The Centre Party in Norway is leaving the coalition government, confirms Centre Party leader Trygve Slagsvold Vedum to VG. This means he will also be leaving his post as Finance Minister.
We're saying that enough is enough, this is the limit, he says.
The reason is reportedly deep disagreements over the EU's fourth energy package. The Labour Party (Ap) has partially wanted to adopt the package, which coalition partner the Centre Party (Sp) has said no to.
Støre disappointed
Labour Party leader and Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Ap) cancelled his other commitments on Thursday due to the crisis. But when the party leaders met, they could not find a common way forward.
This is not the outcome I had wished for. I had hoped that the Centre Party would continue in the government, says Støre at a press conference.
The cooperation and friendship in the government have been strong.
Jonas Gahr Støre and Vedum are said to have made the decision at a lunch meeting today.
We're doing this to change Norway's electricity policy and create a dynamic where we can take measures that can give us lower and stable electricity prices in Norway. We will not give up more power to the EU, says Trygve Slagsvold Vedum to VG.
Want to keep Støre
The Social Democratic Labour Party could continue to govern Norway – but then as a single governing party in a minority position, according to NTB. The Centre Party believes it is natural that Støre continues as Norway's Prime Minister, says Marit Arnstad, Sp's group leader in the parliament, at a press conference.
We will be a factual and constructive opposition party, but we will be completely clear that we want a change in electricity and energy policy, she says according to NTB.
Even Norway's former Prime Minister and Conservative leader Erna Solberg has commented on Thursday's news:
Norway will now get a weakened government, but with exactly the same policy as before, she says to NTB about the collapse of the coalition government.
The next election to the parliament is to be held in September.
