Budget Balance (% GDP): - 2.1

Population: 17.4m

The ruling coalition, formed after almost seven months of post-election negotiations in
2017, lacks a majority in either house and has limped through its term. Even so, thanks
to a mostly positive public response to its handling of the pandemic, it should emerge on
top from elections in March, with the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy—led
by the prime minister, Mark Rutte—as the largest party. Its programme of tax cuts will
take second place to reviving the economy.

TO WATCH: Rescue resentment. Critics will attack the coalition’s support for the EU
rescue pact, which will require a net payment equal to 3.8% of GDP.

Norway

GDP growth: 3.0%

GDP per head: $70,130 (PPP: $66,670)

Inflation: 1.4%

Budget Balance (% GDP): 1.3

Population: 5.4m

An effective pandemic response has strengthened the position of the centre-right
coalition heading into elections in September. Acting as a minority government since
the withdrawal of the far-right Progress Party in early 2020, the coalition relies on
opposition support to pass legislation, slowing progress on its policy agenda. Low oil
prices mean less export income, but the well-heeled sovereign oil fund gives the
government some fiscal room to soften the impact of the pandemic, which it has done
with wide-ranging support measures.