Long Socialist Rule In Norway Ends

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30856, 15 September 1965, Page 17

Long Socialist Rule In Norway Ends

<N Z P-A.-Rsuter —Copyright)

OSLO, September 14.

Norwegian voters have swept the Labour Party from office after .almost 30 years of Socialist rule and completely changed the country’s political pattern.

In a two-day election ended yesterday a non-Socialist coalition of four parties was estimated to have gained a majority of 10 seats over the combined Socialist parties in the new Parliament.

Mr Einar Gerhardsen, Prime Minister for most of the post-war period, conceded defeat in a television appearance with all party leaders and early today said his Government would resign when the new Parliament met on October 1. 68 of 150 Seats

Latest estimates said Labour would have 68 of the 150 seats, compared with 74 in the last Parliament —a bigger loss than even the most optimistic non-Socialist predicted. The non-Socialist parties were expected to hold 80 seats, compared with 74 in the last Parliament. The Leftwing Socialist People’s Party again has two seats. Leaders of the coalition—the Conservatives, Centre

(Agrarian Party), Christian People s Party and Liberals—declined to say who would lead the new Government until final results of the record poll were available. Likely P.M.

It is widely believed in Oslo that the new Prime Minister will be Mr John Lyng, aged 60, a county administrator and former judge, who was Prime Minister in a shortlived non-Socialist Government two years ago. Another candidate is Mr Bent Roeiseland, aged 63, the Liberal Party's Parliamentary leader. If he becomes Prime Minister, Mr Lyng is expected

to be Foreign Minister Eight parties contested the election. The S.P.P. took thousands of crucial votes from Labour in marginal constituencies without gaining any scats. Observers said the S.P.P.'s decision to run in nearly all constituencies was the mam reason for the Labour defeat.

The S.P.P. campaigned on demands for more socialism. Norway’s withdrawal from N.A.T.O. and denunciation of United States Policy in Vietnam.

The S.P.P. chairman. Mr Finn Gustavsen, regretted that the labour movement was no longer in power, but blamed the proportional representation system, which, he said, favoured the big parties. With direct representations his party would have won 10 seats and secured a Socialist regime, he claimed.