Nivåmandater

Nivåmandater, also known as level mandates, are a type of political mandate in Norway that allows a political party to have a certain number of representatives in the Storting (Norwegian Parliament) based on the percentage of votes they receive in a national election. This system is designed to ensure proportional representation, meaning that the number of seats a party receives is roughly proportional to the number of votes it gets.

The term "nivåmandater" comes from the Norwegian word "nivå," which means "level." This reflects the idea that all parties are treated equally in terms of the number of seats they can receive, regardless of their size or historical influence.

The use of nivåmandater is a key feature of the Norwegian parliamentary system, which is known for its stability and consensus-building. It helps to prevent the dominance of any single party and encourages coalition governments, where multiple parties work together to form a majority.

The number of nivåmandater is determined by the total number of seats in the Storting and the percentage of votes a party receives. For example, if a party receives 10% of the votes, it would receive 10% of the total seats in the Storting.

Nivåmandater are not the only type of mandate in the Norwegian parliamentary system. In addition to nivåmandater, there are also district mandates, which are allocated based on the results of local elections. This dual system of mandates helps to ensure that both national and local interests are represented in the Storting.