Reform Party (Norway, 1974)
Encyclopedia
The Reform Party was a short-lived political party in Norway
. The party was founded in 1974 by "moderate" defectors from the Anders Lange's Party
. Led by Carl I. Hagen
, the party merged back into ALP already in 1975, after Hagen as Anders Lange's
Deputy was inserted as a Member of Parliament following Lange's sudden death.
and others who broke away from Anders Lange's Party
. They claimed Lange of being an "extremist", unwilling to take political responsibility following his consistent refusal of political moderation and to establish a political program. When Anders Lange
died later in 1974, Hagen as Lange's deputy became a regular Member of Parliament, and thus gave the Reform Party parliamentary representation.
In opinion polls in January and February 1975, the Reform Party saw its support at 0.4%. On 13 May 1975, the party was split after Almås had been thrown as party chairman by the party board, and in turn reorganised the party under an "interim board" with himself as party chairman. Hagen responded by stating that he held control of the party finances and its membership rolls counting 700 members. On 26 May 1975, Hagen reconciled with his former party, and merged the Reform Party back into ALP at a meeting with the party's parliamentary leader Erik Gjems-Onstad
.
In January 1976, Almås complained that Hagen almost single-handedly had made a deal to merge into ALP, and that the "new board" had come together and issued a demand for Hagen to return the party's membership roll. Hagen in turn maintained the legitimacy of the party's merger with ALP. On 26 October 1976, Almås withdrew from his position as party chairman (although he remained a member), as well as politics in its entirety, as he claimed to have been subject to massive harassment as a result of "incorrect" coverage of the events surrounding the party by the mass media
. On 19 January 1977, the party secretary, Peter N. Myhre
, announced that he also withdrew from his position, after a meeting intended to solve the crisis in the party (where 17 members showed up) only resulted in quarrels and name-calling.
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...
. The party was founded in 1974 by "moderate" defectors from the Anders Lange's 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...
. Led by Carl I. Hagen
Carl I. Hagen
Carl Ivar Hagen is a Norwegian politician and former Vice President of the Norwegian Parliament. He was the chairman of the Progress Party from 1978 until 2006, when Siv Jensen replaced him as chairman of the party...
, the party merged back into ALP already in 1975, after Hagen as Anders Lange's
Anders Lange
Anders Sigurd Lange was a Norwegian politician and the eponymous founder of the political party Anders Lange's Party . He was a charismatic right-wing public speaker who objected to high taxes, state-regulations and public bureaucracy.Lange has been described as a man who went his own ways...
Deputy was inserted as a Member of Parliament following Lange's sudden death.
History
The Reform Party was founded in Voksenåsen on 31 August 1974 by Kristofer Almås, Deputy Member of Parliament Carl I. HagenCarl I. Hagen
Carl Ivar Hagen is a Norwegian politician and former Vice President of the Norwegian Parliament. He was the chairman of the Progress Party from 1978 until 2006, when Siv Jensen replaced him as chairman of the party...
and others who broke away from Anders Lange's 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...
. They claimed Lange of being an "extremist", unwilling to take political responsibility following his consistent refusal of political moderation and to establish a political program. When Anders Lange
Anders Lange
Anders Sigurd Lange was a Norwegian politician and the eponymous founder of the political party Anders Lange's Party . He was a charismatic right-wing public speaker who objected to high taxes, state-regulations and public bureaucracy.Lange has been described as a man who went his own ways...
died later in 1974, Hagen as Lange's deputy became a regular Member of Parliament, and thus gave the Reform Party parliamentary representation.
In opinion polls in January and February 1975, the Reform Party saw its support at 0.4%. On 13 May 1975, the party was split after Almås had been thrown as party chairman by the party board, and in turn reorganised the party under an "interim board" with himself as party chairman. Hagen responded by stating that he held control of the party finances and its membership rolls counting 700 members. On 26 May 1975, Hagen reconciled with his former party, and merged the Reform Party back into ALP at a meeting with the party's parliamentary leader 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...
.
In January 1976, Almås complained that Hagen almost single-handedly had made a deal to merge into ALP, and that the "new board" had come together and issued a demand for Hagen to return the party's membership roll. Hagen in turn maintained the legitimacy of the party's merger with ALP. On 26 October 1976, Almås withdrew from his position as party chairman (although he remained a member), as well as politics in its entirety, as he claimed to have been subject to massive harassment as a result of "incorrect" coverage of the events surrounding the party by the mass media
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
. On 19 January 1977, the party secretary, Peter N. Myhre
Peter N. Myhre
Peter Nicolai Myhre is a Norwegian politician for the Progress Party.-Early life and career:Myhre is the son of tobacco merchant Gunnar Peter Myhre and Gunhold Nordlid. He married Marie Françoise Millou in 1985. He graduated from upper secondary school in 1973, attended military academy in 1974,...
, announced that he also withdrew from his position, after a meeting intended to solve the crisis in the party (where 17 members showed up) only resulted in quarrels and name-calling.