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Sweden on Election Night – Days of Future Past
It’s election night in Sweden and, according to the latest polls, my country has chosen a future of sorrows past.
But before I get into all that, I should offer up some background for those of you not currently glued to the Swedish state-TV:
For the past eight years, Sweden has had a center-right government after almost uninterrupted Socialist rule. Four parties have governed together, forming the conservative coalition “The Alliance”: The Moderates (headed up by Prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt), the Christian Democrats, the Liberal Party and the Center-Party. Much has happened In those eight years, and even though the conservative coalition came into power during the worst recession since the 30s, Sweden can now boast a GDP growth of 12.6%, a rise in disposable incomes of 20%, and the title of Europe’s most successful economy. This has happened after huge changes made to the public sector, cutting public spending from its previous level of 68% to about 50%, and making private options available in health care and education. Taxes have been cut in most areas and in some instances — such as inheritance- wealth- and property tax — they have been removed entirely. The most radical change has perhaps been the social security system, where bigger demands have been put on those out of work in order to receive their checks at the end of the month. After having been world leaders in disability pensioners and unemployed people being put in early retirement, the new conservative coalition changed the system to put those people back in the workforce, something that created outrage among a people used to generous benefits with little to no demands for performance.
Perhaps that is one of the reasons to why I am now watching my country choose to go back to Socialist rule. According to the latest polls, the Social Democrats will win this election, along with the environmental party and the leftist party (former communist party), and the former union boss Stefan Löfven will become Sweden’s new Prime Minister.
These three parties, calling themselves the Red-Green coalition, have run on a platform of no profits in education or health care, higher taxes, and added benefits. Basically, they want to overturn the harm that they perceive to have been done over the past eight years.
They will not be able to rule in the majority though. The biggest winner in this election will most certainly be The Swedish Democrats, the far-right party running on a platform of limited immigration. From 4,7% in the previous election, they will now reach double digits, thus giving them the balance of power in parliament. This should surprise no one, but seems to fill the entire political establishment with moral outrage. Sweden has set a record in immigration over the past 10 years, and the growing issues with Jihadi tourism, segregation, crime and a Muslim population nearing 10% have been the elephant in the room during this election cycle. The political establishment refuses to touch this issue, most likely out of fear of both losing a big chunk of voters and being labeled racist, a common occurrence in Swedish political debate. This silence has benefited the Swedish Democrat Party, and come Monday they will be the 3rd largest political party in Sweden.
One of the parties thought to enter parliament for the very first time is Fi, Feminist initiative, focusing mainly on issues pertaining to gender equality. They have strong opinions, but when it comes to fact-checking and foresight they seem to be coming up short; an independent researcher showed that if the Feminist Party gets all their ideas through, taxes would have to be raised by several hundred percent. However, their unorthodox ideas on military defense in times of great European uncertainty may be one of the ways they intend to save money. Feminist Initiative wants to scrap Swedish defense entirely because it says the military perpetuates violence and the idea that men are agents of aggression (which it says leads to more domestic violence). They also want “reeducation” for men that work within government media to make sure that they become aware of how they fit into the patriarchal system and how they can become more sensitive to the female plight.
Feminist Initiative, along with the leftist party, is the preferred party for the intellectual elite and they are both projected to have their must successful election ever. This may be indicative of the extremist trend we saw proof of in the elections to the European Parliament this May, where far left and far right claimed victory over the center-right establishment; but perhaps it also speaks to an ideology so engrained in the Swedish psyche that it always finds its way back to the ballot.
After casting my vote a few hours ago, I walked back home through a crispy city dressed for fall, and the anger I had previously felt turned into a somber sadness. Much like the Israelites, the people of Sweden stood at the Red Sea, fearful of freedom. But, unlike the Israelites, they are choosing to be slaves in Egypt rather than risk a treacherous trek. As Swedes we always have the option not to grow up, to be dependent from the cradle to the grave, as creativity is legislated out and everyone stays safely mediocre. We were shown an option, freedom was at our fingertips, but, according to the polls, freedom was an unwelcome visitor in this culture of consensus.
In four hours I will know what I already feel sure of: tomorrow I will wake up to a new country outside my window. Or no, that’s not quite true. It’s the country I grew up in, a country I prayed I would never see again.
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Please join anonymous’s audio meetup today and give us the play-by play of results.
http://ricochet.com/earliereuropean-audio-meet-up-eamu-today-6/
Walker will be edified about Switzerland’s decision not to buy the Gripen from such an unreliable country
While it’s certainly no where near the same I remember a similar feeling upon the second election of our current President, grief.
I felt like this in 2012, in particular, Annika…As you so eloquently put it, my country has chosen slavery over freedom – twice. I share your sorrow, but rejoice in your being able to move forward, God willing, soon…
So…I edited my comment for clarity and it double posted…sorry about that.
An update as the first results are in, but far from all votes are counted:
Left party: 6,6 (+1,0)Social democrats: 31,1 (+0,4)Environmental party: 7,1 (-0,2)Center party: 6,5 (-0,1)Liberal party: 6,0 (-1,0)Christian Democrats: 5,0 (-0,6)The Moderates: 22,2 (-7,9)Swedish Democrats: 10,5 (+4,8)Feminist initiative: 4,0 (+3,6) This would make them members of the parliament for the first timeOthers: 1,0 (+/-0,0)
Much as we despair when our respective nations turn to giddy foolishness and petty squabbling, much as it pains us when our nations throw away long term prosperity and success for short terms score-settling and grievance mongering, we should always remember that we misplace our faith if we keep it in hope for justice or sanity on Earth. One day there will be a reckoning and this all will pass away. Our faith in, and hope for a more just rule should always be Heaven above, not here.
Have faith, we were always bound to lose here anyway, even if we should hold back the tide for a while.
Funny that in Sweden y’all have so many parties and yet they all claim to be moderate or liberal. Not even one party that pretends to be conservative!
Is “Republican” strictly an American title?
I’m guessing that the Feminist Initiative is too foolish to realize that the Swedish Democrats are their best friends if helping women is the goal. Rapists, rest easy.
Red rover, red rover, send Annika and her children over.
We will eagerly welcome you and your family here in the USA.
Is there anything at all that we can do to ease your way?
Remember, the country of Ronald Reagan also elected Barack Obama twice. A nation’s young that doesn’t know the havoc caused by socialism will fall too often for its siren song. Some people have to learn the hard way. Unfortunately we all suffer the consequences.
I’d like to raise the voting age a bit and re-institute some sort of property or other “stakeholder” requirement myself.
Annika, write a post telling us in detail what the coalition government did that we could imitate. Your piece is quite enlightening.
Or the personal motivation.
This comment was too good to simply “like.”
F! has an interesting leader.
I slapped my head three times during that last paragraph. The F! website abounds with fanciful assertions and solutions, and reminds you: it really takes a particular kind of leftist to complain that European defense spending is too high.
Oh, that’s only half of it. She was actually well-known even before -93, after being the first woman to ever give birth on national TV. Yes. That happened.
I agree.
True.
Thank you, and yes, I would love to write such a post. Swedish politics are actually quite fascinating, of slightly other-wordly, at times. I am leaving for Israel on Sunday over Rosh Hashana, and hopefully I will inspire some good political writing.
Thank you! G-d willing, I will be out of Sweden within a year and only have to deal with this political calamity from afar..
Oh, I just saw this first comment! Let me know if there is another show on this topic, and I will be happy to chime in.
G-d willing! Sadness can be changed into resolve…
I have faith, and I have resolve. But I’m taking the night off from that in favor of bitterness and vodka…
If you have a bit of sweet tooth I recommend American Bourbon.
Does it cure post-election sadness? If so, I will give it a try.
Congratulations on your new gig with Ricochet, you are a great catch …
If I understand correctly, the Swedish election is a choice between freedom and free stuff. It’s no surprise that a nation of perpetual adolescents would choose the latter. Being an adult is hard work, after all. I suppose in two years we’ll see if America is any different. I’m not at present convinced that’s still the case.
So long as You don’t stop drinking.
So don’t these results give the “right” parties a majority of 50.2% of the vote? (if they form a coalition)
Does bourbon cure election sadness? Well, no, but it does help distract from it. So does getting snarky online. One of Rico’s first mega posts served as an election catharsis. Forerunner to the PIT.
http://ricochet.com/archives/your-post-was-so/comment-page-15/