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Norwegians vote in tight election Norwegians vote in tight election
(about 10 hours later)
Norwegians have started voting in what is expected to be a closely fought poll between the prime minister's Labour Party and the centre-right opposition. Norwegians are voting in what is expected to be a closely fought poll between the prime minister's Labour Party and the centre-right opposition.
Jens Stoltenberg, in power since 2005, has emphasised his success in guiding Norway through the economic crisis.Jens Stoltenberg, in power since 2005, has emphasised his success in guiding Norway through the economic crisis.
The world's fifth biggest exporter of crude oil experienced only a brief recession and has Europe's lowest unemployment rate.The world's fifth biggest exporter of crude oil experienced only a brief recession and has Europe's lowest unemployment rate.
His main challenger is Siv Jensen, who leads the right-wing Progress Party.His main challenger is Siv Jensen, who leads the right-wing Progress Party.
She has campaigned on a platform of lower taxes and tightening immigration. Currently, more than 10% of Norway's population is of foreign origin with the largest groups of asylum seekers coming from Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia and Eritrea. She has campaigned on a platform of lower taxes and tightening immigration. She has stoked controversy by claiming Norway is being "Islamified".
Currently, more than 10% of Norway's population is of foreign origin with the largest groups of asylum seekers coming from Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia and Eritrea.
'Safe hands'
Mr Stoltenberg's government is hoping to the be the first to be re-elected in 16 years.
Polls show a very tight race, but one published on Monday suggested the government might even increase its vote slightly.
Norwegians - who pay some of the highest taxes on the planet - have high demands of their public services and often complain about long hospital waiting lists for non-emergency operations and bad roads.Norwegians - who pay some of the highest taxes on the planet - have high demands of their public services and often complain about long hospital waiting lists for non-emergency operations and bad roads.
But in a debate on Sunday, Mr Stoltenberg said voters could not expect a "social-democratic paradise". But the prime minister claimed the government is a safe pair of hands in difficult times, stating after casting his vote that: "The Labour Party has the best policies for stabilising the economy and protecting jobs, and also for care for the elderly, education and transport."
Ms Jensen hit back saying: "I believe you won't build a social-democratic paradise by Tuesday because you've been at it since the war and you still haven't managed it."
The Progress Party has pledged to spend more of the country's vast oil wealth at home and to broaden privatisation in both the health and education sectors.The Progress Party has pledged to spend more of the country's vast oil wealth at home and to broaden privatisation in both the health and education sectors.
But analysts say it is unlikely that her party would be in a position to govern even if centre-right parties won a majority of the votes because of a lack of unity between them. But analysts say it is not certain that her party would be in a position to govern even if centre-right parties won a majority of the votes because of a lack of unity between them.
"I hope for a majority for the non-socialist parties, and I hope that we can all sit down after the election and try to figure out what to do with that majority," Ms Jensen said after casting her vote.
Exit polls are due to be published after voting ends at 2100(1900 GMT).