Norway campaign donations have reached a record NOK 265 million (€22.5 million) since the 2025 election cycle began, surpassing the previous high of NOK 200 million (€17.0 million) set in 2021, according to new figures compiled by the University of Bergen’s Department of Comparative Politics (Institutt for sammenliknande politikk).
Record fundraising reshapes the campaign finance landscape
The latest tally indicates a structural shift in party funding. The Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) has attracted over NOK 60 million (about €5.1 million) as a single party. Yet, in aggregate, the centre‑right bloc leads with NOK 135 million (≈€11.5 million), against NOK 125 million (≈€10.6 million) for the red‑green parties. Researcher Ruben Berge Mathisen, who compiled the statistics, noted:
“The donations are entirely legal, but it is important to recognise that they break with the democratic principle of political equality.”
Calls grow for donation caps across parties
The surge in political donations has reignited debate over limits. Rødt (Red Party) recently joined Senterpartiet (Centre Party) in proposing ceilings of NOK 100,000 (€8,500) for individuals and NOK 1 million (€85,000) for organisations.
Supporters argue caps would temper the influence of wealthy donors and align Norway with stricter campaign finance norms in parts of Europe. Critics counter that caps are easily circumvented via third‑party campaigning and independent groups.
New rules on anonymous donors from 1 July
Norway’s revised party finance law now bans anonymous donations and tightens transparency around contributions, including those channelled via organisations.
The reform, effective 1 July 2025, aims to strengthen disclosure and reduce the risk of undue influence. It follows a series of high‑profile cases that sharpened scrutiny of funding flows during the campaign.
Big cheques, small thresholds: who is giving, and why it matters
Large individual donors and networks have stepped forward across the spectrum. On the centre‑right, high‑net‑worth contributors have boosted Høyre (Conservatives), Frp (Progress Party) and KrF (Christian Democrats)—the latter benefiting from a coordinated “million‑collection.”
On the centre‑left, the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) continues to play a prominent role, allocating significant support to Labour and allied parties. Observers warn that escalating third‑party spending on social media—some of it from opaque actors—can amplify narratives at low cost and blur accountability.
Why Norway campaign donations surged in 2024–25
Three drivers stand out:
- a competitive electoral map where small swings could decide government formation;
- the professionalisation of digital campaigning, which attracts targeted funding;
- anticipatory giving tied to policy stakes such as wealth taxation and labour regulation.
Together, these factors have pushed fundraising to unprecedented levels while intensifying calls for stricter disclosure and spending rules.
What to watch next
Parliament is expected to assess whether current transparency rules sufficiently cover indirect support (events, travel, in‑kind services) and platform advertising. If parties coalesce around donation caps after the vote, Norway could move closer to EU‑style frameworks that restrict large gifts while preserving small‑donor participation.
For Nordic and EU observers, the Norwegian case will test how a traditionally low‑cost, high‑trust political system adapts to the pressures of modern campaign finance.
