At the beginning of the 1990s under Erik Solheim , party popularity again declined . They lost most of their " no to EU " voters to the Centre Party , when the party fought actively against Norwegian membership in the European Union , and when Norwegians again voted against membership in a referendum . Solheim 's tenure as leader - while praised by some - was seen as very controversial . The socialist wing of the party , the " Museum Guardians " , as they were called , were worried that Solheim was moving the party too much to the center . Outside critics of Solheim said his policies had led to a " grey-blue social democratic " party , with little or no differences from the Labour Party . Solheim tried to get the party to change direction and form a coalition government with the Labour and the Centre Party . Solheim was forced to resign in 1997 , with the party seeing him as the main reason for the new power struggle between the left - and right-wing factions of the party
forced to resign in 1997
1997 Socialist Left Party national convention
Socialist Left Party (Norway)