The Green Party (, , , MDG; ) is a centre-left green political party in Norway. The party currently holds eight seats in the Storting and is represented in municipal and county councils, having attained 4.7% and 4.1% in 2025 parliamentary election and 2023 local elections respectively. Its 2025 result marks the first time the party surpassed the 4% electoral threshold required to qualify for leveling seats in the Storting, securing an all-time high of eight representatives.

Similar to its German role model Alliance 90/The Greens, MDG represents green politics with social liberal features. It has been described as centre-left by academics and voters. The party has historical roots partly in the new left of the 1960s and 1970s, and partly in the broader environmental movement of the 1970s and 1980s, which itself was highly diverse and attracted support from both the new left and environmentally-oriented liberals and conservatives who rallied around environmental issues. Over time the party has moved in a more centrist and socially liberal direction. MDG stands in a progressive tradition and also defines itself as an intersectional feminist party,Ordførerkandidat (MDG) jubler over «historisk» vedtak and was one of the around 30 organizations behind a 2025 call for an inclusive feminism.

The party claims distance from the two dominant right-wing and left-wing political blocks, jointly denominated as "the fossil block". The party has gradually moved closer to liberal internationalism over time, allowing for the use of military force when it can promote peace and human rights. MDG supports Norwegian EU membershipMDG vil forhandle om norsk EU-medlemskap – Vedum er bekymret and NATO membership, while also advocating for a focus on arms control and peaceful conflict resolution. The party's voters are among the most pro-EU, and MDG has been described as a party for "urban, liberal, moderately left-wing academics."Grønn og Gal ja til EU

The Green Party is a member of the European Green Party and the Global Greens and was founded with the German Greens as its stated model. It maintains close ties to other Green parties including the German Greens and the Swedish Greens. It is led by Arild Hermstad.

History The process of forming a new national green party in Norway was initiated in December 1984, with the official launch in 1988. Among the pioneers were the late philosopher Arne Næss, peace researcher Johan Galtung, and the philosopher Sigmund Kvaløy Setreng.

In the local elections between 1991 and 2009, the Green Party had six to eight representatives elected each time. In the national elections the party never exceeded 0.5% support.

Since 2005, the Greens have seen a significant membership rise, with the new members coming from a wide variety of other parties, including the seven established parliamentary parties.

In the municipal elections of 2011, the party saw its first local breakthrough, having garnered close to 22,000 votes on a national basis. Two years later, during the campaign for the 2013 general election, the party saw a significant rise in support in the opinion polls. The Greens were widely expected to gain parliamentary representation to some extent. In the election, the Greens gathered over 79,000 votes, making them the eighth biggest party in the country. This vote count translates to 2.8 percent of the vote. Rasmus Hansson, the party's top candidate from Oslo was elected to parliament, becoming the first ever Green MP.MP.http://www.nettavisen.no/politikk/article3675551.ece

In the local elections of 2015 the Green Party overtook the 4% nationally for the first time in its history and got the third place in Oslo.

The party have stated their refusal to form a government with any parties that will continue to drill for oil in the North Sea.

The party had its best result at the 2021 parliamentary election, winning three seats in the Storting and falling just short of the 4% threshold for levelling seats. In 2025, the party expanded even further, winning 4.7% of the vote and eight seats in the Storting.

Ideology The Green Party is one of the global ecologist and environmentalist political parties and movements. As a member of the pan-European European Green Party, the Norwegian Greens subscribe to social progressivism and social justice. The main focus of the party is environmental protection and ecological sustainability. The party seeks to introduce a tax on wasteful consumption, and to reorganise the food industry. The Greens have also pledged support for a reform in the agrarian industry, increasing the production of organic crops and strengthening the eco-friendly agricultural sector.

The Green Party defines itself as intersectional feminist. Its youth wing works closely with the Initiative for Inclusive Feminism and has been one of the organizers of Inclusive March 8. In 2025 Frøya Sjursæther called for a reckoning with transphobia. In 2025 the Green Party was among the signatories of a call for an inclusive feminism with about 30 other organizations.

The Green Party seeks to reduce the Norwegian petroleum extraction in order to counteract serious climate change. The proposal is to stop extraction by 2040.

The Green Party is also in favor of the replacement of the monarchy with a republican form of government.

Leadership

Spokespersons Ove Braaten, 1989–1991 Olav Benestad, 1991–1992 Jan Bojer Vindheim, 1993–1996 /1997–2001 Ane Aadland, 1995–1997 Arne Gravanes, 1996–1997 Birte Simonsen, 1998–1999 Brynmor Evans, 1998–1999 Gunter Schotz, 1999–2000 Lisa Fröyland, 1999–2002 Tove Funderud Johansen, 2000–2001 Birte Simonsen, 2002–2004 Brynmor Evans, 2004–2005 Trude Malthe Thomassen, 2004–2007 Gaute Busch, 2005–2006 Mats Indrefjord Høllesli, 2006–2007 Birte Simonsen, 2007–2008 Sondre Båtstrand, 2008–2011 Hanna Marcussen, 2008–2014 Harald August Nissen, 2011–2014 Hilde Opoku, 2014–2016 Rasmus Hansson, 2016–2018 Arild Hermstad, 2018–2020 Une Aina Bastholm, 2016–2020

Leaders Une Aina Bastholm, 2020–22 Arild Hermstad, 2022–

Deputy leaders Arild Hermstad, 2020–2022 Kriss Rokkan Iversen, 2020–2022 Ingrid Liland, 2022– Lan Marie Berg, 2022–

Electoral performance Storting Election Votes % Seats +/– Position Status 1989 10,136 0.4 New 9th 1993 3,054 0.1 12th 1997 5,884 0.2 11th 2001 3,785 0.2 13th 2005 3,652 0.1 12th 2009 9,286 0.3 10th 2013 79,152 2.8 1 8th 2017 94,427 3.2 8th 2021 117,647 3.9 2 8th 2025 152,782 4.7 5 7th

Local elections Election Vote % Type 1991 0.30.4 MunicipalCounty 1995 0.30.4 MunicipalCounty 1999 0.30.4 MunicipalCounty 2003 0.20.2 MunicipalCounty 2007 0.30.6 MunicipalCounty 2011 0.91.3 MunicipalCounty 2015 4.25.0 MunicipalCounty2019 6.87.6MunicipalCounty

See also Green party List of environmental organizations

References

External links