Coastal Party
Encyclopedia
The Coastal Party is a Norwegian
conservative and centrist political party. The party has district, fishing and coastal issues among its primary policies and is a staunch opponent of Norwegian EU membership. It was represented in the Norwegian Parliament from 2001
to 2005, and its predecessor, the Non-Partisan Deputies, from 1997
to 2001. The political leader of the party is Kjell Ivar Vestå.
as the Non-Partisan Deputies. Since 1997 however, the name "Coastal Party" was commonly used to describe the parliamentary party, at least in its base in Northern Norway. In the county of Nordland
, the list which ran in 1997 even went as "program for the Non-Partisan Deputies-Coastal Party". In February 2001, Conservative Party Member of Parliament Inger Stolt-Nielsen from Rogaland left the Conservatives and finished her term for the Coastal Party, giving the party two Members in Parliament until the 2001 election. The party's charismatic leader Steinar Bastesen
, a fisherman and whale hunter, was elected to the parliament for a second period in 2001.
In 2005 the party announced that they would for the first time participate in the parliamentary election in all of Norway
's 19 counties
, even though two of them do not have a coastline. This is important for all political parties, however, as it is the only way to secure a place in the national pre-election television
debates. On March 13, 2005, the party convention elected Roy Waage
, a former member of the Christian Democratic Party
, as the new party leader.
, environmentalism
, and a mixed economy
. The party is also against the European Union
and EEA
, seeks a restrictive immigration policy, and preservation of the family, local community and nation.
The Coastal Party is to a very large degree regionally based. So far, it has not been able to pass the national 4% election threshold
for leveling seat
s, but won a district seat in Nordland
in both 1997 (as the Non-Partisan Deputies) and 2001. In the 2005 parliamentary election
, 59% of the party's votes came from the three northernmost counties, Finnmark
, Troms
and Nordland
. Their best result came in Troms
, where they won 8.6% of the vote. In two municipalities, Karlsøy
and Skjervøy
, they received the highest vote count of all parties. In the country as a whole, however, they only won 0.8% of the vote (down from 1.7% in 2001) and lost its only seat in the Storting.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
conservative and centrist political party. The party has district, fishing and coastal issues among its primary policies and is a staunch opponent of Norwegian EU membership. It was represented in the Norwegian Parliament from 2001
Norwegian parliamentary election, 2001
A general election to the Storting, the parliament of Norway, was held on September 10, 2001. The Labour Party won a plurality of votes and seats, closely followed by the Conservative Party...
to 2005, and its predecessor, the Non-Partisan Deputies, from 1997
Norwegian parliamentary election, 1997
A general election to the Storting, the parliament of Norway, was held on 15 September 1997. Before the election, Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland of the Labour Party, issued the 36.9 ultimatum declaring that the government would step down unless it gained 36.9% of the vote, the percentage gained...
to 2001. The political leader of the party is Kjell Ivar Vestå.
History
The Coastal Party was formally founded on 1 February 1999 although the party participated, and won one seat, in the 1997 parliamentary electionNorwegian parliamentary election, 1997
A general election to the Storting, the parliament of Norway, was held on 15 September 1997. Before the election, Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland of the Labour Party, issued the 36.9 ultimatum declaring that the government would step down unless it gained 36.9% of the vote, the percentage gained...
as the Non-Partisan Deputies. Since 1997 however, the name "Coastal Party" was commonly used to describe the parliamentary party, at least in its base in Northern Norway. In the county of Nordland
Nordland
is a county in Norway in the North Norway region, bordering Troms in the north, Nord-Trøndelag in the south, Norrbottens län in Sweden to the east, Västerbottens län to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The county was formerly known as Nordlandene amt. The county administration is...
, the list which ran in 1997 even went as "program for the Non-Partisan Deputies-Coastal Party". In February 2001, Conservative Party Member of Parliament Inger Stolt-Nielsen from Rogaland left the Conservatives and finished her term for the Coastal Party, giving the party two Members in Parliament until the 2001 election. The party's charismatic leader Steinar Bastesen
Steinar Bastesen
Steinar Bastesen , is a Norwegian politician. A former fisher and whaler, Bastesen was first elected to the Norwegian Storting in 1997 as an independent candidate. In 1999, he participated in forming the Coastal Party, or Kystpartiet, a political party in Norway...
, a fisherman and whale hunter, was elected to the parliament for a second period in 2001.
In 2005 the party announced that they would for the first time participate in the parliamentary election in all of Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
's 19 counties
Counties of Norway
Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called counties . The counties form the primary first-level subdivisions of Norway and are further divided into 430 municipalities...
, even though two of them do not have a coastline. This is important for all political parties, however, as it is the only way to secure a place in the national pre-election television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
debates. On March 13, 2005, the party convention elected Roy Waage
Roy Waage
Roy Waage is a Norwegian politician for the Coastal Party, the current mayor of Skjervøy.He was originally a member of the Christian Democrats, serving as a deputy representative to the Norwegian Parliament from Troms during the term 1997–2001.He switched to the Coastal Party after it was...
, a former member of the Christian Democratic Party
Christian People's Party (Norway)
The Christian Democratic Party , is a Christian Democratic Norwegian political party founded in 1933. The Norwegian name literally translates to Christian People's Party...
, as the new party leader.
Political platform
The Coastal Party describe itself as a "culturally conservative centrist party", and its central value as being "safety". Other core issues are Christian valuesChristianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, environmentalism
Environmentalism
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
, and a mixed economy
Mixed economy
Mixed economy is an economic system in which both the state and private sector direct the economy, reflecting characteristics of both market economies and planned economies. Most mixed economies can be described as market economies with strong regulatory oversight, in addition to having a variety...
. The party is also against the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
and EEA
European Economic Area
The European Economic Area was established on 1 January 1994 following an agreement between the member states of the European Free Trade Association and the European Community, later the European Union . Specifically, it allows Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway to participate in the EU's Internal...
, seeks a restrictive immigration policy, and preservation of the family, local community and nation.
Election results
Election threshold
In party-list proportional representation systems, an election threshold is a clause that stipulates that a party must receive a minimum percentage of votes, either nationally or within a particular district, to obtain any seats in the parliament...
for leveling seat
Leveling seat
Leveling seats are a mechanism employed in Norwegian elections to the national legislature, the Storting, and in Swedish elections to national and regional assemblies, to ensure proportional representation both by county and political party...
s, but won a district seat in Nordland
Nordland
is a county in Norway in the North Norway region, bordering Troms in the north, Nord-Trøndelag in the south, Norrbottens län in Sweden to the east, Västerbottens län to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The county was formerly known as Nordlandene amt. The county administration is...
in both 1997 (as the Non-Partisan Deputies) and 2001. In the 2005 parliamentary election
Norwegian parliamentary election, 2005
Parliamentary elections were held in Norway on 12 September 2005. More than 3.4 million Norwegians were eligible for vote for the Storting, the parliament of Norway. The new Storting has 169 members, an increase of four over the 2001 election....
, 59% of the party's votes came from the three northernmost counties, Finnmark
Finnmark
or Finnmárku is a county in the extreme northeast of Norway. By land it borders Troms county to the west, Finland to the south and Russia to the east, and by water, the Norwegian Sea to the northwest, and the Barents Sea to the north and northeast.The county was formerly known as Finmarkens...
, Troms
Troms
or Romsa is a county in North Norway, bordering Finnmark to the northeast and Nordland in the southwest. To the south is Norrbotten Län in Sweden and further southeast is a shorter border with Lapland Province in Finland. To the west is the Norwegian Sea...
and Nordland
Nordland
is a county in Norway in the North Norway region, bordering Troms in the north, Nord-Trøndelag in the south, Norrbottens län in Sweden to the east, Västerbottens län to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The county was formerly known as Nordlandene amt. The county administration is...
. Their best result came in Troms
Troms
or Romsa is a county in North Norway, bordering Finnmark to the northeast and Nordland in the southwest. To the south is Norrbotten Län in Sweden and further southeast is a shorter border with Lapland Province in Finland. To the west is the Norwegian Sea...
, where they won 8.6% of the vote. In two municipalities, Karlsøy
Karlsøy
Karlsøy is a municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Hansnes. Karlsøy is also the name of a village on Karlsøya island in the municipality of Karlsøy. The village of Karlsøy had a population of 70.- General information :Karlsøy was...
and Skjervøy
Skjervøy
Skjervøy is a municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Skjervøy on the island of Skjervøya, where most of the inhabitants live. The main industries are fishing and ship building....
, they received the highest vote count of all parties. In the country as a whole, however, they only won 0.8% of the vote (down from 1.7% in 2001) and lost its only seat in the Storting.
Party leaders
- Steinar BastesenSteinar BastesenSteinar Bastesen , is a Norwegian politician. A former fisher and whaler, Bastesen was first elected to the Norwegian Storting in 1997 as an independent candidate. In 1999, he participated in forming the Coastal Party, or Kystpartiet, a political party in Norway...
(1999−2005) - Roy WaageRoy WaageRoy Waage is a Norwegian politician for the Coastal Party, the current mayor of Skjervøy.He was originally a member of the Christian Democrats, serving as a deputy representative to the Norwegian Parliament from Troms during the term 1997–2001.He switched to the Coastal Party after it was...
(2005−2007) - Kjell Ivar Vestå (2007−)