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Christian Democratic Party of Norway

Christian Democratic Party
Kristelig Folkeparti
Abbreviation KrF
Leader Knut Arild Hareide
Parliamentary leader Knut Arild Hareide
Founded 4 September 1933
Headquarters Øvre Slottsgate 18–20
0154 Oslo
Youth wing Young Christian Democrats
Membership 25,000 (2012)
Ideology Christian democracy
Social conservatism
Euroscepticism
Political position Centre
to Centre-right
European affiliation European People's Party (observer)
International affiliation Centrist Democrat International
Colours Yellow
Storting
10 / 169
County Councils
46 / 728
Municipal / City Councils
621 / 10,781
Sami Parliament
0 / 39
Website
www.krf.no

The Christian Democratic Party (Bokmål: Kristelig Folkeparti, Nynorsk: Kristeleg Folkeparti, KrF), is a Christian democraticpolitical party in Norway founded in 1933. The Norwegian name literally translates to Christian People's Party, shortened KrF. The name may also be translated as "The People's Christian Party".

The party follow their European counterparts in many ways, positioning themselves as a family-friendly party. While founded on the basis of advocating moral-cultural Christian issues, the party has broadened its political profile over time, although Christian values remains its core distinction. It is considered an overall centrist party, combining socially conservative views with more left-leaning economic positions. The party is an observer member of the European People's Party (EPP).

The Christian Democrats' leader from 1983 to 1995, Kjell Magne Bondevik, was one of the most prominent political figures in modern Norway, serving as Prime Minister from 1997 to 2000 and 2001 to 2005. Under the old leadership of Bondevik and Valgerd Svarstad Haugland, the party was to some extent radicalized and moved towards the left. Due largely to their poor showing in the 2009 elections, the party has seen a conflict between its conservative and liberal wings. The current leader is Knut Arild Hareide, who has led the party into a more liberal direction as part of a "renewal" process.

In social policy the Christian Democratic Party generally have conservative opinions. On life issues, the party opposes euthanasia, and abortion, though it can support abortion in cases of rape or when the mother's life is at risk. The party supports accessibility to contraception as a way of lowering abortion rates. They also want to ban research on human fetuses, and have expressed skepticism for proposals to liberalize the biotechnology laws in Norway. Bondevik's second government made the biotechnology laws of Norway among the strictest in the World, with support from the Socialist Left Party and the Centre Party, but in 2004 a case regarding a child with thalassemia brought this law under fire. On gay rights issues, the party supports possibilities for gay couples to live together, but opposes gay marriage and gay adoption rights. The party maintains neutrality on the issue of gay clergy, calling that an issue for the church.


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