Avklaringsrundene

Avklaringsrundene are informal rounds of clarifications conducted among Norwegian party leaders and negotiators after elections to determine whether a viable government can be formed and to outline main policy areas and red lines before formal coalition negotiations. They are distinct from formal negotiations and are intended to reduce uncertainty by mapping possible common ground and major obstacles.

The rounds are typically initiated by the parties involved or by the sitting prime minister and may be held in private sessions, sometimes with outside mediators or advisers. Participants usually include party leaders or designated negotiators from the parties that won seats, along with relevant government staff.

Topics covered in avklaringsrundene include core policy areas such as the economy, taxation, welfare, immigration, climate and energy, and justice matters, as well as questions about cabinet portfolios and how influence might be distributed. The aim is to produce a clearer picture of potential cooperation and to identify significant hurdles that would prevent forming a government.

The outcome of avklaringsrundene is not binding. They can lead to a formal coalition negotiation if a viable majority emerges, a decision to pursue a minority or confidence-and-supply arrangement, or, in some cases, a conclusion that cooperation is unlikely and that alternative electoral strategies should be pursued, potentially including new elections.

In practice, avklaringsrundene are a standard step in the Norwegian parliamentary process when a new government is to be formed. They help reduce uncertainty and provide direction for subsequent negotiations.