høyresvinger

Høyresvinger is a Norwegian term with at least two widely used senses. It is composed from høyre (right) and svinge (to turn or swing). In everyday language, it refers to the act of turning a vehicle to the right, a common maneuver at intersections or when merging onto a right-hand road. In traffic planning, the term can also describe setups that facilitate such moves, for example dedicated right-turn lanes called høyresvingfelt, traffic signals that allow a controlled right turn, or restrictions on turning right at certain times. The plural form høyresvinger can denote multiple instances of right-turn movements or refer collectively to the concept of turning right in traffic.

In a political context, høyresvinger denotes a shift toward right-wing positions among voters or political actors. The term is used by journalists and scholars to describe realignments where parties alter policy emphasis, rhetoric, or coalition strategies in a way that moves away from the political center toward conservative or right-leaning stances. Such shifts can occur at national, regional, or local levels and may be influenced by electoral dynamics, issue salience, or changes in leadership.

The meaning is highly context-dependent: in transport discussions it concerns vehicle maneuvering, while in political discourse it concerns ideological or coalition-oriented realignment. The term is part of Norwegian political and everyday language and is understood in both senses, though care should be taken not to confuse the two in mixed contexts.