The right-wing Progress Party has............>

NORWAY: The right-wing Progress Party has announced its withdrawal from the

centre-right coalition gov't of Conservative party PM Erna Solberg.

- Progress leader and Finance Minister Siv Jensen announced party's withdrawal

over Solberg's decision to repatriate a woman linked to Islamic State and her

ill child from Syria. Solberg claimed child's welfare was primary concern, while

Jensen has said her party wasn't consulted and child is being used as a "shield"

to return to Norway. 

- Progress Party's withdrawal leaves the government with 61 seats (Conservative

45, Liberals 8, Christian Democrats 8) to the opposition's 108. However, the

gov't is unlikely to collapse. The Progress Party are likely to continue to

support Solberg's administration as a minority gov't from the outside. 

- Under the Norwegian constitution early elections cannot take place out of

cycle, encouraging compromise among parties. 

- The opposition is comprised of parties across the left and centre of the

political spectrum that would refuse to work with the Progress Party, meaning

Solberg's gov't will continue as a 3-party administration.