Your Majesties, Your Royal Highness, Fellow Members of the Storting, 

Today, His Majesty has opened the 170^th Storting. As we take our seats in this chamber, some of us are old acquaintances, but more of us than usual – no less than 84 of this parliamentary term’s Members of Parliament – are new.

Welcome to the important work of being one of this nation's democratically elected representatives. Together, we will tackle the tasks that will shape people's everyday lives and futures.

We have been elected from all over the country and from nine different parties.

What we share is that people have put their trust in us. It is now up to us to show ourselves worthy of that trust.

We will do this by protecting the democratic heritage we are part of. The heritage we are reminded of every day when we look up at Oscar Wergeland's painting "Eidsvold 1814".

More than 200 years after the Men of Eidsvoll sealed their work on the Constitution by pledging each other to be "United and true until Dovre falls!", here in Norway we live in a freedom that few others in the world have.

Our duty is to be democracy's defenders and servants at one and the same time.

We must never forget this at a time when democratic values are under attack.

This year's election turnout was the highest since 1989 – the year the Berlin Wall fell. Sadly, the global level of democracy is back to what it was in 1989.

We cannot afford to rest on our laurels. It is our duty to ensure that our democracy remains strong in the years to come.

A huge weight of responsibility rests on our shoulders. Perhaps more so than for many years.

Fellow Members,

The way we behave to one another is noticed.

We must stand up for freedom of speech and the culture of disagreement. These are the pillars of democracy. We do so by treating each other with respect.

The images from election night in the Storting have gone viral.

Political opponents hugging and congratulating each other on their election results is a rare sight in these increasingly polarized times.

The hug has become a symbol of our political culture.

We acknowledge that the Storting really does reflect the will of the people.

We respect the fact that – regardless of how much we disagree with our political opponents – they are here because they also want what's best for the country, and because they have the backing of voters who think that their policies are the best.

Our duty is to deliver the political solutions that this country needs. Which sometimes means putting our differences to one side for the sake of finding common ground.

Compromise is a cherished tradition in Norwegian politics. We don't simply grind to a halt at times of political disagreement, but take important steps down the road towards something better – for the good of our nation and our people. This is how we preserve the trust our voters have placed in us.

Mutual trust is also about truth.

In a world in which there are several competing truths, and where the press is under ever increasing pressure, here, in this Chamber, we must stand up for facts.

In this, there is absolutely no room for compromise.

This means that we must defend and protect those who bring facts and information to the people.

Today, like every other day, the media are here in this Chamber. Scrutiny of power plays a central role in our open and free society.

We profit from the media examining the decisions we make and the way we carry out our duties. It is a core element of our trust-based society.

Your Majesty,

Local electoral committees, the National Electoral Committee and the Credentials Committee are responsible for ensuring that the election has been free and fair. They are a vital safeguard in our democracy. It is about public trust in the election.

They have done their job; now it is our turn. For the next four years, we are the ones on watch.

The Storting is once again convened to perform its solemn duties. We meet in the full knowledge of the major responsibilities that await us and the obligations we have undertaken.

With these words, let us rise and unite in the traditional words:

“God save the King and the Fatherland!”