OSLO – Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere vowed on Tuesday that the country would continue exploring for oil and gas to remain a reliable energy supplier to Europe, even as his newly re-elected Labour minority government faces increasing pressure from green and far-left allies to curb fossil fuel production.
Stoere’s Labour Party secured a second term in Monday’s election, narrowly defeating a populist right-wing surge in a campaign dominated by rising living costs and the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. The result means Labour will still need to rely on a patchwork “tutti frutti” coalition of left-leaning partners – including the Greens and the far-left Reds – to pass major legislation.
While the Greens demand an immediate halt to oil exploration and other leftist parties want tighter restrictions, Labour and its ally, the Centre Party, remain committed to further exploration to safeguard energy security. “We will continue to be a reliable partner, but also take forward technological steps, cut emissions and live up to our climate obligations,” Stoere said.
The first test for the coalition will be negotiating the 2026 fiscal budget. Contentious issues include oil and gas policy and Norway’s $2 trillion sovereign wealth fund, whose Israeli investments are under renewed scrutiny amid the Gaza war.
Stoere reaffirmed his pledges to maintain NATO membership, deepen EU cooperation, and uphold fiscal discipline. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen congratulated him, vowing continued partnership on energy security and support for Ukraine.