The State Opening 2019. Photo: Storting
A State Opening with a difference
2020 is likely to go down in the history books as a year to remember; the year the COVID-19 pandemic changed the way most of us think and act in the modern world. The Storting has been no exception. Since mid-March, MPs and staff have been forced to adapt to a huge number of new rules and procedures.
This year’s State Opening of the Storting is a case in point. The current infection situation makes it impossible to hold the State Opening in its traditional form, but there will still be a grand ceremony to mark the opening of the 165th Storting.
His Royal Highness The Crown Prince Regent will undertake the State Opening. Her Majesty The Queen will also be in attendance.
There will be markedly fewer people present than is normally the case. This is because the majority of guests will not be able to take part on 2nd October. The State Opening will also be shorter than usual.
“This year’s State Opening is one I’m sure we’ll come to remember. It will be carried out in accordance with the Constitution, as safely as feasible, and – to the extent possible – in line with tradition,” said Tone Wilhelmsen Trøen, President of the Storting.
Many of the traditions that we associate with the State Opening of the Storting date all the way back to 1814. The ceremony in the Storting Chamber is a unique occasion. The Members of Parliament, the government and the Royal Family are officially convened to mark that a new session has started and that the day-to-day business of the Storting is up and running once again.
During any normal year, there are around 750 people present during the State Opening. This year – in line with the infection control rules that apply to all official events – the Storting’s Presidium has made the decision to allow 200 to take part.
“This tends to be the day in the year when the most people are gathered in the Storting Chamber. There’s a unique atmosphere when we are all packed closely together. This year will be different,” said Tone W Trøen. The plan is for our 169 MPs to take part in a truncated event, while the number of guests present will be drastically reduced.
The State Opening of the Storting will be broadcast live on www.stortinget.no and on the Storting’s Facebook page. The media will have the same access to the broadcast as in previous years.