Members of Parliament from five separate political parties are behind a proposal to change Norway’s constitution by phasing out the monarchy. They claim that it’s “unfair” for powerful positions to be inherited, and they want to change Norway’s form of government to a republic.
Proposals to end the monarchy regularly come up in Norway but never get much support in a country where more than 70 percent of the population supports it. The monarch’s actual power is limited and viewed mostly as a ceremonial but unifying force.
News bureau NTB reported that the latest proposal to end the monarchy has come from MP Solfrid Lerbrekk of the Socialist Left party (SV). It’s been supported by her SV colleague Kari Elisabeth Kaski along with Anette Trettebergstuen, Åsmund Aukrust and Torstein Tvedt Solberg from the Labour Party.
Several MPs from the non-socialist side of Norwegian politics have also backed the proposal, including Heidi Nordby Lunde of the Conserveratives, Sivert Bjørnstad of the Progress Party and Trine Skei Grande, Ketil Kjenseth and Jon Gunnes of the Liberal Party.
Lerbekk defended her proposal on the grounds that a monarchy “is not very democratic and doesn’t suit a modern society.”
Parliament, meanwhile, was set to be formally opened by Crown Prince Haakon acting as regent on Friday, in absence of his father King Harald V, who remains out on sick leave.
newsinenglish.no staff
