There's even talk of the Social Democrats reaching across the aisle to form some sort of 'grand coalition' - which would break with tradition. It may not be that easy for the Social Democrats to agree economic policy with the Greens and Far Left, both of which are, well, pretty far to the left. In the latest Ipsos poll, the three left parties together muster 50.4%, whilst Alliansen is on only on 35.6%.
A poll of polls for daily Expressen has a slightly stronger showing for the centre-right but the broad picture remains the same: absent an upset, Sweden looks set for a centre-left government following eight years of centre-right rule.
At the same time, the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats have gained steadily in the polls, and it is now the fourth most popular party in the country on 10.3% (it made the Parliament for the first time in 2010, on 5.7%) according to the poll of polls - breathing down the neck of the Greens, on 10.8%. This despite Swedish media really having turned up the heat on the party over the last few years - often deserved but at times hysterically and counter-productively (the Swedish establishment hasn't quite yet grasped the 'metropolitan elite is ganging up on us' narrative that is doing so much for anti-establishment parties across Europe).
That's worrying news for those of us who want Sweden to remain a liberal and outward-looking country.
Sweden will still be both liberal and outward-looking no matter who wins the Swedish election . However, there is a risk it is about to go crazy-liberal and crazy about looking outward.
ReplyDeleteThe Peoples Party is the liberal party, the Swedish commissioner is from the liberals....
They want to introduce the Euro in Sweden, they support the transatlantic trade deal (carte blanche) etc etc. Fringe party with fringe support (5-7%), but are they lunatic fringe or enlightened elite? I suppose it is subjective, disconnected is the least bad that can be said about them.
The Christian Democracts and the Centre party might not reach the 4% needed to get into parliament and if that happens then the ruling coalition will have tiny representation in the parliament.
The ruling coalition has introduced the exact same economic policies as Ireland had up until the Irish economy crashed. The liberal press has, like for Ireland, applauded them...
Sweden is different than Ireland but it is not that different. The coming property crash in Sweden will be very very bad. Even the current finance minister who introduced the policies has admitted as much.
Prices are now maintained by shortage of housing and easy credit.
The shortage will continue, the population is set to grow quickly:
http://www.thelocal.se/20140816/reinfeldt-calls-for-tolerance-to-refugees
The comments to the article might also be of interest.
One year and 100,000 people to come to Sweden from outside of the EU. The population of Sweden is not even 10 million.
Unemployment, shortage of housing, crumbling infrastructure and failed (too cheap sale price & worse services) privatisations. Am really looking forward to the coalition being kicked out.