Seher Aydar
I think there are two main reasons. The first reason is that, even though many other countries see Norway as a kind of social democratic paradise, it is not. Of course, the situation is much better than in many other countries, even in Europe, but still you see class differences. The rich are not only getting richer, they also want more political power, and donate to right-wing parties to get it. I think people want to change this constellation, and for many of them, that means supporting our party, which has had a laser focus on economic equality since its founding.
People are also noticing rising food prices. In Norway, two family-owned companies control 70 percent of all grocery stores. People see these inequalities and think: okay, here is a party that wants to work for working-class people, even those who cannot work anymore. I think Norwegians are becoming more aware of inequality and want change, which is why I think — and hope — that we will achieve a better result this year than four years ago.
Even though many other countries see Norway as a kind of social democratic paradise, it is not. The situation is much better than in many other countries, but still you see class differences.
The second major factor, I think, is the ongoing genocide in Gaza, which is a big issue in Norway. Solidarity with the Palestinian people has always been important for our party, but especially now. A lot of people want to stand with Palestinians and want Norway to do more, and they are therefore choosing parties that support Palestine.
Auteur: Seher Aydar
