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Fatherland Party (Norway)
Encyclopedia
The Fatherland Party was a political party in Norway
, which was founded by former local Progress Party
politician Harald Trefall
in 1990. Primarily based in Western Norway, the party supported nationalist
positions such as opposition to immigration and the European Union
. It got two representatives elected to public office in the 1991 local elections
, in a county and municipal council respectively. The party never won representation since, and was dissolved in 2008 after years of electoral inactivity.
, a member of Folkebevegelsen mot innvandring
(FMI) and former Bergen
city councillor for the Progress Party
. He became noted in the late 1980s for his opposition to immigration, and was the first candidate for the Stop Immigration
party in Hordaland
in 1989. In one of the earliest notable acts by the party, it put an ad in the Christian newspaper Dagen, where it called for Christians to fight together with the party to stop Norway from becoming "a Muslim
country". In its first election, the 1991 local elections
, it won one representative in the Karmøy
municipal council, and one representative in the Hordaland county council. The party won 0.5% of the vote in the 1993 parliamentary election
, and combined with Stop Immigration more than 15,000 votes. Trefall stepped down as leader of the party in 1994 after "six years of resistance struggle against immigration," although he would remain chairman of the party's so-called Council.
In the aftermath of the 1995 Norwegian Association meeting at Godlia kino, it was revealed that Øystein Hedstrøm
, Member of Parliament and Spokesperson on Immigration Issues for the Progress Party
, had held long-term contacts with the FLP. There had also allegedly been talks of a joint list between the parties for the upcoming election, talks which nevertheless never went through. When opinion polls had shown that the FLP could win one or two local seats in Bergen, local politicians from all the other represented parties in the city (except the Progress Party) issued a public "warning" against the party. In the 1995 local elections
, the FLP failed to defend its elected representatives, nor to win any new ones. In Oslo
, the party cooperated with the Stop Immigration party in the Fellesliste mot fremmedinnvandring
, to no success. When it was revealed that Jack Erik Kjuus
succeeded his Stop Immigration party with the White Electoral Alliance
and introduced a far more radical program, the FLP immediately distanced itself from the new program and broke all cooperation with Kjuus and his group. From 1997 to 1999, the FLP was part of the nordic NordNat
organisation, which included the Sweden Democrats
.
In the 1997 parliamentary election
, the party was reduced to 0.1% of the national vote, and was even more marginalised in the 1999 local elections
. It gained competition from the new Norwegian People's Party
(NFP) for the 2001 parliamentary election
, which left its support split between the two parties. The NFP had planned to merge with the FLP the year before, but according to the former party's leader Oddbjørn Jonstad
, Trefall had made organisational demands he refused to agree on. The FLP did not contest the 2005 parliamentary election
, while many of its members, including its deputy chairman, rather ran for the Democrats.
party, that wanted to "preserve the national interests of Norway, and defend and develop the Christian heritage (by a democratic foundation)." The party wanted Norway to remain a Norwegian nation-state, and opposed membership of the European Union
as well as mass immigration, claiming both to be unconstitutional. The party also claimed that the "forced introduction" of a multicultural society
was a violation of the human rights of the Norwegian people
in terms with the international conventions of the United Nations
. The party sought a global community of independent people in their own native countries, claiming a world community of independent nations to be "the best foundation for world peace." The party also wanted to strengthen the family
, improve conditions for the elderly, keep a strong defence and law and order
.
While the party was claimed by some of being "neo-Nazi" and "racist", many of its members where in fact former members of the Norwegian resistance movement
during the Second World War
. They included Erik Gjems-Onstad
who was part of Kompani Linge
, and Oslo
candidates Jan Høeg who was part of Milorg
and Arvid Austad who participated in the execution squads against convicted Nazi traitors (including Vidkun Quisling
) in the legal purge after the war
. Austad expanded on his position in 1999, by stating that he saw "clear parallels" between the Nazi invasion of Norway
and "today's great immigration of Muslim
s."
in 1995 when it got 6.2% of the votes. The best country-wide school election was in 1993 when it won 2.5% of the national vote. In the 1991 school elections the party received up to 30% of the votes in certain vocational upper secondary schools in Rogaland
. In 1993, it received 41% of the vote at an upper secondary school in Valdres
.
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...
, which was founded by former local Progress Party
Progress Party (Norway)
The Progress Party is a political party in Norway which identifies as conservative liberal and libertarian. The media has described it as conservative and right-wing populist...
politician Harald Trefall
Harald Trefall
Harald Trefall was a Norwegian professor of experimental physics and later politician. He graduated from and worked at the University of Bergen, where he focused his work on cosmic radiation, and held a Ph.D. from the University of Oslo...
in 1990. Primarily based in Western Norway, the party supported nationalist
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
positions such as opposition to immigration and 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...
. It got two representatives elected to public office in the 1991 local elections
Norwegian local elections, 1991
Country-wide local elections for seats in municipality and county councils were held throughout Norway in 1991. For most places this meant that two elections, the municipal elections and the county elections ran concurrently.-Municipal elections:...
, in a county and municipal council respectively. The party never won representation since, and was dissolved in 2008 after years of electoral inactivity.
History
The FLP was founded on 17 May 1990 by Harald TrefallHarald Trefall
Harald Trefall was a Norwegian professor of experimental physics and later politician. He graduated from and worked at the University of Bergen, where he focused his work on cosmic radiation, and held a Ph.D. from the University of Oslo...
, a member of Folkebevegelsen mot innvandring
Folkebevegelsen mot innvandring
Folkebevegelsen mot innvandring is a far-right organisation in Norway which campaigns against immigration. The organisation was founded in 1987, and was initially led by Arne Myrdal who was later squeezed out due to his violent activism...
(FMI) and former Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
city councillor for the Progress Party
Progress Party (Norway)
The Progress Party is a political party in Norway which identifies as conservative liberal and libertarian. The media has described it as conservative and right-wing populist...
. He became noted in the late 1980s for his opposition to immigration, and was the first candidate for the Stop Immigration
Stop Immigration
Stop Immigration was a political party in Norway, founded by Jack Erik Kjuus in 1987. The party was never particularly successful, and its only elected representative was in the Drammen city council, in both 1991 and 1995. The party was succeeded by the White Electoral Alliance in...
party in Hordaland
Hordaland
is a county in Norway, bordering Sogn og Fjordane, Buskerud, Telemark and Rogaland. Hordaland is the third largest county after Akershus and Oslo by population. The county administration is located in Bergen...
in 1989. In one of the earliest notable acts by the party, it put an ad in the Christian newspaper Dagen, where it called for Christians to fight together with the party to stop Norway from becoming "a Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
country". In its first election, the 1991 local elections
Norwegian local elections, 1991
Country-wide local elections for seats in municipality and county councils were held throughout Norway in 1991. For most places this meant that two elections, the municipal elections and the county elections ran concurrently.-Municipal elections:...
, it won one representative in the Karmøy
Karmøy
Karmøy is a municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. It is located southwest of the city of Haugesund in the traditional district of Haugaland....
municipal council, and one representative in the Hordaland county council. The party won 0.5% of the vote in the 1993 parliamentary election
Norwegian parliamentary election, 1993
A general election to the Storting, the parliament of Norway, was held on 13 September 1993. The Labour Party won a plurality of seats, and Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland remained in office. The Centre Party was particularly successful, gaining 21 seats....
, and combined with Stop Immigration more than 15,000 votes. Trefall stepped down as leader of the party in 1994 after "six years of resistance struggle against immigration," although he would remain chairman of the party's so-called Council.
In the aftermath of the 1995 Norwegian Association meeting at Godlia kino, it was revealed that Øystein Hedstrøm
Øystein Hedstrøm
Øystein Hedstrøm is a Norwegian politician. He was a Member of Parliament from Østfold for the Progress Party from 1989 to 2005, after which he declined renomination.-Early and personal life:...
, Member of Parliament and Spokesperson on Immigration Issues for the Progress Party
Progress Party (Norway)
The Progress Party is a political party in Norway which identifies as conservative liberal and libertarian. The media has described it as conservative and right-wing populist...
, had held long-term contacts with the FLP. There had also allegedly been talks of a joint list between the parties for the upcoming election, talks which nevertheless never went through. When opinion polls had shown that the FLP could win one or two local seats in Bergen, local politicians from all the other represented parties in the city (except the Progress Party) issued a public "warning" against the party. In the 1995 local elections
Norwegian local elections, 1995
Country-wide local elections for seats in municipality and county councils were held throughout Norway in 1995. For most places this meant that two elections, the municipal elections and the county elections ran concurrently.-Municipal elections:...
, the FLP failed to defend its elected representatives, nor to win any new ones. In Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, the party cooperated with the Stop Immigration party in the Fellesliste mot fremmedinnvandring
Common list against foreign immigration
Common list against foreign immigration was a Norwegian political party which ran for the 1993 parliamentary election in Oslo. The list competed against the Fatherland Party about the immigration-sceptical votes of the city. In Oslo the common list turned out more successful than the Fatherland...
, to no success. When it was revealed that Jack Erik Kjuus
Jack Erik Kjuus
Jack Erik Kjuus was a Norwegian far-right politician of the former White Electoral Alliance who was convicted of racism in 1997...
succeeded his Stop Immigration party with the White Electoral Alliance
White Electoral Alliance
White Electoral Alliance was a short-lived political party in Norway, founded by Jack Erik Kjuus in September 1995 after the merging of Stop Immigration and Help the foreigners home or else we will lose our country , both minor fringe parties...
and introduced a far more radical program, the FLP immediately distanced itself from the new program and broke all cooperation with Kjuus and his group. From 1997 to 1999, the FLP was part of the nordic NordNat
NordNat
NordNat was an association of far-right parties, founded in Malmö on 8 June 1997, in an attempt to unite Nordic nationalist parties. The main initiator was the Sweden Democrats, which were then also a member of the wider EuroNat together with the Finnish Patriotic National Alliance...
organisation, which included the Sweden Democrats
Sweden Democrats
The Sweden Democrats is a political party in Sweden, founded in 1988. SD describes itself as a nationalist movement although others use the term far-right. Since 2005, its party chairman is Jimmie Åkesson, while Björn Söder is the party secretary and parliamentary group leader. An Anemone...
.
In the 1997 parliamentary election
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...
, the party was reduced to 0.1% of the national vote, and was even more marginalised in the 1999 local elections
Norwegian local elections, 1999
Country-wide local elections for seats in municipality and county councils were held throughout Norway in 1999. For most places this meant that two elections, the municipal elections and the county elections ran concurrently.-Municipal elections:...
. It gained competition from the new Norwegian People's Party
Norwegian People's Party
The Norwegian People's Party is a political party in Norway which was founded in 1999. The party is led by Oddbjørn Jonstad, a former local leader of the Progress Party who was expelled from the party following some controversial proposals he made on immigration-issues...
(NFP) for the 2001 parliamentary election
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...
, which left its support split between the two parties. The NFP had planned to merge with the FLP the year before, but according to the former party's leader Oddbjørn Jonstad
Oddbjørn Jonstad
Oddbjørn Jonstad is a Norwegian politician. He started his political career in 1987 as an Oppegård municipal councillor for the Progress Party, and became the leader of the local chapter in 1995...
, Trefall had made organisational demands he refused to agree on. The FLP did not contest 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....
, while many of its members, including its deputy chairman, rather ran for the Democrats.
Political profile
The FLP was a self-described nationalistNationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
party, that wanted to "preserve the national interests of Norway, and defend and develop the Christian heritage (by a democratic foundation)." The party wanted Norway to remain a Norwegian nation-state, and opposed membership of 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...
as well as mass immigration, claiming both to be unconstitutional. The party also claimed that the "forced introduction" of a multicultural society
Multiculturalism
Multiculturalism is the appreciation, acceptance or promotion of multiple cultures, applied to the demographic make-up of a specific place, usually at the organizational level, e.g...
was a violation of the human rights of the Norwegian people
Norwegians
Norwegians constitute both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway. They share a common culture and speak the Norwegian language. Norwegian people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in United States, Canada and Brazil.-History:Towards the end of the 3rd...
in terms with the international conventions of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. The party sought a global community of independent people in their own native countries, claiming a world community of independent nations to be "the best foundation for world peace." The party also wanted to strengthen the family
Family
In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...
, improve conditions for the elderly, keep a strong defence and law and order
Law and Order
Law and Order may refer to:In politics:*Law and order , a term common in political debate and discussion, generally indicating support of a strict criminal justice system*Law and Order Offensive Party, a minor German political party...
.
While the party was claimed by some of being "neo-Nazi" and "racist", many of its members where in fact former members of the Norwegian resistance movement
Norwegian resistance movement
The Norwegian resistance to the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany began after Operation Weserübung in 1940 and ended in 1945. It took several forms:...
during the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. They included Erik Gjems-Onstad
Erik Gjems-Onstad
Erik-Ørn Gjems-Onstad, MBE was a Norwegian resistance member, officer, lawyer, politician and anti-immigration activist. When Nazi Germany invaded Norway in 1940, Gjems-Onstad travelled to England to join the Norwegian resistance movement...
who was part of Kompani Linge
Norwegian Independent Company 1
Norwegian Independent Company 1 was a British SOE group formed in March 1941 originally for the purpose of performing commando raids during the Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany. It was organized under the leadership of Captain Martin Linge...
, and Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
candidates Jan Høeg who was part of Milorg
Milorg
Milorg was the main Norwegian resistance movement in World War II....
and Arvid Austad who participated in the execution squads against convicted Nazi traitors (including Vidkun Quisling
Vidkun Quisling
Vidkun Abraham Lauritz Jonssøn Quisling was a Norwegian politician. On 9 April 1940, with the German invasion of Norway in progress, he seized power in a Nazi-backed coup d'etat that garnered him international infamy. From 1942 to 1945 he served as Minister-President, working with the occupying...
) in the legal purge after the war
Legal purge in Norway after World War II
When the occupation of Norway ended in May 1945, several thousand Norwegians and foreign citizens were tried and convicted for various acts that the occupying powers sanctioned...
. Austad expanded on his position in 1999, by stating that he saw "clear parallels" between the Nazi invasion of Norway
Operation Weserübung
Operation Weserübung was the code name for Germany's assault on Denmark and Norway during the Second World War and the opening operation of the Norwegian Campaign...
and "today's great immigration of Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
s."
Parliamentary elections
| Year | Result # | Result % | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 Norwegian parliamentary election, 1993 A general election to the Storting, the parliament of Norway, was held on 13 September 1993. The Labour Party won a plurality of seats, and Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland remained in office. The Centre Party was particularly successful, gaining 21 seats.... |
11,694 | 0.5% | 0 |
| 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... |
3,805 | 0.1% | 0 |
| 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... |
2,353 | 0.1% | 0 |
Local elections
| Year | County # | County % | C. seats | Municipal # | Municipal % | M. seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 Norwegian local elections, 1991 Country-wide local elections for seats in municipality and county councils were held throughout Norway in 1991. For most places this meant that two elections, the municipal elections and the county elections ran concurrently.-Municipal elections:... |
3,700 | 0.2% | 1 | 1,600 | 0.1% | 1 |
| 1995 Norwegian local elections, 1995 Country-wide local elections for seats in municipality and county councils were held throughout Norway in 1995. For most places this meant that two elections, the municipal elections and the county elections ran concurrently.-Municipal elections:... |
3,644 | 0.2% | 0 | 1,360 | 0.1% | 0 |
| 1999 Norwegian local elections, 1999 Country-wide local elections for seats in municipality and county councils were held throughout Norway in 1999. For most places this meant that two elections, the municipal elections and the county elections ran concurrently.-Municipal elections:... |
1,296 | 0.1% | 0 | 227 | 0.0% | 0 |
School elections
In school elections the party generally had a greater approval rating than in ordinary ones, with its strongest county-wide result in Sogn og FjordaneSogn og Fjordane
is a county in Norway, bordering Møre og Romsdal, Oppland, Buskerud, and Hordaland. The county administration is in the town of Hermansverk in Leikanger municipality while the largest town is Førde....
in 1995 when it got 6.2% of the votes. The best country-wide school election was in 1993 when it won 2.5% of the national vote. In the 1991 school elections the party received up to 30% of the votes in certain vocational upper secondary schools in Rogaland
Rogaland
is a county in Western Norway, bordering Hordaland, Telemark, Aust-Agder and Vest-Agder. It is the center of the Norwegian petroleum industry, and as a result of this, Rogaland has the lowest unemployment rate of any county in Norway, 1.1%...
. In 1993, it received 41% of the vote at an upper secondary school in Valdres
Valdres
Valdres is a traditional district in central, southern Norway, situated between Gudbrandsdal and Hallingdal.Administratively, Valdres belongs to Oppland. It consists of the municipalities Nord-Aurdal, Sør-Aurdal, Øystre Slidre, Vestre Slidre, Vang and Etnedal. The main town in the region is...
.
Party leaders
- Harald TrefallHarald TrefallHarald Trefall was a Norwegian professor of experimental physics and later politician. He graduated from and worked at the University of Bergen, where he focused his work on cosmic radiation, and held a Ph.D. from the University of Oslo...
(1990–1994) - Odd Even Hårvik (1994–1996)
- Harald Trefall (1996–2002)
- Arild Kibsgaard (2002–2008)