Guri Melby, the leader of the Norwegian political party Venstre, firmly stated during an extraordinary national meeting that her party will not support Sylvi Listhaug, the leader of the Progress Party (Frp), in her bid for the prime minister position. This announcement comes in the wake of the election campaign, where Venstre emphasized their preference for former Prime Minister Erna Solberg, indicating a clear political stance against Listhaug. Melby addressed the need for transparency in their party’s position regarding leadership support.

Melby elaborated that the lack of clarity during the election campaign about who Venstre would not support led to misunderstandings, which necessitated a strong statement to ensure that their stance against Listhaug is well understood. The comment underscores the moderate position of the Venstre party within Norway's political landscape, particularly in relation to the more right-wing policies of Listhaug and the Frp. The extraordinary national meeting, held digitally, primarily aims to choose a new deputy leader, with Ingvild Wetrhus Thorsvik being the leading candidate.

The implications of this decision could reshape the future collaborations within Norway's governmental structure, especially as political alliances shift with changing public sentiments. By distancing themselves from Listhaug and Frp, Venstre seeks to solidify its identity as a centrist or left-leaning party, which may attract voters who are wary of more extreme right-wing politics, while simultaneously affirming their commitment to collaborative politics with other parties they deem more aligned with their values.