Leader of the Conservative
Party Erna Solberg Steps Down
Erna Solberg announced today that she is stepping down as leader of the Conservative Party after more than two decades at the helm. She will remain in parliament, while the party moves to select her successor at its national convention in February.
September 12, 2025 | NORWEGIAN POLITICS
Image of Erna Solberg from Høyre
Many have long expected Solberg to step down; today she did. Some will say it comes too late—that the Conservative Party and the right wing might have regained power had she left earlier.
Her press conference today underscored a familiar pattern from previous crises in her leadership: not humility, but a sense of entitlement—that it was her decision and that now, not earlier, was the right time to step down.
Solberg still has four years left in parliament, even as she plans to step down as party leader after the national convention in February. Former prime ministers often secure top international posts; whether Solberg will receive such offers remains to be seen. It appears doubtful. Had a strong offer arrived after she and the Conservatives were not re-elected in 2021, she likely would not have held on to her party position for so long.
In any case, it is not healthy for political parties or democracy when leaders remain in place for decades; Solberg has been party leader since 2004. Solberg’s legacy will be marked by the fact that she clung on after both electoral defeat and a conflict-of-interest scandal.
This development is positive for the party. Attention now turns to the succession process, with many capable politicians and credible candidates to choose from.
SOURCES
Content on Society and Politics is based on reliable sources and actual events, providing a news-oriented perspective intented for further debate. To access the article’s author and the related debate, membership on Hudd is required.
