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Today in Norway For Members

Today in Norway: A roundup of the latest news on Wednesday 

Frazer Norwell
Frazer Norwell - [email protected]
Today in Norway: A roundup of the latest news on Wednesday 
Find out what's going on in Norway on Wednesday with The Local's short roundup of important news. Pictured is a valley in NorwayPhoto by Barnabas Davoti on Unsplash

Norwegian kindergarten strike stepped up and how reservoir filling levels may ease fears over sky-high energy bills this winter, plus other news from Norway. 

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SV leader won't stand for re-election

Leader of the Socialist Left Party, Audun Lysbakken, will not stand for re-election as the party's leader next March, he announced in a letter sent to party members. 

By the time he steps down, he will have been the leader of SV for 11 years. SV is currently locked in talks with the government over the budget for 2023.

"I am incredibly proud to be the leader of the party I believe in so strongly, and of the trust I have received from thousands of members and even more voters. Today is still the time to tell you that I will not stand for re-election as party leader at the national meeting in March. Everything has its time, and now it is right for me to take a step back and for the party to choose a new leader," he wrote in the letter. 

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Full hydroelectric reservoirs may ease fears over sky-high energy prices this winter 

Later today, the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) will present the latest figures for the state of Norway's hydroelectric reservoirs. 

Reservoirs have filled significantly over the past few weeks thanks to a wet and warm autumn. 

Analysts have now said that if the figures for reservoirs remain positive, the country may avoid the grim energy prices previously predicted for the winter. 

"It looks like we will escape the highest prices we envisioned two or three months ago - that we will get nicer prices and that it (the energy prices) will last through the rest of the winter if we are not unlucky and go on a cold wave," Olav Botnen, an analyst with Volue insight, told public broadcaster NRK

Kindergarten strike ramped up

The Education Association, Fagforbundet and Delta trade unions are withdrawing more kindergarten staff from the workforce from today. 

Some 731 new staff will strike, bringing the total taking industrial action to over 3,100. The latest escalation comes after talks to try to end the strike broke down yesterday. 

The strike primarily concerns a pensions dispute between unions and the employer organisation for the sector. 

Durek Verrett: Never intended to cause problems for Princess Martha Louise

Following the announcement that Princess Martha Louise would step down from royal duties, her fiancé Durek Verrett has said that he never intended to cause any problems for the princess. 

"I have always wanted to support my fiancée, Märtha Louise. And I want her to be happy. If she has gotten into trouble because of any of the things I've done, that was never my intention. The same applies to her parents, the king and queen. I want them to succeed in their important roles," Verret said on Instagram

READ MORE: Why Norway's Princess Martha Louise is stepping down from royal duties

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