per Borten (1965-71) came into office, and it had failed non-socialist voters expectations of a change, it had failed to reduce taxes, and had introduce the ].
*The anti-hegemonic effects in the aftermath of the referendum on whether Norway should become a member of the EU in ]. The defeat of the establishment, the gap between party-leaders and voters, functioned as the catalyst for political change.
*Uncommonly skillful political craftsmanship by Carl I Hagen.
*The well established party organization
*The fading away of the socialist ideological hegemony, the crisis of the idea of the centrally planned economy, and the keynesian inteventionist theory that did not work anymore.
*The renaissance of libertarian or classical liberalist political thought.


== Criticism ==
⚫ * Usage of ] as a communication channel; the 1973 election campaign was the first to be covered by nationwide television, which functioned as an effective medium for Anders Lange's Party, that could not have the grassroot structure of other traditional parties since it had just been founded.
* Discontent by voters who considered Norwegian taxes to be excessive. Tax breaks have long been a main theme in Frp's program.
* In the aftermath of the ] ]-membership referendum, when most political parties indicated ''yes'' whereas the population voted ''no'', it was felt there was a gap between party-leaders and voters.
* Personal ] of Carl Hagen.
* Drain of dissatisfied voters from other parties.


== Controversy == === Minarchism ===
The Progress Party has an economic policy clearly based in traditional economic ]. They support a society with limited public power and a stronger business sector, that could take responsibility for many of the duties the state has today (see also: ]). The same business sector should, just like the citizen, receive only a minimum of restrictions from the state. For instance, law should not forbid a company to sign contracts with their workers that require them to work 12-hour of daily working time, if the workers accept this.
The differences between the Progress party and other parties can be stark in many areas, and of all Norwegian parties the Progress party is likely the one that inspires the most opinionated comments, in one way or another.

The party seeks to reduce ], and at the same time reduce ]es for Norwegian citizens. With the privatisation of public services, citizens would not pay for services they do not need. The Progress Party believes that the state has the responsibility of securing its citizens a minimum ], but no other duties beyond that. The financial means for this reduced social policy should mainly be gathered by taxation of ] instead of ], keeping the taxation level to a minimum.

The economic policy is based on the idea that the market is its best ruler. A market with as few hindrances as possible should channel the ] where it is needed, without intervention from the state with laws or taxes.

The Progress Party is also known for supporting a more restrictive view of Norwegian ] policies, which may be rooted in the mistrust in the state's capability of solving social problems efficiently.

The party has officially decided ''not'' to have a position on Norwegian membership in the European Union. The national convention of Fr.p. has decided to put its representatives in a "free position" in their voting on the issue.


=== Populism === === Populism ===
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Some of its critics lump it together with right-wing ] in ]{{ref|politiskAnalyse}}, because, they argue, like those parties it is sceptical towards ], ], sceptical towards ] and governmental control, and it works for reduction of taxes and charges. Some of its critics lump it together with right-wing ] in ]{{ref|politiskAnalyse}}, because, they argue, like those parties it is sceptical towards ], ], sceptical towards ] and governmental control, and it works for reduction of taxes and charges.

According to professors P. A. Pettersen and L. E. Rose, the average Frp voter is a young man with low education and income. This is in contrast with the average voter of the Conservative party, characterised by higher education and income. It also appears that the Progress party is especially weak in academic circles.{{ref|pettersen}}


=== Immigration === === Immigration ===
] ] for the ]. Similar brochures were printed.]] ] ] for the ]. Similar brochures were printed.]]


The ] of the Progress party has for a long time been a matter of heated discussion. On one end, critics accuse the party of ], whereas supporters argue their positions are based on facts, such as overrepresentation of (non-european) immigrants in ] statistics and that only part of ]s are actually entitled ]. Some claim its immigration policy is inappropriate, appealing to the fears of those concerned with foreign immigration. The Progress Party denies this, arguing that its more restrictive ] is based on facts: It says it is a fact that that the non-western immigrants are overrepresented in heavy ] ], that it is a fact that integration policies has failed, that it is a fact that only a small fraction of the refugee claimants are refugees; they also argue that sending the criminal immigrants out of the country will actually improve the overall image of the immigrants in Norway.


During the 2005 electoral campaign the Progress Party printed a brochure that focused on criminal activities committed by immigrants. The text on the brochure reads ''«The assailant is of foreign origin!»''. The smaller text under the headline is ''«headline we often read»''. Critics claimed that the brochure criminalized immigrants as a group. The Progress Party rejects that as a mutilation of their message which is only possible by reading the front page out of context. The header on the next page reads: "«Those most eager to get rid of criminal immigrants are us honest immigrants!» ( Pakistani born immigrant in Norway)".
] once described Progress party as ] and included them in their special report on Europe's far right . ] used the term "far-right extremist" .


⚫ The Progress Party maintains that it has nothing against immigrants who are in Norway on legal premises and are being good citizens in general, and it strongly reject any discrimination based on colour, race, cultural, ethnic or religious affiliation.
The most anti-immigration elements in the Progress party, such as ], left the party (or were expelled, as in Simonsen's case) in 2001 and founded a far-right, clearly xenophobic movement, ]. Since then, the Progress party has attained an image more acceptable to other parties. However, as late as ], ] and ], the Frp representative and deputy leader in ], asked for a ban on ], making it "punishable in the same way as ]" ; this had however no consequence on a national basis.


==== The 2005 Brochure on Immigration ==== === War on terror ===
During the 2005 electoral campaign, the Progress Party printed a ] focusing on criminal activities committed by immigrants. The text on the brochure reads ''«The assailant is of foreign origin!»''. The smaller text under the headline is ''«headline we often read»''.


⚫ Although war on terror is not an issue the Progress Party promotes a lot, they have a clear position in support of the United States. Party chairman Carl I Hagen sometimes goes far in claiming that there is a link between Islam and terror. This position receives particularly broad support among Christian communities.
Heavy criticism followed, centered on the allegation that such an advertisement criminalized immigrants as a group. All other parties represented in the Norwegian parliament criticised the advertisement, and it also prompted response from anti-racist organizations (including a humorous one by ).


⚫ On ], ] Carl I Hagen held a speech in one such community, the Living Word Bible Center in Bergen. He was quoted saying{{ref|hagenSpeech}}: "We Christians are deeply concerned with children. Jesus said, ''let the small children come to me''. I can't imagine that ] could have said the same thing. If he had, it would have been ''Let the small children come to me, so I can exploit them in my struggle to Islamify the world''". Supporters of Hagen reject that, and claim that the particular quote was cited out of context. Critics reply back that that the complete speech contained various implications of Christianity being morally superior to Islam.
==== Actual Occurrence of the Headline ====
The "headline" in the form presented in the advertisement has never been printed in the Norwegian press, and of all Norwegian pages on the ] that mention "]", "]" or "]" , only a small fraction contains the expression "foreign origin" , about 0.04%: for sake of comparison, about 8% of the Norwegian population consists of immigrants .


In the case of ], this rarity of the term is probably due to the ] ]s of the Norwegian press , that in point 4.3 state that one should "how respect for the individuality, private life, ''race'', ''nationality'' and ''conception of life'' of people. Do not highlight personal and private information when this is irrelevant to the issue."


==== Response of the Progress Party ====
The Progress Party protested that the critics were mutilating their message. The header on the next page of the on-line version of the brochure read: "«Those most eager to get rid of criminal imigrants are us honest immigrants!» ( Pakistani born immigrant in Norway)". This was not present in the paper version , but the two versions were released at approximately the same time.


⚫ === Isolated ===
⚫ The Progress Party maintains that it has nothing against law-abiding immigrants who are in Norway on legal premises, and they reject discrimination based on colour, race, cultural, ethnic or religious affiliation.
⚫ The Progress Party often find itself isolated in Norwegian politics, as other political parties deem the Progress Party's policies as too different{{ref|sponheim}} politically. Other right-wing parties consistently refused the Progress Party to formally join any governing coalition, despite the Progress Party having broad popular support. This often led to tensions and even a personal rivalry between the Progress Party chairman Carl I. Hagen and the Christian Democrat Prime Minister ]. However, in the wake of the 2005 elections that saw a wide increase in support for the Frp, the ] stated they wanted to be a bridge between Frp and the centre.


=== War on Terror ===
⚫ Although the ] is not an issue the Progress Party promotes a lot, they have a clear position in support of the United States. Party chairman Carl I Hagen sometimes goes far in claiming that there is a link between Islam and terror. This position receives particularly broad support among conservative Christian communities.

⚫ On ], ] Carl I Hagen held a speech in one such community, the Living Word Bible Center in Bergen. He was quoted saying{{ref|hagenSpeech}}: "We Christians are deeply concerned with children. Jesus said, ''let the small children come to me''. I can't imagine that ] could have said the same thing. If he had, it would have been ''Let the small children come to me, so I can exploit them in my struggle to Islamify the world''". Supporters of Hagen reject that, and claim that the particular quote was cited out of context. Critics reply back that the complete speech contained various implications of Christianity being morally superior to Islam.

Carl I Hagen once said in an interview that "Not all muslims are terrorists, but all terrorists are muslim". Upon question of why he did not consider terrorism in the ] and ], he replied that these were "national conflicts, and nothing to do with this".{{ref|muslimTerror}}

=== Flip-flop Party ===
Some of the opponents claim that Fr.p. chairman ] is often changing the party's political views towards the popular opinion, and that it has helped increase Frp's electoral support. The decision not to have a position about the ]-membership issue was criticised especially from this point of view.

⚫ === Isolation ===
Since its foundation, the Progress party has profiled itself in a radically different way from other Norwegian parties. This has resulted in a long isolation, as other political parties deem the Progress Party's policies as too different{{ref|sponheim}} politically. Other parties consistently refused the Progress Party to formally join any governing coalition, despite the Progress Party having broad popular support.

⚫ This often led to tensions, and even to a personal rivalry between the Progress Party chairman Carl I. Hagen and the Christian Democrat former Prime Minister ]. However, in the wake of the 2005 elections, that saw a wide increase in support for the Frp, the ] stated they wanted to be "a bridge between Frp and the centre".


== See also == == See also ==
Line 153: Line 137:
*] *]
*] *]



== References == == References ==
Line 159: Line 144:
*{{note|NSR2}}, by ] and Jo Saglie. The Causes and Consequences of Organisational Innovation in European Political Parties at the ] Joint Sessions of Workshops, Grenoble, ], ]. *{{note|NSR2}}, by ] and Jo Saglie. The Causes and Consequences of Organisational Innovation in European Political Parties at the ] Joint Sessions of Workshops, Grenoble, ], ].
*{{note|jensenNewLeader}}, from ], ] ]. *{{note|jensenNewLeader}}, from ], ] ].
*{{note|pettersen}}, article in Utrop magazine, ], ].
*{{note|politiskAnalyse}} by Aslak Bonde, political ] of ]. *{{note|politiskAnalyse}} by Aslak Bonde, political ] of ].
*{{note|populism}}, by ] journalist Even Gran. *{{note|populism}}, by ] journalist Even Gran.
*{{note|hagenSpeech}} at ]. *{{note|hagenSpeech}} at ].

*{{note|muslimTerror}}, from ], ], 2005.


== External links == == External links ==
*{{no icon}} - official site *{{no icon}} official site
*{{no icon}} - official site *{{no icon}} official site


{{Norwegian political parties}} {{Norwegian political parties}}


] ]
]


] ]
] ]
⚫ ]
] ]
⚫ ]
] ]

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File:Fremskrittspartiet Norway.png

The Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet or Framstegspartiet, Frp) is a conservative liberal right-wing political party of Norway. It was founded on April 8, 1973 at a famous address held by the rugged individualist and popular public speaker Anders Lange. The party adopted its current name in 1977. In the 2005 parliamentary elections, it was the second-largest party, with 22.1 percent of the votes and 37 seats (up from third-largest with 14.6 percent and 26 seats in the 2001 elections). The current chairman is Carl I. Hagen who, as representative of the largest opposition party, is now Vice President (vice speaker) of the parliament, the Storting.

History

Foundation

The founder, Anders Lange, intended the party to be more like a protest movement than a regular political party. The protest was directed against what was perceived to be an unacceptably high level of taxes, subsidies, and regulations, against government interventionism, and against the social democrat "nanny state" (Norwegian: formynderstaten).

It started under the name of Anders Lange's Party for strong reductions of taxes, charges and government intervention or the Anders Lange Party, or ALP.

The objective of Anders Lange was to remind the Conservative Party of Norway of its commitment to rightist values of individual liberty, civil society, and private property rights. According to Lange, the "socialist" government had grown too big, and the conservative party didn't seem to be bent on rolling back "big government". On the contrary, the conservatives had increased taxes and had done nothing to make government smaller, in Lange's view.

Electoral Support

The first election, in 1973, gave Anders Lange 5 percent, and four seats in the Norwegian parliament.

Following Lange, there was a brief series of party leaders, until Carl I. Hagen, after the party's poor result in the 1977 election, took control of the party in 1978:

Year Percent Seats
1973 5.0 4
1977 1.9 –
1981 4.5 4
1985 3.7 2
1989 13.0 22
1993 6.3 10
1997 15.3 25
2001 14.6 26
2005 22.1 38

Carl I. Hagen became the chairman of Frp in 1978, and has been practically uncontested. There has never been a really strong opposing candidate. Hagen has been determined to build up a strong party organization, and to move his party into the mainstream of Norwegian politics. Under his leadership Frp has played an increasingly important role in the Politics of Norway. In 2003 he declared that he was going to withdraw as chairman in 2006. His expected successor is the current vice-chairman, the economist Siv Jensen.

In the parliamentary election in 1989, the party obtained 13 percent, and became the third largest party in Norway. It started to receive some responsibility in local administrations, but was still mostly insignificant in that scope. In 1990, Peter Myhre, of Frp, became the mayor of Oslo.

Because of inner struggles, the 1993 election halved the party to 6.3 percent and 10 representatives. In 1994, four representatives of the "libertarian wing" broke out, formed an independent group in parliament, and founded another party the Fridemokratene.

In the 1997 election, Frp obtained 15.3 percent, and it returned to be the third largest party.

In the local election in 1999, the very popular local Progress-Party leader Terje Søviknes was elected mayor of Os. 20 municipalities got a deputy mayor from the Progress Party.

Before the 2001 election, Frp enjoyed a high level of popular support in 1999–2000, but its support fell back to 1997 levels in the actual election, following both internal turmoil (the then second vice-chairman of the party, Terje Søviknes, was involved in a sex scandal) and internal disagreements. This time, several "populist" local representatives in Oslo and some parliamentarians resigned from the party. Some "soloists", as they were called, where suspended, including Vidar Kleppe, who was suspended for two years, or expelled, as Jan Simonsen. The "populists" formed a party called The Democrats, with Vidar Kleppe as chairman and Jan Simonsen as vice-chairman.

In the Norwegian parliamentary election, 2001, Fr.p. lost the advance it had on polls, but maintained its position from the 1997 election, and got 14.6 percent and 26 members in the parliament.

Frp had run a campaign promising to unseat the Labour government of Jens Stoltenberg, and kept that promise by supporting the new minority government of Kjell Magne Bondevik, although the three parties in that coalition declined to govern together with Fr.p., since their policies were considered to be unacceptably populistic in a number of points.

In 2002, the Progress party advanced again in polls, and for a short while it even became the largest party, with a strong margin in December 2002. It has since fallen behind the Norwegian Labour Party, and competes with the Conservative Party for the second position.

The local election in 2003 was a breakthrough for the party as a political player in Norwegian municipalities. In 30 municipalities, the party gained more votes than any other, but it succeeded to elect the mayor only in 13 of these. The Progress Party has participated in local elections since 1975, but until 2003 the party has only gained the mayoral position twice. The Progress Party vote in Os—the only municipality that elected a Progress Party mayor in 1999—increased from 36.6% in 1999 to 45.7% in 2003. The party gained ground across the country, but more so in municipalities where the party had the mayor or the deputy mayor.

Until January 2004 the Progress Party has contended for the position as the second largest party with the Norwegian Conservative Party and the Socialist Left Party. As of January 2005, it has been stable at just below 20 percent on the polls, since January 2004.

Political Platform

The platform of Frp for 2001–2005 starts off with these general principles:

The Progress Party is a libertarian party. It builds on the Constitution of Norway, Norwegian and western traditions and cultural heritage with a basis in the Christian culture.
The main objective of the Progress Party is strong reduction in taxes and government intervention.
The fundament of the Progress Party's view of society is the belief in and respect for the uniqueness of the individual human being, and the right of the individuals to self-determination over their own life and economy.

Why did it succeed?

It is remarkable that a new political party immediately succeeds in being represented in the parliament and that it does not become a "mayfly party". With Frp it is even more remarkable, because it did not come into existence because of any peeling off from other parties, and its representatives were political novices.

  • Television as a powerful channel for the party. The 1973 election campaign was the first to be covered by nationwide television, which functioned as an effective medium for Anders Lange's Party.
  • Widespread discontent with an ever-increasing tax level. Frustrated expectations among non-socialist voters who had hoped for tax-cuts. During the 1960s and beginning of the 1970s, there had been an unprecedented increase of taxes. In this period, a non-socialist coalition government led by Per Borten (1965-71) came into office, and it had failed non-socialist voters expectations of a change, it had failed to reduce taxes, and had introduce the VAT.
  • The anti-hegemonic effects in the aftermath of the referendum on whether Norway should become a member of the EU in 1972. The defeat of the establishment, the gap between party-leaders and voters, functioned as the catalyst for political change.
  • Uncommonly skillful political craftsmanship by Carl I Hagen.
  • The well established party organization
  • The fading away of the socialist ideological hegemony, the crisis of the idea of the centrally planned economy, and the keynesian inteventionist theory that did not work anymore.
  • The renaissance of libertarian or classical liberalist political thought.

Criticism

Minarchism

The Progress Party has an economic policy clearly based in traditional economic liberalism. They support a society with limited public power and a stronger business sector, that could take responsibility for many of the duties the state has today (see also: privatisation). The same business sector should, just like the citizen, receive only a minimum of restrictions from the state. For instance, law should not forbid a company to sign contracts with their workers that require them to work 12-hour of daily working time, if the workers accept this.

The party seeks to reduce public spending, and at the same time reduce taxes for Norwegian citizens. With the privatisation of public services, citizens would not pay for services they do not need. The Progress Party believes that the state has the responsibility of securing its citizens a minimum living standard, but no other duties beyond that. The financial means for this reduced social policy should mainly be gathered by taxation of consumption instead of income, keeping the taxation level to a minimum.

The economic policy is based on the idea that the market is its best ruler. A market with as few hindrances as possible should channel the capital where it is needed, without intervention from the state with laws or taxes.

The Progress Party is also known for supporting a more restrictive view of Norwegian immigration policies, which may be rooted in the mistrust in the state's capability of solving social problems efficiently.

The party has officially decided not to have a position on Norwegian membership in the European Union. The national convention of Fr.p. has decided to put its representatives in a "free position" in their voting on the issue.

Populism

As the party was founded just after the political upheaval that followed the 1972 EU referendum, the party was believed to be an ephemeral phenomenon. The now-legendary leader of the Conservative Party Kåre Willoch characterized it as a "mayfly party", implying that it would disappear as fast as it appeared. Ironically, in the 2005 election the Progress Party surpassed the Conservative Party in electoral support, gaining 22.1% of the popular vote, against only 14.1% to the Conservatives.

Some of its critics lump it together with right-wing populism in Europe, because, they argue, like those parties it is sceptical towards immigration, tough on crime, sceptical towards bureaucracy and governmental control, and it works for reduction of taxes and charges.

Immigration

File:Progress Party Web Page.jpg
From the Progress Party's website, an advertisement focused on immigrant crimes for the 2005 election. Similar brochures were printed.

Some claim its immigration policy is inappropriate, appealing to the fears of those concerned with foreign immigration. The Progress Party denies this, arguing that its more restrictive immigration policy is based on facts: It says it is a fact that that the non-western immigrants are overrepresented in heavy crime statistics, that it is a fact that integration policies has failed, that it is a fact that only a small fraction of the refugee claimants are refugees; they also argue that sending the criminal immigrants out of the country will actually improve the overall image of the immigrants in Norway.

During the 2005 electoral campaign the Progress Party printed a brochure that focused on criminal activities committed by immigrants. The text on the brochure reads «The assailant is of foreign origin!». The smaller text under the headline is «headline we often read». Critics claimed that the brochure criminalized immigrants as a group. The Progress Party rejects that as a mutilation of their message which is only possible by reading the front page out of context. The header on the next page reads: "«Those most eager to get rid of criminal immigrants are us honest immigrants!» ( Pakistani born immigrant in Norway)".

The Progress Party maintains that it has nothing against immigrants who are in Norway on legal premises and are being good citizens in general, and it strongly reject any discrimination based on colour, race, cultural, ethnic or religious affiliation.

War on terror

Although war on terror is not an issue the Progress Party promotes a lot, they have a clear position in support of the United States. Party chairman Carl I Hagen sometimes goes far in claiming that there is a link between Islam and terror. This position receives particularly broad support among Christian communities.

On July 13, 2004 Carl I Hagen held a speech in one such community, the Living Word Bible Center in Bergen. He was quoted saying: "We Christians are deeply concerned with children. Jesus said, let the small children come to me. I can't imagine that Muhammed could have said the same thing. If he had, it would have been Let the small children come to me, so I can exploit them in my struggle to Islamify the world". Supporters of Hagen reject that, and claim that the particular quote was cited out of context. Critics reply back that that the complete speech contained various implications of Christianity being morally superior to Islam.


Isolated

The Progress Party often find itself isolated in Norwegian politics, as other political parties deem the Progress Party's policies as too different politically. Other right-wing parties consistently refused the Progress Party to formally join any governing coalition, despite the Progress Party having broad popular support. This often led to tensions and even a personal rivalry between the Progress Party chairman Carl I. Hagen and the Christian Democrat Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik. However, in the wake of the 2005 elections that saw a wide increase in support for the Frp, the Conservatives stated they wanted to be a bridge between Frp and the centre.


See also


References


External links

Political parties in Norway
Bracketed numbers indicate current numbers of seats in parliament for the 2021-2025 term.
Storting
Minor parties
Defunct
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