The World : Norway Government Falls

Norwegian Prime Minister Kare Willoch’s centrist coalition government collapsed after losing a parliamentary test of confidence by one vote. The 79-78 confidence vote resulted from a request by Willoch for legislative backing of his proposed 21-cent gasoline tax. He said it was needed to help Norway, a North Sea oil producer, out of economic doldrums caused by the drop in world oil prices. The prime minister will ask King Olav V to designate the Labor opposition leader, Gro Harlem Brundtland, to form a new government. She was Willoch’s predecessor in office and was ousted by him in 1981.