Norway’s Ruling Party Suffers Setback, Hopes to Stay in Power

OSLO —  Norwegians on Monday dealt the governing Labor Party its worst election setback since World War II, according to partial returns, but Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland indicated that she will fight to stay on.

That would force the opposition to try to oust her in a no-confidence vote when the new Parliament convenes Oct. 2.

According to projections from nearly 76% of the ballots cast, Labor lost 7.5% of the support it won in 1985 elections to wind up Monday with 33.3% of the vote.

Labor was hurt by record unemployment and widespread discontent with public services but remains the largest party in this country of 4.2 million people. Norway has been under welfare state policies for 40 years.

Clear weather encouraged a good turnout of the 3.2 million eligible voters.

Non-socialist parties, which retained a combined majority, said they will try to smooth over differences to form a coalition. Bargaining could take weeks.

Brundtland, 50, a U.S.-trained doctor who specialized in public health and who has governed with a parliamentary minority for the last three years, said Monday that the situation was unchanged, implying that she could continue in office.

Final results may not be known until Wednesday because of a new election system that adds eight seats to the old 157-member Storting, or Parliament.