Nyval

Nyval is a term used in several Scandinavian languages to denote a general election held earlier than its regular date, commonly understood in English as a “new election” or “snap election.” The concept describes a political process in which elections are called ahead of the normal electoral cycle, typically in response to a government crisis, a deadlock in the legislature, or a loss of confidence that makes governing infeasible. The exact procedures and legal triggers for nyval differ by country.

Etymology and usage vary by language, but the core idea is the same: nyval combines a word for “new” with a word for “election.” Spelling and frequency of use differ across Norwegian, Danish, and Swedish, reflecting each country’s constitutional rules and political vocabulary. In English-language reporting, the term is usually translated as “new elections” or “snap elections.”

Mechanically, nyval is not universally automatic. In parliamentary systems, a government often needs a constitutional authority or parliamentary majority to dissolve parliament and call early elections, or such a dissolution may be permitted only under specific time windows or by legal procedures. Factors prompting nyval include severe political deadlock, a vote of no confidence, or a significant loss of support for the governing coalition as seen in contemporary Nordic political discourse.

See also: general elections, snap election, parliamentary dissolution, constitutional crisis.