A renewed debate over surrogacy in Norway is stirring deep divisions within the right-wing Fremskrittspartiet (Progress Party, Frp), after a moving personal story by parliamentary candidate Bjørn-Kristian Svendsrud took center stage at the party’s annual convention. The controversial issue has reopened ideological and ethical rifts, with party leader Sylvi Listhaug warning that Norway is heading “completely in the wrong direction.”
Personal story sparks calls for change
In an emotionally charged speech, Svendsrud shared how he and his partner became parents to a young boy through surrogacy. Initially, a relative offered to carry the child, but Norwegian law made that impossible. “She wanted to help us,” he told the assembly at Gardermoen, “but this was not allowed. It is prohibited.”
Svendsrud’s story moved several delegates and catalyzed a broader push among younger and liberal-minded party members to support a legal framework for altruistic surrogacy within Norway.
A question of freedom and fairness
Frp politician Lill Harriet Sandaune backed Svendsrud’s proposal, adding another poignant case: that of Anja, a young woman who survived cervical cancer but lost her ability to carry children. Despite having her eggs preserved at St. Olavs Hospital, she cannot access surrogacy because she is not in a same-sex relationship, and her sisters are legally barred from helping.
“Is that really freedom?” Sandaune asked, as she urged delegates to consider reforms. “The world has changed, and so should our laws.”
Party leader pushes back on ethical grounds
Despite growing internal support, party leader Sylvi Listhaug issued a strong warning against opening up to surrogacy. She raised concerns about potential coercion and exploitation:
“People are in very different life situations, and some may feel pressured to make decisions they later regret.”
Listhaug cited the Norwegian Biotechnology Advisory Board’s recommendation against surrogacy and stressed that allowing any form of payment could fundamentally alter the nature of parenthood and women’s rights: “It breaks with the principle that the woman who gives birth is the mother.”
Internal divisions culminate in policy shift
Despite internal disagreement, the Progress Party (Frp) has now officially voted in favor of allowing surrogacy in Norway. This marks a historic shift in the party’s stance, overriding opposition from leader Sylvi Listhaug, who reiterated her concerns about undue pressure on surrogate mothers and supported maintaining the current ban, aligning with the Norwegian Biotechnology Advisory Board.
Nonetheless, voices like Bjørn-Kristian Svendsrud prevailed. “It’s clearly an ethical challenge for many, and I deeply respect that. But I believe it’s fully possible to regulate surrogacy within safe and responsible frameworks in a country like Norway,” he said.
Surrogacy in Norway: legal status and future outlook
Commercial and altruistic surrogacy are both currently banned in Norway. While individuals often travel abroad to arrange surrogacy, domestic options are unavailable and legally restricted. Critics argue this discriminates against those without financial means, while supporters of the ban cite ethical and feminist concerns.
The renewed push from Frp’s liberal wing reflects broader debates across Europe about reproductive rights, family diversity, and medical ethics. Should the party vote to support surrogacy, it would mark a significant shift in conservative politics in Norway—and could influence broader legislative reform in the coming years.
