Free Republic

On September 11th, Norwegians head to the polls to elect a new government and parliament. A few days ahead of the vote, wildly diverging poll numbers have left experts, voters and politicians bewildered.

Norwegian centre-right leader Erna Solberg is set to form a new government after Labour Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg admitted election defeat. Ms Solberg described her win as "a historic election victory for the right-wing parties". Her Conservative Party is widely expected to form a government with the anti-immigration Progress Party. It is oil-rich Norway's first general election since attacks by a far-right extremist left 77 people dead in 2011.

Progress Party brochure sparks racism charges Reactions were swift and strong after the populist Progress Party's new election campaign brochure appeared, its cover featuring a man wearing a balaclava and brandishing a shotgun alongside the quote: "The perpetrator is of foreign origin ...!" The Fr.P brochure proclaiming that the perpetrator is of foreigner origin has been predictably controversial. "For the Fr. P (Progress Party) a stricter immigration policy and a stricter crime policy is about safety. ... Safety for people to walk the streets without fear of being raped or robbed," the brochure reads, and the Fr.P argues they have...