Swedish elections

[Jolly Red Giant]

Just wondering if anyone based there could give an update on what is happening and the likely prospects for the left.

[RotStern]

Sverigedemokraterna are expecting huge success, that's all I know, which couldn't be good for the left.

[Dimentio]

In fact, it could be good for the left if they enter the Riksdag, since it would mean that lots and lots of previously apathetic people would be awakened and flock to anti-racist organisations (reminiscent of the upsurge of the social democrats after Reinfeldt's victory 2006). The only question is if the left is able and strong enough to catalyse their feelings.

Oh, and the Alliance will win this election, not because they are so very amazing, but because of three other factors.

* Mona Sahlin is despised

* Many social democrats would rather vote on the Alliance than to support the Green Party (carbon dioxide taxes which hurt the countryside) or the Left Party (Ohly is a baby-eating commie!!!!!1111). No matter how much you protest about this, it is true. The people do not view left-wing policies as viable, and Sahlin started to lose her support when she invited the two other parties to her.

* The media has created a "narrative" in which this is a prime minister election, and about who is best able to govern, rather than policy content.

[Sentinel]

Sverigedemokraterna are expecting huge success, that's all I know, which couldn't be good for the left.

The situation is rather critical. Even though according to the latest survey by SIFO they only have 3,8 % of the vote atm -- a party requires 4% support to get seats in the swedish Riksdag (parliament) -- those surveys have large error marginals and the racist Sweden Democrats (SD) have indeed been well over the 4% barrier in other surveys for long now.

All other parties declare that they refuse to cooperate with SD in the Riksdag, should they get in. But if neither the redgreen nor the bourgeois bloc acquires a majority of it's own, which is possible, SD could nonetheless gain a dangerous amount of influence in the Riksdag votes.

The Left Party has spread some posters written in all the most spoken minority languages, urging people to vote on whatever other party to keep the racists out of the Riksdag, as increased voter turnout would lower the SD percentage of the vote and push thus them under the barrier.

Tomorrow we shall see.

[Zeus the Moose]

The Left Party has spread some posters written in all the most spoken minority languages, urging people to vote on whatever other party to keep the racists out of the Riksdag, as increased voter turnout would lower the SD percentage of the vote and push them under the barrier.

Vote for anyone but the Swedish Democrats? That sounds oddly familiar...

[maskerade]

the social democrats will most likely choose another leader after this election. i think there is some internal disputes as well, between the left faction from the south of sweden and the right-wingers, who are currently in charge (i think)

the left party has increased their electoral support, i saw one poll recently which placed them at 7%. though most likely they will get around 6%. I would think that they would get much more had they not chosen to go into a coalition with the social democrats and the greens.

Swedish Democrats are definitely getting in. A lot of young people are voting for them :(

[Tavarisch_Mike]

I really hope that the red-green bloc will winn, the last 4 years with the right-wingers has been really bad for the working class. The election will be historical since either we will for the first time have a duoble period with a right-wing coallition, ore we will get our first women as preiminister. There is nothing good with that Sverigedemokraterna will get in to the riksdag, the idea of that all of a sudden people will rise in a anti-racist call is just to naive i think. If they get in they will probably make racism more acceptable, now that some "democraticly elected" peopel are promoting it, they have a very neoliberal finans policy, disslike unions and ofcourse thire whole organisation is build up at attacking the part of the working class known as immigrants and muslims.

BTW i voted for my first time a couple of hours ago.

[Sentinel]

In fact, it could be good for the left if they enter the Riksdag, since it would mean that lots and lots of previously apathetic people would be awakened and flock to anti-racist organisations (reminiscent of the upsurge of the social democrats after Reinfeldt's victory 2006). The only question is if the left is able and strong enough to catalyse their feelings.

I personally see the reasoning behind wanting to keep them out at any cost. As I said above, the way the political blocs are constructed at the moment, if neither one acquires majority in the election SD could as a sole third party get a dangerous amount of influence in any Riksdag vote, where the blocs disagree.

Thats a hell of a lot of more influence than those morons should have.. Any influence over anything is.



Vote for anyone but the Swedish Democrats? That sounds oddly familiar...


The way the elections work, that would work to keep them out. Obviously V (The left party) would prefer that vote to be on them, as well, but I don't think the main intention beyond the message in the posters is egoistic.



the social democrats will most likely choose another leader after this election.


Who do you think they might pick? Thomas Bodström (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Bodstr%C3%B6m)?

[Dimentio]

If no bloc gets a majority, it will mean chaos. Chaos could be both good and bad, dependent on what you are doing and how you are utilising the situation.

I have voted btw.

[maskerade]

I've heard that the social democrats and the red green bloc might call for a revote if neither bloc gets a majority and the swedish democrats get in.

i'm hoping for a surprise result though...

As for who i think will replace Mona Sahlin...maybe Bodström, but I think it will be another woman - there is one which used to do something in the EU before, and was known for her foreign policy (no not Anna Lindh)...I can't remember her name though

[Sentinel]

As for who i think will replace Mona Sahlin...maybe Bodström, but I think it will be another woman - there is one which used to do something in the EU before, and was known for her foreign policy (no not Anna Lindh)...I can't remember her name though

Could you be thinking about Margot Wallström (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margot_Wallstr%C3%B6m)? She has made it clear she isn't interested in the past, but it was a while ago I heard anything about her so who knows.

[Jolly Red Giant]

If no bloc gets a majority, it will mean chaos. Chaos could be both good and bad, dependent on what you are doing and how you are utilising the situation.

I have voted btw.
Is it possible that the Moderates and the Social Democrats could do a deal on the basis of the need for national unity during the crisis and in order to keep the far-right from having any influence?

[Dimentio]

Is it possible that the Moderates and the Social Democrats could do a deal on the basis of the need for national unity during the crisis and in order to keep the far-right from having any influence?

I don't think so, but it would really be a complete delegitimisation of the entire system. :lol:

[Kiev Communard]

Considering that, unlike Norway and Denmark, Sweden lacks even the small grouping to the left of both Social Democrats and the "Left" Party, the prospects of these election, whoever will win it, are indeed bleak.

[RotStern]

What do you guys think of Ohly?

[Sentinel]

Considering that, unlike Norway and Denmark, Sweden lacks even the small grouping to the left of both Social Democrats and the "Left" Party, the prospects of these election, whoever will win it, are indeed bleak.


I do agree, and while I did vote (for the Left Party), I did so more of practical, short term reasons than any hope of true positive change. While I hardly expect a victory for the redgreen bloc to bring much serious improvement, I seriously fear that a renewed mandate for the bourgeois one would cause a further rapid deterioration of the living conditions and influence of the workers in the country.



What do you guys think of Ohly?


He is pretty toothless. Before he was selected as leader of the party I was positively curious of him. He represented the 'traditionalist' faction of the party who opposed the 'renewers' who wanted to distance the party from it's communist past following the fall of the socialist bloc in Europe. He even used to still call himself a communist after the party officially removed the word 'communists' from it's name 1990. Unfortunately he has done a great deal of retracting since.

In any case, at the end of the day, reformists such as he and his party can hardly bring us much closer to our goal -- the classless society. But seen from a more short term perspective they are the best option to vote for as they could in some ways seriously act to at least slow down the dissolution of the welfare state, the union movement and so forth.

[Tavarisch_Mike]

First prognosis launched, the red-green bloc got 45% and the right-wing bloc got 49% and Sverigedemokraterna got 4,6% and therefor got in to the riksdag OBS! this is still just a prognosis, the final resulte will comme later tonight.

[hatzel]

...shit :laugh:

If that's how it turns out, I really can't see it being pretty. I mean, with only 49%, that's pretty strongly inviting Alliansen to make some kind of deal with Sverigedemokraterna, even if just to push certain pieces of legislation through. So, to be honest, a 51% for Alliansen would probably be better than 49%, strange as that may sound!

On the other hand, what do we think of the possibilities otherwise? If the result weren't quite as friendly to Alliansen? Maybe only 47%. Would either side really be able to assert any kind of authority without an absolute majority?

[aty]

The Left Party leader just reached out to the non-parliamentary left in Sweden.

[Delenda Carthago]

The Left Party leader just reached out to the non-parliamentary left in Sweden.
how big are them both?

[Zeus the Moose]

The Left Party leader just reached out to the non-parliamentary left in Sweden.

What does "non-parliamentary left" mean in this case? Is it individuals and groups that eschew parliamentary participation, or is it groups like RS and the Socialist Party that run in elections, but don't get seats on the national level?

Or is it these people: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAQDz6m2XPk

[Tavarisch_Mike]

Wait, didnt he said something more like "know we must build a non-parlamentarian organisations", i thought he ment that the left party where going to build new once.

[maskerade]

What a sad day :/ seems like the swedish democrats will get quite the position of power, as neither bloc could form a majority.

alliansen will have to co-operate with them now...fuck

[Tatarin]

Updates:

Left Party - 5,6%
Social Democrats - 30,9%
Greens - 7,2%
(Total Red-Greens - 43,7%)

Centre Party - 6,6%
People's Party - 7,1%
Christian Democrats - 5,6%
Moderates - 29,9%
(Total Business Alliance - 49,2%)

Sweden Democrats - 5,7%

Others - 1,4%

[Tavarisch_Mike]

Simply speaking, we are fucked! the right-wingers still got the control and now the nazis have entrade the parliament.

More reasons to fight harder.

[Wanted Man]

Maybe one reason for the success of the Sweden Democrats is the very existence of the 4% threshold, which is ridiculously anti-democratic even by the standards of parliamentary democracy. I don't know the Swedish situation, but perhaps they've been able to exploit that kind of policy aimed against smaller parties?

In any case, it sucks that they got themselves into a position of power now, but it's not necessarily a bad thing for parties like them to have their own little enclave of one or two seats. It's certainly much preferable to constantly giving them the challenge of "breaking through", being the underdog that's being kept down by the "left-wing establishment".

[Sentinel]

Alright, SD got into the Riksdag, and as it looks right now -- and almost all of the votes are counted -- they will also get political influence, as the bourgeois bloc didn't acquire sole majority and will now be dependant of the racists in the Riksdag votes. :(

If the bourgeois government continues to rule without a majority of the Riksdag mandates behind it, the racists in SD will be able to overturn any decisions it makes that the redgreen bloc also disagrees with.

Thus I fear there is a risk that the bourgeois parties now might negotiate with them, or at least listen to their demands (regarding immigration etc), despite so far promising not to cooperate with them.

Mona Sahlin, leader of the Social Democrats -- largest party of the red-green coalition, which got a smaller minority of the votes than the bourgeois one and thus lost the elections -- just said that she still has bastant support in the party and won't resign.

After the elections Lars Ohly, leader if the Left Party refused to go into the pre-interview makeup, when he heard that the SD-leader Jimmie Åkesson was in there.

[Sentinel]

Fredrik Reinfeldt, leader of the Bourgeois bloc, just declared that they will negotiate with the Green Party to avoid dependancy of the Sweden Democrats. Now it remains to see if the Greens are ready to leave their coalition with the Social democrats and the Left Party, the so called Red-Green bloc.

I doubt it.

[Delenda Carthago]

How "left" the Left Party is?

[Tavarisch_Mike]

How "left" the Left Party is?

More like the old school social democrats.

[Obzervi]

Disgusting that the far right is gaining ground. This can be combated by increasing immigration levels.

[Sasha]

Disgusting that the far right is gaining ground. This can be combated by increasing immigration levels.

Wow, that must be the single most piece of shit analysis I have ever seen on this board.

[zimmerwald1915]

Wow, that must be the single most piece of shit analysis I have ever seen on this board.
Which is...saying something.

[Dimentio]

Disgusting that the far right is gaining ground. This can be combated by increasing immigration levels.

While increased amount of immigration could make it virtually impossible for them to win power, it could also lead to increased support for the right-wing extremists.

[aty]

How "left" the Left Party is?
They changed their name from "Left Party Communists" a couple of years ago. Still a rather large group of communists in the party and I believe that many from the non-parliamentary left will now go into the Left Party to make things right to the next election.

Right now demonstrations outside the parliament in Stockholm...

[aty]

The nationalsocialist party in Sweden "Svenskarnas parti" have taken a seat in a local assembly. It is the first time a real nazi-party have taken a seat in Sweden since 1940.

This may 3 members from the nazi-party elected were chasing socialists with knifes but got stabbed themselves. In july two members from the nazi-party was also out chasing socialists with batons, knifes and a gun.

[Demogorgon]

Fredrik Reinfeldt, leader of the Bourgeois bloc, just declared that they will negotiate with the Green Party to avoid dependancy of the Sweden Democrats. Now it remains to see if the Greens are ready to leave their coalition with the Social democrats and the Left Party, the so called Red-Green bloc.

I doubt it.
Wouldn't it be suicidal for the Greens to agree to that? If they did wouldn't many of their voters go back to the Social Democrats? Presumably under the circumstances wouldn't the logical course for the bourgeois block to follow involve forming a minority Government and relying on ad hoc support from components of the Red Green block on different matters? My understanding of the Swedish Constitution is that it is designed to make minority Government easier relatively speaking than it is in many other countries, so presumably it would be doable. In much of Europe today the differences between centre left and centre right aren't vastly different so presumably the Social Democrats will be open to abstention on some votes if it means stopping the Swedish Democrats from having influence?

[Sentinel]

Wouldn't it be suicidal for the Greens to agree to that? If they did wouldn't many of their voters go back to the Social Democrats?

I tend to agree, and all night yesterday it sounded like the same from their two leaders Maria Wetterstrand and Peter Eriksson. Wetterstrand said that she couldn't 'look her voters in the eyes' if they chose to cooperate with the government parties. But now they have opened for negotiations anyway, and the situation is unclear. We are waiting for an announcement from both the government and the Greens shortly.

Already before the elections, the Bourgeois bloc hinted that they could, in a situation like this, cooperate with the Greens -- while the Red-Green bloc said the same about Folkpartiet (Liberals) and Centerpartiet (Centre), who are currently part of the Bourgeois bloc. I very highly doubt that the Bourgeois coalition will split though, as Fp and C have made it quite clear that they do not wish to sit in government with the 'communists' in V, the Left Party.

In any case I'm even more sceptical about any centre-left government (with Social democrats, Greens, Liberals, and Centre, without V, would get 51.8% of the mandates) taking form, it isn't even being discussed atm although anything can happen as all parties are very keen to not let the Sweden Democrats get into a position of power.


Presumably under the circumstances wouldn't the logical course for the bourgeois block to follow involve forming a minority Government and relying on ad hoc support from components of the Red Green block on different matters?

Indeed, a bourgeois minority government is a possibility as well, the most likely one I think if the Greens won't cooperate. But would such a government stand in power for 4 years?

The Sweden democrats have some common positions with the Red-Green bloc, for instance against Swedish participation in Afghanistan and on certain welfare issues, but it's far from certain that the Red-Green opposition would use their support to block decisions by the government, or to force the government to resign.

Overall, this is a very uncertain situation. Prime Minister Reinfeldt will hold a press conference any minute now, and the Greens 30 minutes after that..

[Sentinel]

Reinfeldt didn't say anything decisive, only that they have a month on them to come to a conclusion, and then went on to speculate why the Sweden democrats got in this time (he thinks much of their support were protest votes from people for one reason or another disagree with the establishment, rather from people who agree with the SD message). Clearly the uncertain situation is far from solved yet.

As I said above, there will next be a statement from the Greens.

[Crux]

I am pretty sure th Greens will jump ship and experience a similar slaughter in the next election that the Irish GP received when they pulled a similar move. Well, 4 more years of struggle. As an aside RS did well in the elctions, we increased our number of votes where we sit, we received an ok number of votes here in my home town, 0.6%, which is ok considering this our first election, in this city and for the members. Lot's of new potential recruits among those voters.
There will be anti-sd demonstrations today in stockholm and gothenburg. No pasaran!

[Sentinel]

It is interesting that one of the newly elected SD Riksdag members, Richard Jomshof, says that in his experience (from local politics) the Bourgeois Alliance has been prepared to cooperate with SD when it lacks sole majority, and that he expects them to eventually do it on Riksdag level as well.

It wouldn't surprise me. :mad:

[Crux]

It is interesting that one of the newly elected SD Riksdag members, Richard Jomshof, says that in his experience (from local politics) the Bourgeois Alliance has been prepared to cooperate with SD when it lacks sole majority, and that he expects them to eventually do it on Riksdag level as well.

It wouldn't surprise me. :mad:
They probably will, yes thus further "normalizing" the SD. The struggle is now, comrades.

[Sentinel]

They probably will, yes thus further "normalizing" the SD. The struggle is now, comrades.


Indeed. The Greens have now announced that they will not support the Bourgeois bloc. Everything is thusly pointing towards a Bourgeois minority government, one that is de facto dependant of SD -- fucking racists -- in it's decisions.

New elections would be the best outcome here, but I very highly doubt Reinfeldt will have any.

[aty]

There will be anti-sd demonstrations today in stockholm and gothenburg. No pasaran!
And Malmö and Umeå...

[Sasha]

so now we will have denmark, the netherlands and sweden with minority goverments depending on the extreme right.
charming

[Sentinel]

I have started a new thread (http://www.revleft.com/vb/vad-haender-nu-t141994/index.html) in the Nordic forum to discuss the current situation.

[Demogorgon]

Indeed. The Greens have now announced that they will not support the Bourgeois bloc. Everything is thusly pointing towards a Bourgeois minority government, one that is de facto dependant of SD -- fucking racists -- in it's decisions.

New elections would be the best outcome here, but I very highly doubt Reinfeldt will have any.
Wouldn't the danger with new elections be the Sweden Democrats could end up doing even better if they played up the whole "the establishment is trying to go again because they didn't like the results first time round angle"?

Anyway does the Bourgeoise Alliance need the Sweden Democrats strictly, because I know this is new in Sweden but in other countries it has been quite common for the main opposition to provide some assistance to the Government to keep mutual foes out of the loop.

[Sentinel]

Wouldn't the danger with new elections be the Sweden Democrats could end up doing even better if they played up the whole "the establishment is trying to go again because they didn't like the results first time round angle"?

That would depend on how many new voters an anti-racist, leftwing platform could mobilise against them, but yeah, the risk is there obviously.



Anyway does the Bourgeoise Alliance need the Sweden Democrats strictly, because I know this is new in Sweden but in other countries it has been quite common for the main opposition to provide some assistance to the Government to keep mutual foes out of the loop.


Well, it is certainly possible for the Bourgeois Government to form a minority government acting in the fashion you describe. But it would still be possible for it to get a mistrust vote in the Riksdag should it make controversial decisions -- primarily regarding welfare issues -- that both the Redgreens and SD oppose.

There have been several minority governments in Sweden in the past, but the current situation with a racist party with it's roots in Swedish nazism as 'scalemaster' ie the holders of the decisive mandates is indeed new.

I'm uncertain what will happen now.

[maskerade]

There is only one comparison that works to this situation, and that is the election of nydemokrati in 1991, but this election is much worse, as nd was a result of dissatisfaction, whereas SD have an organisation - with nazi roots - that has been around for a long time. Unfortunately, i do not see them going anytime soon

:(

[Red Commissar]

So with the election results as they are, what could a right-wing coalition be able to pass? How does it work in the Swedish parliament?

[Tavarisch_Mike]

They could try to form a minority goverment with the support frome SD, but if they refuse to that and no other form of coalliton comes i think a new election is going to be necessary.

[Dimentio]

I am pretty sure th Greens will jump ship and experience a similar slaughter in the next election that the Irish GP received when they pulled a similar move. Well, 4 more years of struggle. As an aside RS did well in the elctions, we increased our number of votes where we sit, we received an ok number of votes here in my home town, 0.6%, which is ok considering this our first election, in this city and for the members. Lot's of new potential recruits among those voters.
There will be anti-sd demonstrations today in stockholm and gothenburg. No pasaran!

In Umea, the RS got decimated, down from 3 seats to 1.

[Tavarisch_Mike]

In Umea, the RS got decimated, down from 3 seats to 1.

finaly some good news!

[Red Commissar]

Was looking at another forum and saw a self-described progressive say this,


The Alliance is frankly retarded if they continue to refuse to cooperate with the Sweden Democrats, it's understandable that they tried hard to make the party look far-right to scare voters into voting for them instead, but now they shouldn't have any reason not to act like a grown-up political party and cooperate rather than pulling the Nazi-flag.

The Swedish Green Party is way too extreme for their own good, but if the Alliance is willing to enrage their voters by e.g. doubling fuel taxes, I'm sure they will be more than happy to join a new government with their former enemies. The Alliance could however easily avoid this suicide by starting to treat the Sweden Democrats with some respect.



I'm quite pleased to see the Sweden Democrats make it into parliament, the immigration policy of the Social Democrats has made Sweden a pathetic mess heading into destruction, and this is a sign that the Swedes themselves have started to acknowledge it.

The way the Sweden Democrats and their supporters have been treated is a disgrace, I can't believe how people consider it acceptable to assault them in the streets, ban their commercials, threaten their voters and even isolate their children. This whilst the Social Democrats and their infamous leader, Mona Sahlin, who repeatedly has been caught for illegal activities, are allowed to e.g. march voters into polling station

[Crux]

In Umea, the RS got decimated, down from 3 seats to 1.
Good riddance to bad rubbish I say. That they even dare to stand under the RS name (well technically they are RS "Unity List", funny name for a little group of defectors). They are completly depndeant on those seats so I suspect the Unity List will have a long slow death ahead of them. Sooner rather than later I hope. Hopefully this will also open up further for the re-establishing of Real RS in Umeå.

Our other election results were good. We didn't get any new seats but we moved decisively forward, gaining votes in both Haninge and Luleå where we have seats. That's quite feat considering the right-wing winds that are blowing. We gained 187 votes for the council here in my hometown in Uddevalla. A very good result considering our newness, this is the first time were standing in Uddevalla, this is also my and the rest of the comrades first election campaign and our resources compared to the other parties were, to say the least, limited. Even in cities where we are far mroe established still many of those that support us have yet to take the leap and support us in the ballots. With 187 votes I see many more new potential recruits. We already recruited 3 new members through our election campaign as well as getting some good media coverage. every new member will be needed in the struggle that is ahead of us, with a right wing government and the racists in the Riksdag.

[Crux]

Was looking at another forum and saw a self-described progressive say this,
That is a reactionary if I ever saw one. And let us not forget not so many years ago, it was the SD that was pulling the nazi flag, quite literally. In the mid ninties they had to abn uniforms on their meetings. In early 200's the Nationaldemocrats, a more or less openly nazi organization, split from them. You can polish shit as much as you want, it will still be brown.
Also more importantly they are still fucking racists. Not that the rightwing parties would really mind that, they're just afraid to lose votes.

[Red Commissar]

That is a reactionary if I ever saw one. And let us not forget not so many years ago, it was the SD that was pulling the nazi flag, quite literally. In the mid ninties they had to abn uniforms on their meetings. In early 200's the Nationaldemocrats, a more or less openly nazi organization, split from them. You can polish shit as much as you want, it will still be brown.
Also more importantly they are still fucking racists. Not that the rightwing parties would really mind that, they're just afraid to lose votes.

I've noticed a tendency among self-described progressives in Europe to have a tendency to adopt some rather hardline views in regards to immigration and minorities. They join in on the bandwagon about the crime and welfare abuses committed by immigrant communities and move that to seemingly the gravest threat facing the world. I suppose it can be said they have a narrow minded view that all the benefits of their views should be restricted within the people in their borders and no one else. Sounds familiar...

It's a shame that these kind of groups are managing to find an audience. It's good that at least in Sweden there was some display against it, in other countries, say Wilders in Netherlands or Jobbik in Hungary, there has been little condemnation of them.

On that topic, can someone enlighten me on the Swedish Democrats beyond their obvious racist inclinations?

[Sentinel]

Jimmie Åkesson menade också att SD kan komma att rösta med de rödgröna – alltså mot regeringen – när förslaget om förlängning av Sveriges militära insats i Afghanistan läggs senare i höst.
– Det är mycket troligt att det blir så. Men vi samtalar med alla partier.
Link (http://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/article7820553.ab)

According to Aftonbladet, The SD leader Jimmie Åkesson has said that it is very likely they will vote against the proposal by the government -- awaited to come this fall -- to continue the swedish military participation in Afghanistan.

ie, they would vote the same way as the redgreen bloc, thusly blocking a decision by the government. But, he says, they are 'open to negotiate with anyone'.

He is trying to scare the bourgeois bloc into negotiating with them..

[Obzervi]

This is a very dangerous situation. They may be in the minority now, but history shows that all it takes is a single even catalyst to conjure up mass support for right wing extremists. Its always easier to blame other people (immigrants) for your problems. I'm really ashamed of Sweden, this is fucking disgusting.

[Jolly Red Giant]

Just wondering if anyone can reference incidents of violence carried out by members of the SD.

[Crux]

Just wondering if anyone can reference incidents of violence carried out by members of the SD.
http://www.thelocal.se/28970/20100913/
Apparently this incident was self-inflicted according to later police reports. :laugh:

[aty]

Just wondering if anyone can reference incidents of violence carried out by members of the SD.
Their press-secretary and another guy running for parliament fighting on the streets against a guy not agreeing with their politics. Only a small part of it was filmed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JA4TC8anM0

[Crux]

Right-wing government re-elected

www.socialistworld.net, 24/09/2010
website of the committee for a workers' international, CWI
Complete failure for Social Democratic-Green “opposition”
Per Olsson, Rättvisepartiet Socialisterna (CWI Sweden) (http://http//www.socialisterna.org/)
http://www.socialistworld.net/img/20100924Grafik5883442679001133752.jpg
The Swedish elections were historic in many ways. In a polarised vote, with a increased turnout, the right-wing “Alliance” was again the biggest bloc while losing their overall majority. The racist Sweden Democrats (SD) won 20 parliamentary seats and the Social Democrats had their worst result since 1914.
Against the main trend, Rättvisepartiet Socialisterna (RS – CWI Sweden) kept its five council seats with increased votes.
Best ever result for ‘Moderates’

After the elections, Sweden is more divided than for a long time. Increased social inequality has created an anger and frustration that is waiting to be expressed in collective struggle. On Monday, only the day after the elections, up to 20,000 people participated in demonstrations against racism, called by Facebook groups. These demonstrations, alongside protests that stopped street meetings of the SD during the election campaign, are signs of what is coming.
“Those who vote for the [right-wing] Alliance will wake up with a stable government Monday morning,” right-wing Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt said on election day. But the new right-wing government is far from stable and is now only able to continue with the support of one or more parties from outside of its alliance. Of the four parties in government, only the biggest, the Moderates, increased their vote. In the ‘Red-Green’ opposition bloc, the Social Democratic vote dramatically dropped while the Greens won nearly 50% more votes than in 2006 and the Left party (V) fell from 5.85 percent to 5.6 percent and lost three of their MPs. The polarisation meant that both blocs, the governing ‘Alliance’ and the ‘Red-Green’ opposition, increased their actual number of votes, but lost in percentages. This was because of the more than doubling of the racist Swedish Democrats’ vote to just under 340,000, 5.6% of the total.
The Moderates got their best ever result with 30 per cent of the vote for parliament, compared to 26 per cent in 2006. It is the Moderates, to a certain extent at the expense of its ‘Alliance’ allies, who have gained from the attempt to buy votes. With tax reductions – four rounds of lowered income taxes – the government has attempted to split those with a job from those without (pensioners, the unemployed, etc.). Alongside tax reductions, the public sector has been further cut, even if the loss of income has been partly compensated for by sales of state-owned companies.

http://www.socialistworld.net/img/article/2010-09-24Grafik6235131083784248157.jpg RS protest in Haninge/Stockholm against the Sweden democrats during the election campaign


Lack of struggle from trade union leaders

If the trade unions and the so-called opposition had organised a struggle against the massive reductions in unemployment benefits, sick pay and pensions that paid for the tax reductions, these attempts to split the working class would have been blocked. There was a willingness to struggle, not least reflected in the strong support, following the 2006 elections, for a political strike against the attacks on unemployed. But instead of a strike, the trade union tops reduced their protest to a petition on the internet and small demonstrations on the day parliament took the decision to attack benefits (14 December 2006).
Weakness invites aggression. After the attack on unemployment benefits, a series of measures followed to push down wages and working conditions, particularly hitting the growing number of workers with casual jobs. The inability of the trade union tops to organise any struggle is a reason why the Moderates have won votes among workers.
But it is worth remembering that this government had the worst loss of support of any government in its first 100 days. By the end of 2006, the SAP alone had more support than the four parties in government put together. The SAP, the Left Party and the Greens combined had more than 50 per cent in opinion polls. Even so it was only June of this year that the government parties gained a lead in the opinion polls.
Svenska Dagbladet, a daily paper, wrote on 13 December 2009: The right-wing alliance “risks losing the elections in the same way as they won in 2006. On protest votes. In the SCB [state statistic bureau] main opinion poll the Red-Greens are ahead and the Moderates are falling behind… the debate over the sick-pay insurance has led to a loss of 350,000 potential votes for the government.” But against the opposition was the legacy of the Social Democratic governments of 1994-2002, with a huge crisis of confidence for the SAP.
SAP – new leaders same old pro-capitalist policies

The new leadership of the SAP was only new in name; the policies and the faces were the same as before. And in councils and regional councils with the SAP in power, the neo-liberal policy continued. The bourgeoisification of the SAP is mainly marked by the fact that the party is no longer seen as guaranteeing welfare and employment. Their support, already weakening, was further undermined by the view of the leadership that left-wing policies and class arguments would scare middle-class voters.
The continued shift to the right of the SAP was manifest at their party congress in November 2009, when it stated that private or public ownership was a “non-issue”. The main consequence was an acceptance of private schools and health centers. The capitulation of the trade unions in the wage negotiation rounds this spring gave additional support to the view that there was no alternative to right-wing policies and the dictatorship of the market. This, alongside the lack of struggle, gave the government the possibility of winning back lost ground with the help of tax reductions.
Economy still deep in trouble

The Moderates in particular, being the largest party in the government, made gains as the crisis affected different parts of the country in different ways. In the Stockholm region, employment even increased in 2009, while one in three of metal industry workers in Västerbotten in the north were unemployed. The tax reductions alongside consumption fuelled by credit in households also added to continued purchasing power for those with jobs, despite a drop of gross domestic product of 6 per cent in 2009. The housing bubble has not yet burst in Sweden.
When the economy started to recover from its historic recession and the worst seemed to be over, while other European countries were close to bankruptcy at the same time, this gave grounds for the myth of the financial ‘successes’ of the government. The opposition could quickly have replied by launching a struggle for hundreds of thousands of welfare and green jobs, the right to work full time and reductions in working hours without loss of pay, plus the right to secure jobs instead of casual jobs. But the Red-Greens were locked into the same budget discipline as the government and therefore had no real alternative.
The lack of alternative and a fighting labour movement gave ground to the view that the situation was improving after all and there was nothing that could be done about it anyway. This view existed not only in the so-called middle class but also among workers and youth, making it easier for the government to conduct an ideological campaign against the public sector and what they, with contempt, call “those living on state grants”. But today’s moods are temporary phenomena.
No majority for either alliance

Sweden now has a hung parliament with the racist SD holding the balance of power. The new political landscape marks a deepening political crisis that could result in early elections (which would be unique in Swedish history) or even a new grand coalition. The ‘Red-Greens’ are in trouble, with the Greens considering a deal with the government. Locally, they already cooperate or rule in alliance with the right-wing parties in some areas. The Greens might defend support for the government with the argument that they want to avoid chaos and that some cosmetic promises might be made regarding the environment or nuclear power.
On election night, the LO (the main trade union federation) leader Wanja Lundby Wedin hinted at cooperation with the Greens and the Left Party in the wake of the catastrophic result of the SAP. Some social democrats argue for cooperation with the government to “stop the Sweden Democrats” – as if such cooperation has ever stopped racism. Without deals with other parties, the right wing will rule as a minority government, as they did in 1991-94, with the support of the racist party of that time, New Democracy.
Worst result since 1914 for SAP

Despite being in opposition against an extreme neo-liberal coalition and with extreme class inequality existing, the SAP had its worst election result since 1914. The party lost 6 percent of its votes compared to its also very low vote in 2006. It only kept its position as the biggest party in parliament by a slender margin. The SAP has become a party which is little different from the other pro-capitalist parties. It only kept its votes in the north, while in Stockholm it only got 22 percent of the vote.
Hardly has the media been as one-sided and campaigned so openly for the right wing as in this election. Even if that was not decisive in itself, it contributed to the vote for the government, since the Red-Greens lacked both policies and activists to respond in workplaces, housing areas and on the streets.
During the election campaign, newspapers wrote miles of columns about how good the Swedish economy was. From election night, however, they have read differently. Svenska Dagbladet wrote on Monday: “The new government does not arrive at a laid table. It will take time until the table is laid. Unemployment is 8 per cent and no-one can see a decrease, even in several years. The good figures for growth, exports and state finances can rapidly be changed to something more unpleasant if the global economy again dives downwards. The risks for a more negative development have increased over the last months.”
More attacks from bosses on the way – workers must struggle!

The “market”, betting on a majority right-wing government, expects continued counter-reforms on the labour market and more privatisations. Behind this worker-hostile programme is also the racist SD.
What is now needed is for activists in trade unions, rank-and-file organisations and on the left to unite in rapid action against right-wing policies and racism, with the aim of building a bigger movement. Without rapid action, the re-election of the government and the racist MPs risks strengthening the mood of resignation that exists. The current political climate and opinions reflected in the elections, however, will start to change with the whip of reaction and attacks will be answered with struggle.
A new right-wing government and the Sweden Democrats will strengthen all the contradictions accumulated beneath the surface. It is a provocation that only can be met with organised resistance, mass actions and socialist policies.

http://www.socialistworld.net/img/article/2010-09-24Grafik8642959969279065314.jpg Up to 10,000 demonstrate in central Stockholm agajnst the Sweden democrats the day after the election


Sweden: Racist party elected to the Riksdag

What is behind the result of the “Sweden Democrats”?

The racist Sweden Democrats (SD) got 5.7 per cent and 20 MPs in the elections. With this result, the SD gained free tickets to television and newspaper publicity. Their leader, Jimmie Åkesson, is interviewed as if the SD is like any political party.



The SD got 330,000 votes (more than the Left Party, the former Communist Party) and got seats in 11 regional councils with 9.4 per cent in Skåne in the south. They increased or won their first seats in a number of councils. In addition, they received 12.4 per cent in school elections, although the Red-Green alliance won those elections and participation was low.



The election result immediately led to anti-racist demonstrations, with up to 20,000 participating in demonstrations in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö the day after the elections. This shows the potential for a movement against the SD and racism.
Development of Sweden Democrats

The Sweden Democrats started as an openly fascist party, but has carried out gradual ‘make-overs’, ending up as an “immigrant-critical” party. Despite the media now saying they are no longer racist, the party has an armada of proposals for different rules and laws based on whether somebody is Swedish or not. Their previous demand for deportation of everyone who arrived to Sweden after 1970 has been dropped, but they still talk about the need for “ethnic similarity”. This in a country where close to one in five people has a foreign background.



Over the last few years, the SD has mainly campaigned against Muslims, naming Islam as the biggest “foreign threat” since the Second World War. In their propaganda, they also claim to defend care of the elderly. But in practice, in the councils where they have seats, they have voted for huge cuts and privatisation.
Fightback must be organised!

For all those worried over the election results, it is now a question of organising resistance. This in turn has to be based on an analysis of why their vote is increasing. Basically, it’s the same answer as why the right-wing alliance won the elections: the increased insecurity in society combined with the lack of organised resistance.
The SD is now all over the media and is guaranteed 110 million Swedish Kronor (€11 million) in state aid as a parliamentary party, but it is still a party with few active members. When thousands attended protests in the election campaign, the SD only mobilised a handful and had to cancel several of their street meetings.
Some right-wing commentators have even said the SD gained from these counter-demonstrations. The fact, however, is that the SD grew more where there were no counter-demonstrations. It is resistance that can strengthen all those that feel threatened by the racists and to a certain point check the racists. Those critical of demonstrations against the racists offer no alternative and are most often critical of all kinds of demonstrations.



On the other hand, the united stand of establishment politicians against the SD probably increased the support for the SD, making it possible to portray the party as “different”. It is not the protests, but privatisation, cuts in unemployment benefits, factory closure, council cuts, etc., that have given ground to the racists.
Dangers of the racists – build a strong anti-racist movement

The main danger now with the SD in parliament is that it will ‘infect’ the other parties, as has happened in Denmark, for example, where most parties compete with measures to be taken against immigrants. Another danger is the risk of increased racist violence, as fascists are encouraged by the SD vote. Racism today also means the risk of splits in the working class, when the real need is for common struggle.



A strong anti-racist movement must be built. It needs to stress the struggle against racism: act against racists and racist violence every time as well as the struggle for jobs, education, health care and housing for everyone.



To achieve this, workers and youth should be mobilised into a common struggle, disregarding language, religion and ethnic background.
The SD is a racist right-wing party with a fragile basis at the moment. Big mobilisations and class struggle can expose the SD, showing that all workers are losers with their policies, as well as undermining their support.

Sweden: CWI Sweden wins five council seats

Socialist campaigns gave increased votes
Elin Gauffin and Jonas Brännberg
Rättvisepartiet Socialisterna (RS, CWI Sweden) kept its three council seats in Luleå and two in Haninge. It is an achievement in a political climate with almost no workers’ struggles, a right-wing victory in the general election, racist MPs elected and other left organisations losing votes.



In Luleå in the north of Sweden, RS got 2,180 votes, 4.5 percent, an increase of 335 votes, over 18 per cent up. A sharp increase in the number of voters, however, blocked the possibility of a fourth council seat.



In Haninge (south Stockholm), the increase was 185 votes to 1,416 (3.3 percent) and our two council seats were held. This was in contrast to the Left Party, which lost 234 votes. The Social Democrats (SAP) lost 1,269 votes in Haninge.



In the last week, the mood among our campaign workers was high, as reports from voters came in. We sold 2,198 election manifestos in six weeks and 917 individuals promised to vote for us, giving phone numbers and addresses, both higher than in the 2006 campaign. In contrast, the SAP campaign largely consisted of giving out candy and roses rather than political material!



Our campaign was fantastic, with big efforts made by members and supporters, many of whom took leave to work in the election. The campaign was wide-ranging, reaching out to new groups of supporters among warehouse workers, in child care and elderly care while at the same time having the youngest election campaigners.
Stronger roots meant that we increased our vote in new districts; at the same time we are still the third biggest party, with 9.7 per cent of the vote, in Jordbro, our working-class stronghold (about 10,000 inhabitants) where our councillors, Mattias Bernhardsson and Lina Thörnblom, also live. The total increase from 3 to 3.3 per cent in Haninge should also be seen against the background of an increase in the number of voters to 2,267.



Our party will, as we promised, continue to initiate protests and struggles with all those who want to fight back. Everything from the anti-racist movement to demands for an increase of staff in elderly care and child care, for an improved shopping centre in Jordbro and a new football field in Brandbergen.
http://www.socialistworld.net/img/article/2010-09-24Grafik942976431776155885.jpg Election campaign in Luleå

Luleå

In this campaign, it was clear the party has strong roots amongst groups of workers. Our initiatives to struggle against worsening conditions in elderly care got a strong echo. The struggle against racism and for the right to asylum has increased our support among immigrants. We have also shown that struggles can be won, when privatisation of the council’s cleaning workers was stopped.



In Tuna housing area, we increased our vote by a quarter and RS is now the second biggest party. In old strongholds such as Örnäset and Svartöstaden we got 9 and 11 per cent respectively. In the biggest working class area, Hertsön, we got 9.2 per cent in our best district.
We were almost entirely boycotted by the media, and the lack of struggle in society created a situation that was far from simple. The focus on fighting the right-wing government meant many workers ‘forgot’ the SAP cuts in the council.
Everyone participating in the campaign did a fantastic job. Many of the most active election workers participated in their first election campaign. We had a stronger regional spread than previously and recruited new RS members both in Luleå and in neighbouring Boden.
The election result is proof of what support a clear socialist programme can win even in a complicated situation. Without the work done between elections, this campaign and result would not been possible.
We have recruited 27 new RS members in the campaign nationally and the increased support shown by the vote must now be used to further build the party as well as continue to put forward the need for a new workers’ party with socialist policies.



Postscript: Not all votes are counted yet, but the result in Gothenburg will be the best we have ever had. Our result stands in sharp contrast to others on the left. The ‘Communist Party’ in Gothenburg lost a third of their vote, 1,000 votes. As many, about 1,000, were lost by the rightward-moving split-off from RS in Umeå, losing two out of their three council seats.