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Red (Norway)
Encyclopedia
The Red Party is a Norwegian far-left political party
and the leading party to the left of the Socialist Left
and the Labour Party in Norway. Since 2007 the party has sought a seat in Parliament; the only counties in which they have a realistic chance of earning a seat are Oslo
and Hordaland
. The party was founded in March 2007 by a merger of the Workers' Communist Party
and the Red Electoral Alliance
. Turid Thomassen
is the Red Party's current leader.
Red is officially committed to far-left socialist ideals. Red, along with its predecessor party, the Red Electoral Alliance, has struggled with the label "communist". This label is a result of many of the party's leading members promoting communist values, either currently or previously; notable examples are Erling Folkvord
and former party leader, Torstein Dahle
. The party's main principles are based on a socialist economy, including a strong public sector
and nationalization
of large businesses. Core issues also include the revolutionary socialist
goal for the workers to "take over the power", and the establishment of new legislature
s.
Red has slowly gained popularity, both on national and local levels, since the hay-days of the Red Electoral Alliance. The only counties the party has a chance of winning any seats are Hordaland
and Oslo
. Red has 5 county council
representatives nationwide and 57 municipal representatives.
and the Workers' Communist Party
, which means that it favours the welfare state
and high taxation upon the wealthy. Since its formation, notable groups have merged with the party, the most notable example of this being the Trotskyist International Socialists
. The party consists of various internal factions, including the Trotskyists, Marxist-Leninists and far-left democratic socialists.
One of Red's important projects is protecting the Norwegian welfare state, calling for the government to spend 30-40 billion NOK
s on the public sector
to counter the financial crisis. Red politician Mimir Kristjansson claimed that the "right wing parties have proved their willingness to dismantle the very foundation of our welfare state". According to her, the socialist parties, along with the Norwegian Labour Party
, need to be forced into a policy which strongly protects the welfare model for the weak.
After the Socialist Left Party
became a member of the ruling Red-Green Coalition in 2009, the Norwegian media speculated that Red would manage to win enough votes to earn a seat in parliament. With the party promoting itself as revolutionary socialist, many believed it wanted to abolish the parliamentary system in Norway. When asked during a televised debate, Torstein Dahle
said the party would "retain" the current system of governance. After the announcement of the 2009 election
results, turmoil grew within the party, with some members wanting the party to move ideologically closer to the Socialist Left Party.
and the Workers' Communist Party
. The two parties had shared the same history for decades, because the Workers' Communist Party founded the Red Electoral Alliance as a electoral party that would promote communist and socialist values. During the national convention
held by the Red Electoral Alliance, a faction within the party stated it would support the merger of the two parties if any references to communism in the new party program would be removed.
During a secret meeting between the leading staff of both parties on March 5, a vote was held, with most members supporting the merger. The Workers' Communist Party was official dissolved in April 2007. During the party's first national convention
, three names were considered: Red Choice, Solidarity and Red Cloth. When founded, the party saw it as its main mission to fill "the void" between it and the Red-Green Coalition. When talking about the party program, Torstein Dahle
said:
Torstein Dahle
was unanimously elected party leader by members of the Workers' Communist Party and the Red Electoral Alliance in February 2007. This was met with criticism by outsiders, who claimed that Dahle would not be able to lead the party in a "new direction". The then leader of the Workers' Communist Party, Ingrid Baltzersen, was elected the party's Deputy Leader
.
On July 23, 2007, Dahle became subject to media attention when he said that the Taliban and other Afghan rebels had the full right to fight Norwegian soldiers stationed in Afghanistan
. The attention occurred only days later with the death of a Norwegian army officer in the Logar Province as a Norwegian military unit came under hostile fire. Dahle later replied to the criticism, saying that he did not support the death of Norwegian military personnel.
When planning for the 2007 local elections
, the party thought it had a realistic chance of gaining the mayorship in three municipalities. During the local elections, the party was forced to campaign under the banner of the Red Electoral Alliance, as the Election Committee
had not approved its new name. During the 2007 local elections, Dahle said Red's core issues were:
Election researcher Bernt Aardal believed that Red would be able win votes from voters who usually voted for the Socialist Left Party
. The reasoning behind this was that the Socialist Left became part of the ruling Red-Green Coalition, and would constantly need to make compromises with the two other parties in the coalition. When confronted with his research, he replied, "This is not a large voter group. We've looked at some polls in the past that RV would give the party one or two seats in Parliament. It is difficult to say whether the new party will make a difference."
After experiencing what many described as a bad election, Trond Andresen
, a leading political figure within the party, resigned. He claimed the party was going in a downward spiral and would eventually meet the same fate as the Communist Party of Norway
if it did not renew its image. Among several known candidates that officially announced or were rumoured to be candidates for Party Leader are Bjørnar Moxnes, Mona Bjørn, Asgeir Drugli, Mimir Kristjansson and Ingeborg Steinholt
, among others.
was voted in as party leader of Red in May 2010. Thomassen has long experience from both the Workers' Communist Party and the Red Electoral Alliance. The former leader of Red Youth (2004-2006), Bjørnar Moxnes, became deputy leader.
is Red Youth
, which was founded in 1963, preceding the foundations of the Red Electoral Alliance
and the Workers' Communist Party
. The current leader of the youth wing is Iver Aastebøl, who took office in 2010; his term ends in 2011. Red Youth was highly supportive of the merging of the Red Electoral Alliance and the Communist Party, with Sandra Johansen, leader of Red Youth in Brønnøysund claiming "it to have been difficult to be a youth party under two different parent parties."
In a widely publicized report, former Deputy Leader of the Red Electoral Alliance Marte Mjøs Persen left the party, believing there was a big generational gap between the older and younger members of Red. She further claimed that only the older members, who have their origins from the foundation of the Red Electoral Alliance and the Workers' Communist Party, controlled the party. Persen's statements were met with positive response by fellow party members and outsiders. Mathias Furevik, who had served as Dahle's campaign manager, agreed with her accusations. Bergen
City Council representative, Stine Akre, reluctantly agreed with Persen's accusations and said; "Red is now a party for middle-aged men, and has not been able to get rid of the generation gap. It also means that many younger people will get burned out before they move the party's direction." Persen shortly after joined the Norwegian Labour Party
.
became the party's first and only mayor elected through a direct mayor election in the municipal of Risør
.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
and the leading party to the left of the Socialist Left
Socialist Left Party (Norway)
The Socialist Left Party or SV, is a Norwegian left-wing political party. At one point one of the smallest parties in Parliament, it became the fourth-largest political party in Norway for the first time in the 2001 parliamentary election, and has been so ever since...
and the Labour Party in Norway. Since 2007 the party has sought a seat in Parliament; the only counties in which they have a realistic chance of earning a seat are 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...
and 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...
. The party was founded in March 2007 by a merger of the Workers' Communist Party
Workers' Communist Party (Norway)
The Workers' Communist Party was a Norwegian communist party . AKP was a maoist party and one of two communist parties in Norway; the other was the older Communist Party of Norway which has remained pro-Soviet. The relationship between the two parties was characterized by strong hostility.AKP was...
and the Red Electoral Alliance
Red Electoral Alliance
Red Electoral Alliance was an alliance of left-wing groups formed into a Norwegian political party to promote revolutionary far-left ideals into the Norwegian parliament...
. Turid Thomassen
Turid Thomassen
Turid Thomassen is a Norwegian politician who since 2010 has been the party leader of the Norwegian left-wing party Red following Torstein Dahle....
is the Red Party's current leader.
Red is officially committed to far-left socialist ideals. Red, along with its predecessor party, the Red Electoral Alliance, has struggled with the label "communist". This label is a result of many of the party's leading members promoting communist values, either currently or previously; notable examples are Erling Folkvord
Erling Folkvord
Erling Folkvord is a Norwegian politician for the Red party, and a former member of the Parliament of Norway. A far-left revolutionary socialist, he was one of the leading members of the Workers' Communist Party and the Red Electoral Alliance before they merged to form Red...
and former party leader, Torstein Dahle
Torstein Dahle
Torstein Dahle is a Norwegian politician and economist. He works at the Bergen University College and represents Red in the city council of Bergen. Dahle was born in Oslo....
. The party's main principles are based on a socialist economy, including a strong public sector
Public sector
The public sector, sometimes referred to as the state sector, is a part of the state that deals with either the production, delivery and allocation of goods and services by and for the government or its citizens, whether national, regional or local/municipal.Examples of public sector activity range...
and nationalization
Nationalization
Nationalisation, also spelled nationalization, is the process of taking an industry or assets into government ownership by a national government or state. Nationalization usually refers to private assets, but may also mean assets owned by lower levels of government, such as municipalities, being...
of large businesses. Core issues also include the revolutionary socialist
Revolutionary socialism
The term revolutionary socialism refers to Socialist tendencies that advocate the need for fundamental social change through revolution by mass movements of the working class, as a strategy to achieve a socialist society...
goal for the workers to "take over the power", and the establishment of new legislature
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
s.
Red has slowly gained popularity, both on national and local levels, since the hay-days of the Red Electoral Alliance. The only counties the party has a chance of winning any seats are 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...
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...
. Red has 5 county council
County council (Norway)
A County Council is the highest governing body of the county municipalities in Norway. The county council sets the scope of the county municipal activity. The council is led by a chairman or county mayor...
representatives nationwide and 57 municipal representatives.
Ideology and positions
Red is a far-left party like both of its predecessors, the Red Electoral AllianceRed Electoral Alliance
Red Electoral Alliance was an alliance of left-wing groups formed into a Norwegian political party to promote revolutionary far-left ideals into the Norwegian parliament...
and the Workers' Communist Party
Workers' Communist Party (Norway)
The Workers' Communist Party was a Norwegian communist party . AKP was a maoist party and one of two communist parties in Norway; the other was the older Communist Party of Norway which has remained pro-Soviet. The relationship between the two parties was characterized by strong hostility.AKP was...
, which means that it favours the welfare state
Welfare state
A welfare state is a "concept of government in which the state plays a key role in the protection and promotion of the economic and social well-being of its citizens. It is based on the principles of equality of opportunity, equitable distribution of wealth, and public responsibility for those...
and high taxation upon the wealthy. Since its formation, notable groups have merged with the party, the most notable example of this being the Trotskyist International Socialists
International Socialists (Norway)
The International Socialists is a Trotskyist organisation in Norway founded in the early 1980s. It is part of the International Socialist Tendency led by the British Socialist Workers Party....
. The party consists of various internal factions, including the Trotskyists, Marxist-Leninists and far-left democratic socialists.
One of Red's important projects is protecting the Norwegian welfare state, calling for the government to spend 30-40 billion NOK
Norwegian krone
The krone is the currency of Norway and its dependent territories. The plural form is kroner . It is subdivided into 100 øre. The ISO 4217 code is NOK, although the common local abbreviation is kr. The name translates into English as "crown"...
s on the public sector
Public sector
The public sector, sometimes referred to as the state sector, is a part of the state that deals with either the production, delivery and allocation of goods and services by and for the government or its citizens, whether national, regional or local/municipal.Examples of public sector activity range...
to counter the financial crisis. Red politician Mimir Kristjansson claimed that the "right wing parties have proved their willingness to dismantle the very foundation of our welfare state". According to her, the socialist parties, along with the Norwegian Labour Party
Norwegian Labour Party
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Norway. It is the senior partner in the current Norwegian government as part of the Red-Green Coalition, and its leader, Jens Stoltenberg, is the current Prime Minister of Norway....
, need to be forced into a policy which strongly protects the welfare model for the weak.
After the Socialist Left Party
Socialist Left Party (Norway)
The Socialist Left Party or SV, is a Norwegian left-wing political party. At one point one of the smallest parties in Parliament, it became the fourth-largest political party in Norway for the first time in the 2001 parliamentary election, and has been so ever since...
became a member of the ruling Red-Green Coalition in 2009, the Norwegian media speculated that Red would manage to win enough votes to earn a seat in parliament. With the party promoting itself as revolutionary socialist, many believed it wanted to abolish the parliamentary system in Norway. When asked during a televised debate, Torstein Dahle
Torstein Dahle
Torstein Dahle is a Norwegian politician and economist. He works at the Bergen University College and represents Red in the city council of Bergen. Dahle was born in Oslo....
said the party would "retain" the current system of governance. After the announcement of the 2009 election
Norwegian parliamentary election, 2009
The 2009 parliamentary election was held in Norway on 14 September 2009. Elections in Norway are held on a Monday in September, usually the second or third Monday, as determined by the king. Early voting was possible between 10 August and 11 September 2009, while some municipalities held open...
results, turmoil grew within the party, with some members wanting the party to move ideologically closer to the Socialist Left Party.
Formation
Red was founded on March 7, 2007, in a merger of the Red Electoral AllianceRed Electoral Alliance
Red Electoral Alliance was an alliance of left-wing groups formed into a Norwegian political party to promote revolutionary far-left ideals into the Norwegian parliament...
and the Workers' Communist Party
Workers' Communist Party (Norway)
The Workers' Communist Party was a Norwegian communist party . AKP was a maoist party and one of two communist parties in Norway; the other was the older Communist Party of Norway which has remained pro-Soviet. The relationship between the two parties was characterized by strong hostility.AKP was...
. The two parties had shared the same history for decades, because the Workers' Communist Party founded the Red Electoral Alliance as a electoral party that would promote communist and socialist values. During the national convention
National Convention
During the French Revolution, the National Convention or Convention, in France, comprised the constitutional and legislative assembly which sat from 20 September 1792 to 26 October 1795 . It held executive power in France during the first years of the French First Republic...
held by the Red Electoral Alliance, a faction within the party stated it would support the merger of the two parties if any references to communism in the new party program would be removed.
During a secret meeting between the leading staff of both parties on March 5, a vote was held, with most members supporting the merger. The Workers' Communist Party was official dissolved in April 2007. During the party's first national convention
National Convention
During the French Revolution, the National Convention or Convention, in France, comprised the constitutional and legislative assembly which sat from 20 September 1792 to 26 October 1795 . It held executive power in France during the first years of the French First Republic...
, three names were considered: Red Choice, Solidarity and Red Cloth. When founded, the party saw it as its main mission to fill "the void" between it and the Red-Green Coalition. When talking about the party program, Torstein Dahle
Torstein Dahle
Torstein Dahle is a Norwegian politician and economist. He works at the Bergen University College and represents Red in the city council of Bergen. Dahle was born in Oslo....
said:
Dahle (2007–2010)
Torstein Dahle
Torstein Dahle is a Norwegian politician and economist. He works at the Bergen University College and represents Red in the city council of Bergen. Dahle was born in Oslo....
was unanimously elected party leader by members of the Workers' Communist Party and the Red Electoral Alliance in February 2007. This was met with criticism by outsiders, who claimed that Dahle would not be able to lead the party in a "new direction". The then leader of the Workers' Communist Party, Ingrid Baltzersen, was elected the party's Deputy Leader
Deputy Leader
A deputy leader in the Westminster system is the second-in-command of a political party, behind the party leader. Deputy leaders often become deputy prime minister when their parties are elected to government. In opposition, deputy leaders often lead Question Time sessions when the party leader is...
.
On July 23, 2007, Dahle became subject to media attention when he said that the Taliban and other Afghan rebels had the full right to fight Norwegian soldiers stationed in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. The attention occurred only days later with the death of a Norwegian army officer in the Logar Province as a Norwegian military unit came under hostile fire. Dahle later replied to the criticism, saying that he did not support the death of Norwegian military personnel.
When planning for the 2007 local elections
Norwegian local elections, 2007
Country-wide local elections for seats in municipality and county councils were held throughout Norway on September 10, 2007, with some areas polling on September 9 as well. For most places this meant that two elections, the municipal elections and the county elections ran concurrently...
, the party thought it had a realistic chance of gaining the mayorship in three municipalities. During the local elections, the party was forced to campaign under the banner of the Red Electoral Alliance, as the Election Committee
Election Committee (Parliament of Norway)
The Election Committee ) is a special committee of the Parliament of Norway. The 37 members are responsible for allocating the members of parliament in the various standing and special committees and to allocate the members of the presidium. The committee is also used to conduct elections....
had not approved its new name. During the 2007 local elections, Dahle said Red's core issues were:
Election researcher Bernt Aardal believed that Red would be able win votes from voters who usually voted for the Socialist Left Party
Socialist Left Party (Norway)
The Socialist Left Party or SV, is a Norwegian left-wing political party. At one point one of the smallest parties in Parliament, it became the fourth-largest political party in Norway for the first time in the 2001 parliamentary election, and has been so ever since...
. The reasoning behind this was that the Socialist Left became part of the ruling Red-Green Coalition, and would constantly need to make compromises with the two other parties in the coalition. When confronted with his research, he replied, "This is not a large voter group. We've looked at some polls in the past that RV would give the party one or two seats in Parliament. It is difficult to say whether the new party will make a difference."
After experiencing what many described as a bad election, Trond Andresen
Trond Andresen
Trond Andresen is a Norwegian academic, former communist politician, public writer and debater, broadcaster, and assistant professor of Cybernetics at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology . He served as a board member of NTNU 1999-2001, as an elected academic...
, a leading political figure within the party, resigned. He claimed the party was going in a downward spiral and would eventually meet the same fate as the Communist Party of Norway
Communist Party of Norway
The Communist Party of Norway is a political party in Norway without parliamentary representation. It was formed in 1923, following a split in the Norwegian Labour Party. The party played an important role in the resistance to German occupation during the Second World War, and experienced a brief...
if it did not renew its image. Among several known candidates that officially announced or were rumoured to be candidates for Party Leader are Bjørnar Moxnes, Mona Bjørn, Asgeir Drugli, Mimir Kristjansson and Ingeborg Steinholt
Ingeborg Steinholt
Ingeborg Haug Steinholt is a Norwegian politician for the Red Party, and since 2007 a member of Nordland County Council. Steinholt was a member of the Central Committee of Red Youth from 2006 to 2010. She was also a member of the Central Board of Directors of Red Youth.Steinholt was born in...
, among others.
Thomassen (2010–present)
Turid ThomassenTurid Thomassen
Turid Thomassen is a Norwegian politician who since 2010 has been the party leader of the Norwegian left-wing party Red following Torstein Dahle....
was voted in as party leader of Red in May 2010. Thomassen has long experience from both the Workers' Communist Party and the Red Electoral Alliance. The former leader of Red Youth (2004-2006), Bjørnar Moxnes, became deputy leader.
Youth programs
The party's youth wingYouth wing
A youth wing is a subsidiary, autonomous or independently-allied front of a larger organization that is formed in order to rally support and allegiance for that organization's campaigns from members and potential members of a younger age...
is Red Youth
Red Youth (Norway)
Red Youth is a Norwegian revolutionary youth league. It is the youth organization of the party Red and former Red Electoral Alliance and the Workers' Communist Party. The current leader of Red Youth is Iver Aastebøl.-Politics:...
, which was founded in 1963, preceding the foundations of the Red Electoral Alliance
Red Electoral Alliance
Red Electoral Alliance was an alliance of left-wing groups formed into a Norwegian political party to promote revolutionary far-left ideals into the Norwegian parliament...
and the Workers' Communist Party
Workers' Communist Party (Norway)
The Workers' Communist Party was a Norwegian communist party . AKP was a maoist party and one of two communist parties in Norway; the other was the older Communist Party of Norway which has remained pro-Soviet. The relationship between the two parties was characterized by strong hostility.AKP was...
. The current leader of the youth wing is Iver Aastebøl, who took office in 2010; his term ends in 2011. Red Youth was highly supportive of the merging of the Red Electoral Alliance and the Communist Party, with Sandra Johansen, leader of Red Youth in Brønnøysund claiming "it to have been difficult to be a youth party under two different parent parties."
In a widely publicized report, former Deputy Leader of the Red Electoral Alliance Marte Mjøs Persen left the party, believing there was a big generational gap between the older and younger members of Red. She further claimed that only the older members, who have their origins from the foundation of the Red Electoral Alliance and the Workers' Communist Party, controlled the party. Persen's statements were met with positive response by fellow party members and outsiders. Mathias Furevik, who had served as Dahle's campaign manager, agreed with her accusations. 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 Council representative, Stine Akre, reluctantly agreed with Persen's accusations and said; "Red is now a party for middle-aged men, and has not been able to get rid of the generation gap. It also means that many younger people will get burned out before they move the party's direction." Persen shortly after joined the Norwegian Labour Party
Norwegian Labour Party
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Norway. It is the senior partner in the current Norwegian government as part of the Red-Green Coalition, and its leader, Jens Stoltenberg, is the current Prime Minister of Norway....
.
Election history and polls
Norstat's February measurement for the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) showed Red rising with 6% in the Norwegian polls, meaning that they have 1.3% of the votes. In the 2007 county election Red won 2.1% of the votes. After the 2007 county elections, Knut Henning ThygesenKnut Henning Thygesen
Knut Henning Thygesen is a Norwegian author and politician for the Red Party. He was elected as mayor of Risør on 11 September 2007 in a direct mayor election as part of the 2007 municipal election with 44.5% of the votes...
became the party's first and only mayor elected through a direct mayor election in the municipal of Risør
Risør
is a city and municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. The city belongs to the traditional region of Sørlandet. It is a popular tourist place. The surrounding area includes many small lakes and hills, and is known for its beautiful coastline as well....
.
| Year | Result, County elections | Year | Result, Parliamentary elections |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 2.1% | 2009 Norwegian parliamentary election, 2009 The 2009 parliamentary election was held in Norway on 14 September 2009. Elections in Norway are held on a Monday in September, usually the second or third Monday, as determined by the king. Early voting was possible between 10 August and 11 September 2009, while some municipalities held open... |
1.3% |
External links
- Official website (in Norwegian)
- Red Youth Official website (in Norwegian)