"We want to build a society with responsible and value- oriented people serving each other."
The years of Nazi occupation during World War 2 caused interest among the voters for policies based on Christian values. KrF gained nation wide support in 1945 in the first elections after the war, winning 8 seats in the Parliament.
KrF became part of a short-lived non-socialist coalition government along with Høyre (Conservative Party), Venstre (Liberal Party) and Senterpartiet (Centre Party) in 1963. At the elections of 1965, these four parties won a majority of seats in the Parliament and ruled in a coalition government from 1965 to 1971.
KrF opposed Norwegian membership in the European Community ahead of the referendum in 1972. The referendum gave a no-vote, and when the pro-EC Labour government resigned, a coalition government was formed among the anti-EC parties, KrF, Venstre and Senterpartiet. Lars Korvald became KrF's first prime minister for a year, until the elections of 1973.
In the 1970s the debates over abortion became increasingly important, and KrF experienced the party's best election results until then with more than 12 percents of the votes.
During the 1980s KrF also showed the party's ability to cooperate with other parties. From 1983 to 1986, and from 1989 to 1990 KrF was part of coalitions with the Høyre and Senterpartiet.
In the 1990s KrF worked hard on opening the party and to show that the party's core issues could have an appeal among larger groups of voters. In 1997 the party achieved its best result ever, with 13,7 percents of the votes and 25 members of Parliament.
After the elections KrF formed a government with Venstre and Senterpartiet, lead by the party's former leader Kjell Magne Bondevik. After two and a half years the centrist government resigned because it refused to accept that a majority in Parliament wanted to build polluting gas-fired power plants. It was the first time a Norwegian government resigned on an environmental issue.
In the elections in 2001 KrF received 12,4 percents of the votes. This time KrF formed a centre-right government with the Høyre and Venstre, with Kjell Magne Bondevik returning as Prime Minister.
In the 2005 elections KrF obtained 6,8 percents of the votes and 11 members of Parliament. The party is now in opposition.
The present party leader is Dagfinn Hoeybraaten.
(Party home page)
Rolleiv Solholm
On September 14th there will be elections to the Norwegian Parliament (Storting) and to the Sami Assembly in Norway. The Norway Post will try to present information and comments. Today: The Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti - KrF):