Nordic

Background

Norway heads to the polls on September 7-8, 2025, in a closely fought general election that could reshape both domestic economic policy, as well as the wider European energy landscape. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store’s Labour Party, in power since 2021, seeks to extend its rule after eight years of Conservative-led governments. Labour governs as a minority with backing from both the Socialist Left and Centre Party.

What Happened?

The election places the centre-left bloc led by the Labour Party against the centre right, dominated by the populist Progress Party and Conservatives.

Inequality and taxation top the list of Nordic voter concerns, followed by cost of living pressures, job security, and food price inflation (5.9% over the past calendar year).

Labour promises stable taxes, though allies push for higher rates on the wealthy; Conservatives and Progress advocate deep tax cuts across all income levels.

The campaign has also been shaped by debates surrounding Norway’s $2 trillion sovereign wealth fund, oil and gas exploration, and power exports to Europe.

Why It Matters:

Norway is Europe’s leading gas supplier, replacing Russia after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The election outcome could determine whether new oil and gas fields are opened or restricted, with consequences for both domestic revenues and Europe’s energy security. In addition, political control over the sovereign wealth fund could reshape debates about Nordic investments, including calls from the Socialist Left to divest from companies with links to Israel’s actions in Gaza. Energy policy and fiscal direction will not only shape Norway’s future but also ripple across the European Union, where stability of gas flows and power exports are closely monitored and viewed as a key commodity.

Stakeholder Reactions:

Socialist Left Party: Urgently demands divestments tied to Israel’s war in Gaza as a condition for backing the Labour Party in the next government if they were to emerge victorious.

Labour Party: Rejected the demand but may face pressure to revisit it post-election depending on both the landscape of the Gaza conflict and overall party productivity in regards to addressing the concerns of the everyday Nordic citizen.

Smaller Parties (Liberals, Greens): Deeply divided on oil exploration, some pushing for expansion with controls to ensure domestic revenue inflows, others calling for tighter restrictions or eventual phase-outs to become a greener economy.

EU observers: Undoubtedly watching closely as Norway debates limiting electricity exports, which would breach single market rules established by the Union.

What’s Next/

Election days: September 7-8, with polls closing September 8th at 1900 GMT.

Results: Early exit polls expected the same evening; final outcome could possibly take until September 9th to be announced.

Likely Scenarios: A continued Labour-led minority government, or a centre-right coalition led by Conservatives or Progress Party.

Wider Implications: Coalition negotiations will decide Norway’s position on tax policy, sovereign wealth fund investments, oil and gas exploration, and electricity exports, with consequences for both domestic voters and European partners.

With information from Reuters

NORDIC citizens have been provided with terrifying war survival guides as nations on Putin’s doorstep brace for World War Three.

On Monday, millions of pamphlets landed in Swedish homes eerily titled: “If Crisis or War Comes,” while other nations issue their own chilling advice to fearful citizens.

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Stockholm has warned of what they call the worsening security situation – otherwise known as Russia’s bloody invasion of Ukraine – and urged Swedes to prepare for conflict.

Meanwhile neighbouring Finland have published its own chilling advice online to prepare “for incidents and crises”.

In a scarily detailed section on military conflict, the digital brochure describes how the government and president would respond in the event of an armed attack.

The Finnish brochure stressed that its authorities are “well prepared for self defence”.

Norwegians also received a pamphlet urging residents to know how to manage on their own for a week in the event of extreme weather – or war.

In summer, Denmark‘s emergency management agency put out a warning to Danish adults detailing the water, food and medicine necessary to get through three days of crisis.

Sweden and Finland recently gave up neutrality to join Nato after witnessing the atrocities Putin has unleashed in Ukraine since 2022.

Norway was a founding member of the Western defensive alliance on the other hand.

While Sweden and Norway have not shied away from warning residents of war via pamphlet, Finland’s Helsinki government decided not to print a copy for each home.

This is not because the fear isn’t prevalent, but because printing so many “would cost millions” while a digital version could be updated easier.

Tore Kamfjord at the Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection said: “We have sent out 2.2 million paper copies, one for each household in Norway”.

The long list of items to be kept a home include tins of beans, energy bars and pasta.

In the case of a nuclear attack, iodine tablets have even been terrifyingly added to the list of medicines.

Norway’s Oslo sent out an earlier version back in 2018, which Kamfjord alluded was brought on by extreme weather events like floods and landslides – not war.

Swedes have long received civil emergency booklets, with the first edition named “If War Comes” produced during World War Two before getting an update during the Cold War.

But one terrifying message has been moved from the middle of the booklet further to the front.

It reads: “If Sweden is attacked by another country, we will never give up. All information to the effect that resistance is to cease is false.”

And another piece of advice from the guide explains how to respond to an attack with nuclear, chemical or biological weapons.

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It warns: “Take cover in the same way as with an airstrike.

“Shelters provide the best protection. After a couple days, the radiation has decreased sharply.”

Sweden has slowly brought down its defence since the Second World War, but has made sharp increased since Russia’s invasion on Ukraine.

Finland meanwhile has kept its guard up for decades due to its long border with Russia and its horrific history with the Soviet Union in World War Two that scarred the republic.

Finnish residents have been forced to reflect on how they would cope without power for numerous days on end in deadly winter temperatures of -20C.

Like Norway, Finnish residents’ checklist also includes iodine tablets in the case of nuclear disaster.

The Nordic countries all urge people to stockpile drinking water, canned food, medicine, heating, toilet paper, money and flashlights and candles – and, if possible, keep the car fully refuelled.

The Baltics have also been preparing for a future Russian invasion.

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania signed an agreement in January this year to create a joint defence line to protect each other against any future attacks from Russia.

And in June, Europe looked to build a giant 1,500 mile defensive line to protect itself from a chilling Vladimir Putin invasion.

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Poland and the Baltics planned to create the £2.2billion blockade to keep Russia from advancing through the continent as the threat of WW3 looms.

It comes as Volodymyr Zelensky issued a stark warning to his foe Vladimir Putin as he told the tyrant: “Missiles will speak for themselves”.

Joe Biden has long snubbed Ukrainian leader Zelensky‘s pleas for Western-supplied weapons to be used on Russian turf – fearing an escalation in the war.

But it is understood the US president has given the green light just two months before he exits the White House.

American-supplied ATACMS missiles could first be used against Russian and North Korean troops in Kursk before being used against other targets.

Zelensky today said: “There’s a lot of talk in the media about us receiving permission for respective actions.

“But strikes are not carried out with words. Such things are not announced. Missiles will speak for themselves.”

Unnamed US officials said Kyiv plans to unleash its first long-range strikes in the coming days.

But with Donald Trump due to take over as president in two months, it is unclear whether he will uphold his predecessor’s policy.

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