[3][4][5] SV supports a strong public sector, stronger social welfare programs, environmentalism, and republicanism.

[11][12][13] SV calls for a stronger public sector, a mixed economy, and a strengthening of the social welfare net.

He was one of the main opponents of Norwegian membership in the European Community, saying the organisation showed how "evil and stupid" capitalism really was.

Millions live with oppression and war, inequality in power and wealth is growing and the environmental crisis threatens our livelihood.

Torbjørn Urfjell, former leader of the Socialist Youth chapter in Vest-Agder, said: "School and adolescence is too important to be left to the market.

"[38] During the 2005 Norwegian parliamentary election, the party promised to increase resources to public schools, believing that more money would lead to fewer pupils per teacher, and more individualised and personal instructions.

[39] The party has held the office of Minister of the Environment since 2005, first by Helen Bjørnøy, followed by Erik Solheim and since 2012 by Bård Vegar Solhjell.

[41] A large minority within the party are opposed to the conservation plan, with the majority of them coming from Nordland, the county where the drilling is taking place.

[44] The party's strong emphasis on green politics, and its failure to capture new voters, has led to debate among electoral researchers.

Frank Aarebrot commented: "It is interesting that both the Socialist Left and the Liberals has this bad turnout, when the environmental conference is taking place in Copenhagen.

"[43] Halvorsen felt the environmental policies of the second Soria Moria declaration showed a clear level of commitment from the party's coalition partners.

"[47] During the 2005 parliamentary election, one of the four main issues raised by party's youth wing was fighting against sexual harassment.

Arild Stokkan-Grande claimed equality amongst men and women has been a major issue in government mainly because of the activities of the Socialist Left.

[57] Another poll showed that almost one-third of Socialist Left voters would not want to live in an area with a high number of immigrants.

Social geographer Karl Fredrik Tangen responded that it is easy for the typical intellectual Socialist Left voter, living in upper class areas, to agree to what was for them hypothetical question.

[62] In 2012, the party leader Audun Lysbakken strongly warned against Islamist extremists like Profetens Ummah, and vowed to fight them.

[73] By early 2008, the party chapters of Hordaland and Rogaland criticised Kristin Halvorsen and the government regarding their Afghanistan policies, and demanded an immediate withdrawal by October 2009.

[75] The Socialist Left supported the war, but was against sending more soldiers to the region, and denied access for the Norwegian Special Forces.

Speculation arose that voters had left the Labour Party for the newly created Socialist Electoral League.

[95] Under the leadership of Theo Koritzinsky later in the 1980s, the party became prominent for its efforts for peace,[96] disarmament,[97] employment,[98] green politics, and economic equality.

This led to a historic high voter turnout for the Socialist Left; they earned 12.5% of the national vote in the 2001 Norwegian parliamentary election.

After discussing the state budget of Norway with the Socialist Left and the Centre Party, Jens Stoltenberg agreed with Halvorsen that they needed to create a universal free day care service.

[110] Before the 2005 Norwegian parliamentary election, Deputy Leader Øystein Djupedal said that the Socialist Left would not contribute to any radical changes if they earned a position within the government.

Many election researchers believed that the Socialist Left had lost voter's interest when they entered the coalition and worked alongside the Labour Party.

The shift of power within the coalition resulted in the loss of one Socialist Left cabinet minister, leaving them with four, the same as the Centre Party.

Audun Lysbakken, Heikki Holmås, and Bård Vegar Solhjell have announced their candidature for the leader position.

[9][10] In the 2017 Norwegian parliamentary election, the party gained four seats[120] but the incumbent right-wing government led by Erna Solberg was renowned.

[128] After the unification process was finished, the party's voter base collapsed, falling to 4.2% of the national vote in the 1977 Norwegian parliamentary election,[92] and earned only two seats in parliament.

[135] The party further decreased in popular support by the 1979 Norwegian local elections, earning 4.1% in the municipal and 4.4% in the county respectively.

[100] Before the 1999 Norwegian local elections, polls showed an increase in popular support for the Socialist Left in Oslo.