Parliamentary elections were held in Norway on 13 and 14 September 1981.Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p1438 The elections led to the end of the Labour Party minority government and the creation of a Conservative Party minority government.

The Conservative Party made the strongest gains in the election. The Labour Party remained the largest party in the Storting, winning 66 of the 155 seats.

Attempts were made to form a majority coalition government with the Conservative Party, Christian People's Party and Centre Party, but the negotiations failed. The Conservative Party subsequently formed a minority government with parliamentary support from Christian People's Party and Centre Party.

In 1983 a majority coalition government with the Christian People's Party and the Centre Party was established.

Contesting parties

Name Ideology Position Leader 1977 result Votes (%) Seats Ap Labour PartyArbeiderpartiet Social democracy Centre-left Gro Harlem Brundtland 42.2% H Conservative PartyHøyre Conservatism Centre-right Jo Benkow 24.5% KrF Christian Democratic PartyKristelig Folkeparti Christian democracy Centre to centre-right Kåre Kristiansen 9.7% Sp Centre PartySenterpartiet Agrarianism Centre Johan J. Jakobsen 8.0% SV Socialist Left PartySosialistisk Venstreparti Democratic socialism Left-wingBerge Furre 4.1% V Liberal PartyVenstre Social liberalism CentreHans Hammond Rossbach 2.3% FrP Progress PartyFremskrittspartiet Classical liberalism Right-wing Carl I. Hagen 1.8%

Leadership changes and challenges Progress Party Carl I. Hagen was elected chairman on 12 February 1978 after Arve Lønnum declined to seek reelection.

Christian People's Party After Lars Korvald declined to seek reelection, Kåre Kristiansen was elected chairman on 21 April 1979. Despite not being a candidate, Kjell Magne Bondevik received 44 votes.

Campaign Slogans Party Original slogan English translation Labour PartyArbeid for alleLabour for everyone Conservative Party Centre PartyChristian Democratic Party Liberal Party Communist Party of Norway Sources:

Debates 1981 Norwegian general election debates Date Organiser Present   Invitee  Non-invitee ApHKrFSpSvVFrpDlpNKPRRefs NRKPGro Harlem BrundtlandPKåre WillochNKåre KristiansenNJohan J. JakobsenNHanna KvanmoNHans Hammond RossbachNCarl I. HagenNGerd SøraaNMartin Gunnar KnutsenNSigurd Allern NRKPEinar Førde, Gro Harlem BrundtlandPKåre WillochPKåre KristiansenPJohan J. JakobsenPHanna KvanmoPHans Hammond RossbachPCarl I. HagenPGerd SøraaPMartin Gunnar KnutsenPSigurd Allern

Results

Voter demographics Cohort Percentage of cohort voting for Ap H KrF Sv FrP Sp V Others Total vote 37.2% 31.7% 8.9% 4.9% 4.5% 4.2% 3.2% Gender Females 35.6% 30.3% 12.8% 4.5% 3.7% 4.3% 3.3% Males 38.4% 33.1% 5.5% 5.5% 5.3% 4.2% 3.1% Age 18–30 years old 26.2% 33.8% 5.2% 8.8% 10.1% 4.6% 4.3% 30-59 years old 39.2% 32.3% 8% 4.8% 3.5% 3.8% 3.6% 60 years old and older 43.5% 28.9% 14.9% 1.5% 1.2% 4.9% 1.2% Work low income 43.5% 25.9% 11.8% 4.4% 7.1% 5.6% 2.4% Average income 43.9% 27.2% 8.1% 5.8% 3.6% 4% 3.6% High income 23.3% 50.3% 6.5% 4.5% 3.8% 2.4% 3.4% Education Primary school 55.2% 18.7% 9.6% 3.1% 4.4% 3.6% 1% High school 36% 33% 8.9% 4.7% 5.1% 5% 3% University/college 12.9% 47.7% 7.9% 9.1% 3.3% 2.9% 7.5% Source: Norwegian Institute for Social Research

Seat distribution ConstituencyTotalseatsSeats wonApHKrFSpSVFrpVAkershus10451Aust-Agder4211Buskerud7421Finnmark431Hedmark8521Hordaland154521111Møre og Romsdal1033211Nord-Trøndelag6312Nordland1254111Oppland7421Oslo1557111Østfold8431Rogaland1033211Sogn og Fjordane52111Sør-Trøndelag1043111Telemark6321Troms6321Vest-Agder5221Vestfold734Total15566531511442Source: Norges Offisielle Statistikk

Notes

References