Norway's Labor party back as leader

OSLO, Norway, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- Norway's Labor is back as the dominant party, ahead of the Progress party in the ruling coalition of Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, says a poll.

The November opinion poll done by Norstat for Norwegian Broadcasting, NRK, showed Labor picking up 1.7 percentage points for the month to reach 28.6 percent, while the Progress party gave up 4.2 points to 27.7 percent, Aftenposten reported Thursday.

Stoltenberg attributed Labor's strength to the coalition making good on election promises.

"Opinion polls will swing for the FrP, just like for all other parties. What counts is that the FrP represents asocial and irresponsible policies," he said.

Progress leader Siv Jensen said he did not think the ratings were affected by any negative publicity from the publication of a biography by Eli Hagen, wife of former party leader Carl Hagen.

"It could be down to chance, but it could also be that just now the people think the government is doing a good job," he said.