The Big Bad Swedish Politics & News Thread

[Swedish Rainbow Capitalist Cheese]

The answer is as Gustaf say, because Stockholm are rich, but there's a more interesting structural explanation. In most European countries, rural areas was primarily agricultural areas, which mean they was home to mostly farmers. While cities was home to the growing industries, which resulted in a large working class. Sweden on the other hand developed much of their early industry in rural areas, from early copper mining, glass making, pine tar production, iron mining etc, so they developed a rural working class. At the same time any farmers was in many areas extremely poor and often worked as workers in the industry too, so these people had interest in socialist policies. The cities on the other hand was too large extent home to the capitalist class, those who serviced them and richer skilled workers. It's also why when we look at Scania which share similar structures to Denmark, we see much more similar voting pattern to Denmark.

This is unusual in European context, but we spots around Europe which share similar structures, like the rural areas in Westphalia which belong to Prussia before 1789, which was also home to rural industries.

^So much this^

As Ingemann says, its not as easy as cities in Sweden are rich, thus centre-right, the country side is poor, thus centre-left. Throughout southern Sweden the pattern is the same in as in the rest of Europe, especially Denmark. In Scania for example, Malmö has always been the deep red Social Democratic bastion of the region, while the agriculturally dominated countryside has historically been steadily right-wing. Stockholm has never been an industrial city, it's always been, and remains a city for civil servants, capitalists, and other traders. Gothenburg and Malmö on the other hand is a whole different story. 

The real key to why a certain area in Sweden votes the way it does is:

Rural agricultural = Centre-right
Rural industrial = Centre-left

Urban white-collar: Centre-right
Urban industrial: Centre-left.

[Gunnar Larsson]

The answer is as Gustaf say, because Stockholm are rich, but there's a more interesting structural explanation. In most European countries, rural areas was primarily agricultural areas, which mean they was home to mostly farmers. While cities was home to the growing industries, which resulted in a large working class. Sweden on the other hand developed much of their early industry in rural areas, from early copper mining, glass making, pine tar production, iron mining etc, so they developed a rural working class. At the same time any farmers was in many areas extremely poor and often worked as workers in the industry too, so these people had interest in socialist policies. The cities on the other hand was too large extent home to the capitalist class, those who serviced them and richer skilled workers. It's also why when we look at Scania which share similar structures to Denmark, we see much more similar voting pattern to Denmark.

This is unusual in European context, but we spots around Europe which share similar structures, like the rural areas in Westphalia which belong to Prussia before 1789, which was also home to rural industries.

^So much this^

As Ingemann says, its not as easy as cities in Sweden are rich, thus centre-right, the country side is poor, thus centre-left. Throughout southern Sweden the pattern is the same in as in the rest of Europe, especially Denmark. In Scania for example, Malmö has always been the deep red Social Democratic bastion of the region, while the agriculturally dominated countryside has historically been steadily right-wing. Stockholm has never been an industrial city, it's always been, and remains a city for civil servants, capitalists, and other traders. Gothenburg and Malmö on the other hand is a whole different story. 

The real key to why a certain area in Sweden votes the way it does is:

Rural agricultural = Centre-right
Rural industrial = Centre-left

Urban white-collar: Centre-right
Urban industrial: Centre-left.

I think this is overall a very good description. Could also add that as of lately, with a trend towards social issues becoming more important there has been a general shift where relatively speaking the cities have moved left and the countryside right. Right now the left control all the largest cities, without having to make any arrangements about SD. So in that sense Stockholm City (as well as Uppsala, with a similar history)  is to the left of the country, which as far as I know is rare.

However, it should be mentioned that all three big cities have substantial right-leaning suburbs. Therefore Stockholm County is still controlled by the right.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

centre Party has changed its mind on NATO to be more in line with its Alliance Partners.

Swedes, what are the chances of you joining the Organisation?

[Lurker]

Stockholm has always been a bourgeois city with little in the way of the union base that social democrats base their success on.

I wouldn't call it a "stronghold" of the right though, even though it's clearly more right-wing than Sweden at large (well, the county at large may be, but I imagine we're talking about Stockholms commune/ the actual city here). The Social Democrats has ran the city for a fair amount of the post-war years, though it has trended right-wing, and I believe the municipal election in 2014 gave a centre-left majority.

And Stockholm isn't really that right-wing for a Western European city. Helsinki, Oslo, Madrid, to name a few cases, have been right-leaning, and Paris was run by conservatives for decades as well. (You probably know this, as does most everyone here of course, but Americans always seem surprised at the idea of largeish cities being centre-right).

[politicus]

SD now break all ties to their youth wing SDU (Sverigedemokratisk Ungdom) after it has elected Jessica Ohlson (25) as its new leader.

Party leader Jimmie Åkesson says he interprets the election of Jessica O. as a sign SDU wants to continue its "conflict line" towards the mother party and refuse to accept core elements in party ideology like "open Swedishness", Social Conservatism and democracy (sic!).

Nationalist SDU-leader Gustav Kasselstrand and his deputy William Hahne were excluded earlier this year (for alleged ties to extremists and disloyalty). Kasselstrand suggested Ohlson as new leader after his exclusion.

SD now intends to form a new youth organization, which will also be known as SDU, so different name, same acronym.

[politicus]

Ohlson has also been fired from her job in the SD parliamentary party bureau.

She won 44-38 over Tobias Anderson (19) from the moderate wing, so fairly close. Olson has an master of laws from Uppsala, where she also resides.

Some Swedish journos compare it to last time the youth wing of a Swedish party was expelled from their mother party. In 1917 when the Social Democratic youth wing was excluded after later PM Per Albin Hansson from the "loyalist" wing had lost a leadership election and the radicals collided with the revolutionary opposition in SDA against the leadership. The expelled youth wing formed the basis for the Communist Party of Sweden back then..

Ironically the rebellious youth wing back then was also called SDU - for Socialdemokratiska ungdomsförbundet!

(SD should call their new youth wing Sverigedemokratiska ungdomsförbundet to mess things up completely )

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

So, what will the cast aside youth-wing do? Is Ohlson some Malema-esque rabble raiser?

[Beezer]

And what's the general sentiment as to the repercussions of this? Will this strengthen the SD's position in society because it cut ties with an organization deemed to be too right wing? Or will the narrative be that the party is facing an internal split (which is how the German media would cover it), which could drive away some voters?

[politicus]

And what's the general sentiment as to the repercussions of this? Will this strengthen the SD's position in society because it cut ties with an organization deemed to be too right wing? Or will the narrative be that the party is facing an internal split (which is how the German media would cover it), which could drive away some voters?

Mainstreaming has been a success for the far right all over Scandinavia and cutting off extremists (and "village idiots") is a core element of that. Scandinavians generally dislike radicals and extremists and prefer a calm, rational and moderate appearance.

I think this will only be a problem if the expelled SDUs manage to create a viable party that can pressure SD from the right and prevent them from moderating (or at least rhetorically moderating - there is always a double standard with these parties) as much as the leadership would want in order to become more competitive.

[Gunnar Larsson]

And what's the general sentiment as to the repercussions of this? Will this strengthen the SD's position in society because it cut ties with an organization deemed to be too right wing? Or will the narrative be that the party is facing an internal split (which is how the German media would cover it), which could drive away some voters?

I don't think the impact will be overly big in any direction, their youth organisation don't get that much focus. I would guess that the impact might be bigger when it comes to the internal functioning of the party, it is very centralised and I guess this will make it even more so. Not sure of the long-term consequences of that though.

[Swedish Rainbow Capitalist Cheese]

So, what will the cast aside youth-wing do? Is Ohlson some Malema-esque rabble raiser?

They're going to start by suing the mother party. At least according to one of the few interviews Ohlsson has given. SDU is listed as an associated organisation in the party's by-laws, and those can only be changed if supported by 75% of delegates at the party conference. So unless the party manages to get the sufficient 75% at this year's conference there will be a legal battle if they can actually cut their ties to the youth wing.

So SDU is going to fight to remain part of the party, and if they succeed they have said their aim is to defeat and replace the current leadership.

If they fail, they have indicated that they'll form a new party however.

[politicus]

So, what will the cast aside youth-wing do? Is Ohlson some Malema-esque rabble raiser?

They're going to start by suing the mother party. At least according to one of the few interviews Ohlsson has given. SDU is listed as an associated organisation in the party's by-laws, and those can only be changed if supported by 75% of delegates at the party conference. So unless the party manages to get the sufficient 75% at this year's conference there will be a legal battle if they can actually cut their ties to the youth wing.

So SDU is going to fight to remain part of the party, and if they succeed they have said their aim is to defeat and replace the current leadership.

If they fail, they have indicated that they'll form a new party however.

Interesting situation. When is the party conference?

[Swedish Rainbow Capitalist Cheese]

So, what will the cast aside youth-wing do? Is Ohlson some Malema-esque rabble raiser?

They're going to start by suing the mother party. At least according to one of the few interviews Ohlsson has given. SDU is listed as an associated organisation in the party's by-laws, and those can only be changed if supported by 75% of delegates at the party conference. So unless the party manages to get the sufficient 75% at this year's conference there will be a legal battle if they can actually cut their ties to the youth wing.

So SDU is going to fight to remain part of the party, and if they succeed they have said their aim is to defeat and replace the current leadership.

If they fail, they have indicated that they'll form a new party however.

Interesting situation. When is the party conference?

November

[DavidB.]

Essentially because they want SD to be openly racist and anti-Semitic, right?

[politicus]

So, what will the cast aside youth-wing do? Is Ohlson some Malema-esque rabble raiser?

They're going to start by suing the mother party. At least according to one of the few interviews Ohlsson has given. SDU is listed as an associated organisation in the party's by-laws, and those can only be changed if supported by 75% of delegates at the party conference. So unless the party manages to get the sufficient 75% at this year's conference there will be a legal battle if they can actually cut their ties to the youth wing.

So SDU is going to fight to remain part of the party, and if they succeed they have said their aim is to defeat and replace the current leadership.

If they fail, they have indicated that they'll form a new party however.

Interesting situation. When is the party conference?

November

Any polls of the electoral potential for a "to the right of SD" party?

[Gunnar Larsson]

So, what will the cast aside youth-wing do? Is Ohlson some Malema-esque rabble raiser?

They're going to start by suing the mother party. At least according to one of the few interviews Ohlsson has given. SDU is listed as an associated organisation in the party's by-laws, and those can only be changed if supported by 75% of delegates at the party conference. So unless the party manages to get the sufficient 75% at this year's conference there will be a legal battle if they can actually cut their ties to the youth wing.

So SDU is going to fight to remain part of the party, and if they succeed they have said their aim is to defeat and replace the current leadership.

If they fail, they have indicated that they'll form a new party however.

Interesting situation. When is the party conference?

November

Any polls of the electoral potential for a "to the right of SD" party?

Probably not. The history of Nationaldemokraterna (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Democrats_%28Sweden%29) might provide some clues; though obviously the party is bigger now and there might be a bit more space. If they form before the next election (2018) they might also get a sizeable representation in some municipalities if they are good at recruiting SD activists.

[ingemann]

The question we need to ask when we ask these kind of question is; why would people vote for a party to the right of SD?

Yes there will always be people who think anything less than death camps are too liberal, but those people are too little group to count. Instead people can choose between a party, which have proven it can come in parliament, have proven it doesn't collapse, have proven that it's competent and have broad appeal or you can choose wild eyed lunatics. There's likely a large number of people who think that SD is too liberals, but what else do these people agree with each other about, some may be nazi, other xenophobics greens, other national conservatives etc, these people can not agree to unite, and for them SD may look like the best compromise.

[politicus]

The question we need to ask when we ask these kind of question is; why would people vote for a party to the right of SD?

Yes there will always be people who think anything less than death camps are too liberal, but those people are too little group to count. Instead people can choose between a party, which have proven it can come in parliament, have proven it doesn't collapse, have proven that it's competent and have broad appeal or you can choose wild eyed lunatics. There's likely a large number of people who think that SD is too liberals, but what else do these people agree with each other about, some may be nazi, other xenophobics greens, other national conservatives etc, these people can not agree to unite, and for them SD may look like the best compromise.

Kasselstrand, Hahne and Ohlson do not appear to be "wild eyed lunatics".

Presumably it would be the National Conservative segment that might make up 3% and then could get in with a few floating voters - or may even be bigger. That was what I was curious about.

The purpose of voting "SD Classic" would be the same as voting for Danish Unity in DK (or SPP to influence SD in the old days). To keep the bigger party from drifting towards the center by posing a potential threat on the flank.

[politicus]

New YouGov poll has SD at the highest ever and with a solid margin to the Moderates and SAP. Fokpartiet below the threshold, so an M + SD majority.

SD 27.3
Social Democrats 21.8
Moderates 20.0

Centre 7.5
KD 4.9
Folkpartiet 3.7

Left Party 6.5
Mp (Greens) 5.0

Others 3.2


53% thinks refugees and immigration is the most important political issue right now.

http://www.metro.se/nyheter/yougov-flyktingfragan-viktigast-bland-svenskar-sd-storsta-parti/EVHoip!9x7k81NHsgoEM/

[Gustaf]

The question we need to ask when we ask these kind of question is; why would people vote for a party to the right of SD?

Yes there will always be people who think anything less than death camps are too liberal, but those people are too little group to count. Instead people can choose between a party, which have proven it can come in parliament, have proven it doesn't collapse, have proven that it's competent and have broad appeal or you can choose wild eyed lunatics. There's likely a large number of people who think that SD is too liberals, but what else do these people agree with each other about, some may be nazi, other xenophobics greens, other national conservatives etc, these people can not agree to unite, and for them SD may look like the best compromise.

Kasselstrand, Hahne and Ohlson do not appear to be "wild eyed lunatics".

Presumably it would be the National Conservative segment that might make up 3% and then could get in with a few floating voters - or may even be bigger. That was what I was curious about.

The purpose of voting "SD Classic" would be the same as voting for Danish Unity in DK (or SPP to influence SD in the old days). To keep the bigger party from drifting towards the center by posing a potential threat on the flank.

Yes, they do. Kasselstrand is a clear cut fascist. I've no doubt that if he came to power people would be shot in the night and interned in camps. He has strong links to the identitarian movement which openly calls for war against race-mixing.

I incidentally know a Sweden Democrat who is a supporter of the SDU guys and who told me I was "on his list" once he found out about my Jewish heritage.

[Antonio the Sixth]

I incidentally know a Sweden Democrat who is a supporter of the SDU guys and who told me I was "on his list" once he found out about my Jewish heritage.

Did you turn him over to the police?

[Gustaf]

I incidentally know a Sweden Democrat who is a supporter of the SDU guys and who told me I was "on his list" once he found out about my Jewish heritage.

Did you turn him over to the police?

I'm holding out hope that he meant a Schindler's List kind of list.

[politicus]

We have another one of those stories that fuel the rise of SD. Asylum seekers refuse to accept being housed in flats from the 50s (build to house workers at a now closed paper mill, but recently renovated) in a small town in Dalarna because they aren't modern enough and the place is too remote (it is northern Sweden after all), some also feel cheated because they thought they were going to a bigger place.

http://www.svt.se/nyheter/regionalt/dalarna/missnoje-bland-asylsokande-i-fredriksberg

"There are 30 minutes walk to the nearest food store, and 45 minutes by car to the hospital and there are no schools", says asylum seeker Mohammad Khalaf.

Reporter: But there is a school in Fredriksberg.

– No, I don't think so. We havent seen any.


Mohammad Khaled (different guy) about the authorities:

– When we came here, we realize that it is a long way from civilization, shops, hospital and school. We need a place to study and have a good life. We came to Sweden because it should be "the freedom country". We believe they have lied for us"

http://www.svt.se/nyheter/regionalt/dalarna/vi-trodde-vi-skulle-komma-till-frihetslandet

(and yes, the traffickers likely have.. but not the Swedish authorities)

[DavidB.]

I incidentally know a Sweden Democrat who is a supporter of the SDU guys and who told me I was "on his list" once he found out about my Jewish heritage.

That is horrible. SDU are truly a bunch of fascists.

And these stories politicus posted are exactly the kind of thing that make people mad - and rightly so. This entitlement mentality simply doesn't suit refugees.

[Swedish Rainbow Capitalist Cheese]

The Swedish Greens have found themselves under attack of immense criticism after the huge state-owned energy company Vattenfall announced that they would be selling their coal mines in eastern Germany.

The Swedish-owned coal energy production in Germany is seen as a huge environmental liability, as it causes more CO2 emissions than all domestic Swedish industry combined. During the election campaign the Greens number one election promise was that they would stop the sale of the mines, and instead close them down entirely, and co-leaders, Åsa Romson and Gustav Fridolin was constantly seen carrying around a gimmicky piece of coal to ram home the message.

 


The fact that they have now caved in on the promise has left them in an incredibly bad position. It's basically the Swedish equivalent of the LibDems raising tuition fees. The leader of the Left Party have been the fiercest crititc saying that Åsa Romson, who is also Minister for Environment, will need to wear a paper-bag¹ of shame at future climate conferences. It's quite likely this will do incredible damage the party who've been struggling in opinion polls ever since they entered government a year ago.


^{1) The exact word used was pillow of shame, which is the equivalent  Swedish idiom.}