STAVANGER, Norway (AP) – Norway’s upcoming election has sparked a wide-ranging debate about national values, leaving voters wrestling with how close the Nordic country should be to the European Union and what its responsibilities are toward migrants and asylum-seekers.
While Britain looks to Norway for inspiration as it prepares for Brexit, some in Oslo see the U.K. as a model for severing ties to the 28-nation EU altogether. This populist position is gaining traction as Norway’s left-wing Labor party and the right-wing Conservatives look to forge ties with smaller partners to gain a thin parliamentary majority.
Both main parties are losing support, casting in doubt the direction of the dominant oil and gas business and creating a fight about Norwegian values.
All seats in the 169-member Parliament are up for grabs in Monday’s vote.