PES

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The PES congratulates Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and the Norwegian Labour Party for their victory in yesterday’s national elections.

“I am delighted by this result”, said PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen. “I am delighted to see that the Norwegian people saw through a fear-mongering campaign of the Right, and trusted Jens Stoltenberg again.”

“As in other contests in Europe, our social-democratic allies in Norway had to face conservative opponents who tried to put communities at loggerheads. This victory more than others is a victory of solidarity over discord, and hope over fear.”

“Many tend to forget that Norway was also affected by the economic crisis. Norwegian voters did not. Labour had, and still has, the best policies for stimulating the economy and protecting jobs, and they saw that clearly”, added Rasmussen.

Looking forward to a series of elections in Germany, Portugal and Greece, Rasmussen said “The result in Norway could be the first sign of the winds beginning to shift in Europe. Support is growing for Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Germany, George Papandreou’s PASOK looks set to overturn the conservative government in Greece, and there is still everything to fight for in Portugal for the Socialists of José Sócrates.”