Norway gained independence from the Swedish crown in 1905 and elected its own king, Håkon VII.

• 1935 DNA forms government.
• 1940–1945 Nazi occupation. Puppet regime led by Vidkun Quisling.
• 1945 DNA resumes power.
• 1949 Founder member of NATO.
• 1957 King Håkon dies. Succeeded by son, Olav V.
• 1960 Becomes member of EFTA.
• 1962 Unsuccessfully applies to join the European Communities (EC).
• 1965 DNA electoral defeat by SP coalition led by Per Borten.
• 1967 Second bid for EC membership.
• 1971 Prime Minister Per Borten resigns following disclosure of secret negotiations to join EC; DNA government, led by Trygve Bratteli.
• 1972 EC membership rejected in popular referendum by 3% majority. Bratteli resigns. Center coalition government takes power. Lars Korvald prime minister.
• 1973 Elections. Bratteli returns to power as prime minister.
• 1976 Bratteli succeeded by Odvar Nordli.
• 1981 Nordli resigns owing to ill health. Gro Harlem Brundtland becomes first woman prime minister. Elections bring to power Conservative Party (H) government for first time in 53 years. Kare Willoch prime minister.
• 1983 Conservatives form coalition with SP and KrF.
• 1985 Election. Willoch's H–SP–KrF coalition returned. Norway agrees to suspend commercial whaling.
• 1986 100,000 demonstrate for better working conditions. Brundtland forms minority DNA government. Currency devalued by 12%.
• 1989 Brundtland resigns. H–KrF coalition in power. USSR agrees exchange of information after fires break out on Soviet nuclear submarines off Norwegian coast.
• 1990 H–KrF coalition breaks up over closer ties with EU (formerly EC). Brundtland and DNA in power.
• 1991 Olav V dies; succeeded by son, Harald V.
• 1994 EEA comes into effect. Referendum rejects EU membership.
• 1996 Brundtland resigns; replaced by Thorbjørn Jagland (also DNA).
• 1997 Kjell Magne Bondevik forms center-right coalition.
• 2000 Jens Stoltenberg (DNA) heads three-party coalition.
• 2001 Right-wing victory in elections. Bondevik heads coalition government.

From "The Financial Times World Desk Reference" © Dorling Kindersley 2004