Oslo

Oslo (former name Christiania or Kristiania) is the capital and largest city of Norway. The population of Oslo's metropolitan area is 825,105, and the population of the city proper is 538,411. Oslo has a total area of 454 km².

Politics

The city hall

Oslo has seventeen members of the Norwegian parliament. In the term 2005-2009, the following parties are represented:

Party	MPs
Labor party	6
Progress Party	3
Conservative Party	3
Socialist Left Party	2
Liberal Party	2
Christian Democratic Party	1

The local system of government is parliamentary. The city council consists of 59 representatives, elected every four years. The executive branch of the local government consists of six commissioners, in addition to the leader of the commission. All seven members of the commission need the confidence of the city council. As of 2007, the leader of the commission is Mr. Erling Lae of the Conservative Party. Mr. Lae leads a coalition between the Conservative Party and the Progress Party The current Mayor is Mr. Per Ditlev-Simonsen, also of the Conservative Party. The Mayor of Oslo has a mostly ceremonial role.

The following parties are represented in the city council:

Party	MPs
Labor party	15
Conservative Party	15
Socialist Left Party	12
Progress Party	10
Liberal Party	3
Christian Democratic Party	2
Red Electoral Alliance	2

Boroughs

Oslo is divided into fifteen boroughs:

1. Gamle Oslo
2. Grünerløkka
3. Sagene
4. St. Hanshaugen
5. Frogner
6. Ullern
7. Vestre Aker
8. Nordre Aker
9. Bjerke
10. Grorud
11. Stovner
12. Alna
13. Østensjø
14. Nordstrand
15. Søndre Nordstrand

The boroughs are to some extent self governed, and are run by local councils elected every four years. The boroughs have responsibilities such as running nursing homes and kindergartens.

In addition to the fifteen boroughs, two areas are separate geographical entities, but do not have an administration of their own. These two areas are the city center (“Sentrum”) and Oslo's surrounding rural areas (“Marka”).