The Labour Party (AP), the Centre Party (SP) and the left-wing party Rødt announced on Saturday evening that they have agreed on a joint proposal – after several weeks of negotiations.
Among other things, they have agreed to allocate more money to municipalities and regions, increase staffing in preschools, and provide an emergency aid package to Gaza.
But the three parties lack a majority in the Storting.
The Green Party MDG chose to withdraw from the negotiations earlier on Saturday. According to information to NRK, the SP has managed to get an original proposal to increase petrol and diesel taxes deleted.
The clock is ticking
MDG leader Arild Hermstad used a biblically inspired Norwegian expression to describe that the party was about to be forced to make too many compromises on its profile issues:
"Not enough is being done for the climate, there are too many camels to swallow here," he said on Saturday afternoon.
The Labor Party now has just under a week to secure enough support to avoid a government crisis – on Friday, the Storting will vote on the budget.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre does not seem to have given up hope of still getting the MDG on board.
Our goal is still to secure a majority for the budget on our side of the political spectrum, he says.
Sawn from the right
The fifth party on the red-green side, the Socialist Left Party (SV), also does not support Saturday's proposal. But the party is open to negotiations.
"If Ap has the will to compromise, we can achieve a budget for welfare, the environment and more solidarity with Palestine," writes SV leader Kirsti Bergstø in a written comment to NTB.
Høyre leader Erna Solberg has taken the initiative to present a budget proposal that lacks a majority.
"I have been involved in Norwegian politics for a long time and have experienced many strange things, but this is embarrassing for the Labour Party," she writes in a comment to NTB.
