2010 Swedish general election: Difference between revisions
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Other readings saw the rise of the SD as sending "ripples of shock not only through the country but through European politics," and asked "Is this finally it for the 'Swedish model'" that has been represented as a "meld of liberal values, high taxes, outstanding childcare and welfare that made the country the poster boy for European social democracy?" The election was also landmark for its impact on the Social Democrats, which had been in government for 65 of the last 78 years and who have never lost two consecutive elections. This was their worse result since [[universal suffrage]] in 1921. Its decline was seen as a reflection of the party's inability to adapt, an increasingly technocratic profile, a failure to address immigration concerns, as well as Reinfeldt success in managing the economy. The Social Democratic failure drew parralels with a larger decline of European left parties.<ref>http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2010/0922/1224279430777.html</ref> |
Other readings saw the rise of the SD as sending "ripples of shock not only through the country but through European politics," and asked "Is this finally it for the 'Swedish model'" that has been represented as a "meld of liberal values, high taxes, outstanding childcare and welfare that made the country the poster boy for European social democracy?" The election was also landmark for its impact on the Social Democrats, which had been in government for 65 of the last 78 years and who have never lost two consecutive elections. This was their worse result since [[universal suffrage]] in 1921. Its decline was seen as a reflection of the party's inability to adapt, an increasingly technocratic profile, a failure to address immigration concerns, as well as Reinfeldt success in managing the economy. The Social Democratic failure drew parralels with a larger decline of European left parties.<ref>http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2010/0922/1224279430777.html</ref> |
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This represented, however, only one theory of electoral failure. Another theory suggested that electoral failure was based on internal factors. Critics charged that the Social Democrats failed to win over the middle class and had completely lost touch with their original vision which had made them a dominant political party.<ref>http://www.swedishwire.com/component/content/article/2:politics/6316:swedish-model-party-in-crisis</ref> One might infer, therefore, that they attempt to look outside of Sweden for explanations for electoral failure was part of an attempt by party leaders to avoid responsibility for electoral defeat. This inference is based on a general pattern of nationalist politics in which different political parties have used foreign nations to explain Swedish difficulties, whether the United States or Russia (depending on the political block).<ref>http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=43678</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 00:47, 22 September 2010
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The 2010 general election to the Riksdag or Swedish parliament was held on 19 September 2010. The governing centre-right coalition The Alliance, led by Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt (leader of the liberal-conservative Moderate Party), faced an election battle against the opposing Red-Greens coalition, led by Mona Sahlin (leader of the Social Democrats), with the outgoing government narrowly leading in pre-election polling.
Preliminary results show the Alliance to have won 172 seats, short of an overall majority, with the Red-Green coalition winning 157 seats. The Sweden Democrats won 20 seats and entered parliament for the first time.[2] The election was the first time in almost a century that Sweden re-elected a centre-right government that had served a full term.[3]
Opinion polls
After the election in September 2006, the government slipped well behind the red-green opposition in the polls. A Sifo poll conducted in February 2008 showed the three opposition parties leading over the government with 19.4 percentage points. However, this lead has eroded and according to current polls, the government is once again back in the lead.
The Sweden Democrats (Sverigedemokraterna) are expected to enter Parliament for the first time in 2010, due to the party's polling results since June 2009 in excess of the 4% entry threshold. The party is not expected to be invited to join the governing coalition; current foreign minister Carl Bildt has indicated that a minority government would be preferable to a formal alliance with Sweden Democrats.[4]
| Date | Moderate | Centre | Liberals | Christian Democrats | Social Democrats | Left | Green | Sweden Democrats | Others | The Alliance | Red-Greens | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| bgcolor=Template:Moderate Party/meta/color | | bgcolor=Template:Centre Party (Sweden)/meta/color | | bgcolor=Template:Liberal People's Party (Sweden)/meta/color | | bgcolor=Template:Christian Democrats (Sweden)/meta/color | | bgcolor=Template:Swedish Social Democratic Party/meta/color | | bgcolor=Template:Left Party (Sweden)/meta/color | | bgcolor=Template:Green Party (Sweden)/meta/color | | bgcolor=Template:Sweden Democrats/meta/color | | bgcolor=Template:June List/meta/color | | bgcolor=Template:Alliance for Sweden/meta/color | | bgcolor=Template:Red-Greens (Sweden)/meta/color | | ||||
| 2006 election |
26.2% | 7.9% | 7.5% | 6.6% | 35.0% | 5.9% | 5.2% | 2.9% | 2.8% | 48.2% | 46.1% | |||
| Feb 2007 | 25.8% | 5.9% | 5.8% | 5.3% | 41.4% | 5.8% | 6.1% | 2.7% | 1.2% | 42.9% | 53.3% | |||
| May 2007 | 24.9% | 6.7% | 5.4% | 4.1% | 42.6% | 5.0% | 6.6% | 3.0% | 1.7% | 41.1% | 54.2% | |||
| Aug 2007 | 25.0% | 6.4% | 6.1% | 4.2% | 41.1% | 6.0% | 6.6% | 3.5% | 1.1% | 41.7% | 53.7% | |||
| Nov 2007 | 21.9% | 6.3% | 7.5% | 4.1% | 44.1% | 5.4% | 6.3% | 2.9% | 1.5% | 39.8% | 55.8% | |||
| Feb 2008 | 22.2% | 6.1% | 6.5% | 3.9% | 44.2% | 5.7% | 6.1% | 3.4% | 1.8% | 38.8% | 56.0% | |||
| May 2008 | 21.6% | 6.2% | 6.8% | 4.5% | 43.8% | 5.3% | 6.4% | 3.5% | 1.6% | 39.6% | 55.3% | |||
| Aug 2008 | 22.5% | 5.7% | 6.9% | 3.9% | 43.3% | 5.6% | 6.7% | 3.5% | 1.7% | 39.1% | 55.7% | |||
| Nov 2008 | 26.5% | 5.6% | 6.6% | 4.2% | 39.7% | 5.5% | 6.9% | 3.6% | 1.3% | 43.0% | 52.1% | |||
| Dec 2008[5] | 27.2% | 5.5% | 7.1% | 4.0% | 37.1% | 6.5% | 7.4% | 4.5% | 0.8% | 43.8% | 51.0% | |||
| Feb 2009 | 27.8% | 5.3% | 7.0% | 4.1% | 37.5% | 5.8% | 7.2% | 3.5% | 1.7% | 44.2% | 50.6% | |||
| May 2009 | 29.7% | 5.3% | 6.3% | 4.2% | 33.8% | 6.7% | 7.6% | 3.5% | 3.0% | 45.5% | 48.0% | |||
| Aug 2009 | 27.0% | 5.9% | 7.8% | 4.1% | 32.8% | 6.5% | 9.0% | 4.1% | 2.9% | 44.8% | 48.2% | |||
| Nov 2009 | 28.7% | 4.7% | 6.6% | 4.2% | 32.8% | 5.8% | 9.5% | 5.5% | 2.2% | 44.2% | 48.1% | |||
| Feb 2010 | 28.4% | 4.7% | 6.3% | 4.6% | 33.9% | 5.6% | 9.7% | 4.8% | 2.0% | 43.9% | 49.3% | |||
| May 2010 | 30.8% | 4.8% | 6.7% | 4.5% | 32.4% | 5.7% | 9.5% | 4.0% | 1.6% | 46.8% | 47.6% | |||
| June 2010 | 32.4% | 4.9% | 6.4% | 4.4% | 30.3% | 5.4% | 9.8% | 4.7% | 1.8% | 48.1% | 45.4% | |||
| July 2010 | 31.6% | 5.1% | 6.2% | 4.7% | 30.5% | 5.4% | 9.5% | 4.8% | 47.6% | 45.4% | ||||
| August 2010 | 31.4% | 5.1% | 6.9% | 5.7% | 29.5% | 5.4% | 9.1% | 4.7% | 49.1% | 44.0% | ||||
| September 2010 | 31.2% | 5.4% | 7.9% | 5.8% | 28.2% | 6.3% | 8.1% | 5.4% | 50.3% | 42.6% |
Note: The poll numbers are taken from the SVT.se "Opinion index", which summarizes the average value from different polling organisations. The numbers on this page may not always be 100% accurately summarized and/or in some cases this page uses inaccurate poll numbers. In cases where inaccurate numbers have been used by this page, the actual accurate numbers from the polling organizations are being used instead.[6]
Controversy
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There was controversy between the parties represented in parliament and other parties on the ballot. The unrepresented party, the Sweden Democrats (SD) faced especially sharp opposition from the established parties and from critics.[citation needed]
Debates
The parties already represented in the Swedish parliament, along with the Swedish television networks, have excluded minor parties, most notably SD[7] (but also the June List, the Feminist Initiative, and the Pirate Party), from the televised political debates.[citation needed]
Sweden Democrats
The Swedish Democrats have been described as an extreme right and immigrant hostile party by the BBC. The Sweden Democrats have had their rallies disrupted by political activists associated with left-wing and anti-racist movements. Some SD party members were threatened.[8] For many years, the party's meetings have been disturbed by demonstrations by left-wing groups such as Anti-Fascist Action and the Young Left; several SD members have been assaulted.[9]
On 13 September in Gothenburg, about 500 counter-demonstrators prevented the Sweden Democrats from making a planned election rally.[10] Police used pepper spray to disperse the counter-demonstration, which lacked a permit, and seven people were detained.[10]
On 14 September, the Sweden Democrats cancelled planned rallies in three cities, Eskilstuna, Karlstad, and Uddevalla, because of security concerns. Similarly, concerns about security led to an election tour being cancelled on 15 September in Norrköping.[11][12]
After these cancelled election rallies, the National Police Commissioner Bengt Svenson severely criticized the county police for failing to safeguard the Sweden Democrats: "It is not possible to implement them [in those locales], so the police have failed in its planning and execution of its mission. [ . . . ] It is a serious problem when such meetings cannot be held, because it is our absolute duty to ensure that the constitutionally guaranteed rights be maintained and that all meetings can be held".[13]
A privately owned television network, TV4, refused to air a SD campaign video, which was then uploaded to Youtube and viewed more than 600,000 times. The SD video portrayed a track-meet, in which the race is for pension funds. In the video, a Swedish pensioner is out-run by burka-clad women.[7]
However, these attempts to limit the SD message were seen as counterproductive in that they enabled the SD to portray itself as a victim of censorship.[7]
One reported attack against a Sweden Democratic politicians may have been fabricated. Examining one Sweden Democratic politician who reported being attacked, a forensic medical doctor reported that the evidence suggested that his wounds were self inflicted. The SD politician has been questioned by the local police for possibly falsely reporting a crime.[8]
Results
Exit polls, conducted by the national broadcaster Swedish Television predicted the ruling coalition will get 49.1 percent of the vote. The polls also showed the Sweden Democrats would reach the 4% threshold to enter parliament with 5.7 percent. Though media speculated it could play a "kingmaker" role both blocs pledged not to seek support from the SD saying the party represents "xenophobic views that run counter to Sweden's tradition of tolerance."[14]
A preliminary count of all 5,668 voting districts showed the Alliance of Fredrik Reinfeld ahead of the Red-Greens, with 172 seats.[15] This, however, fell short of the 175 seats needed for an absolute majority. The Sweden Democrats would apparently be holding the balance of power in the new parliament.[16][17] Reinfeld declared that he had no intention to cooperate with the Sweden Democrats.[18]
Template:Swedish general election, 2010
Reactions
On the day after the election, anti-Sweden Democrat rallies took place in a number of Swedish cities. Reports indicated that 10,000 people were estimated to have marched in Stockholm under banners reading "We are ashamed, "No racists in Parliament,"[19] and "Refugees -- welcome!" In Gothenburg, 5,000 people took part in a "sorrow march against racism," and 2,000 people marhces in Malmö. As support for the SD was strongest in Skaane, where the party got about 10% percent of the vote, and in neighbouring Blekinge, where it got 9.9 percent, some people called for Skaane to be handed back to Denmark, where the Danish People’s Party were seen as an inspiration for the SD.
The Expressen wrote in an editorial "The banner of tolerance has been hauled down and the forces of darkness have finally also taken the Swedish democracy as a hostage. It’s a day of sorrow." Svenska Dagbladet said "[It is time for the Swedes to get themselves a new national self-image [as the election] created a new picture of Sweden."[20]
Analysis
"While it’s hard to say that Sweden has woken up to a new self-image, one can say that this is more like a normal European situation and is similar to other western European countries with a proportional election system, where a populist right-wing party has seats in parliament. It’s the party that is the least liked among other voters, so it is not surprising that people have reacted with dismay". Carl Dahlstroem, a professor of politics at Gothenburg University.
Analysts said there was still a "relatively big" chance of forming a government without the Swedish Democrats if Reinfeldt gets support among such opposition parties as the Green Party, which shares similiarity over business-friendly policies, and even the Social Democrats who could support in other areas.[20]
Other readings saw the rise of the SD as sending "ripples of shock not only through the country but through European politics," and asked "Is this finally it for the 'Swedish model'" that has been represented as a "meld of liberal values, high taxes, outstanding childcare and welfare that made the country the poster boy for European social democracy?" The election was also landmark for its impact on the Social Democrats, which had been in government for 65 of the last 78 years and who have never lost two consecutive elections. This was their worse result since universal suffrage in 1921. Its decline was seen as a reflection of the party's inability to adapt, an increasingly technocratic profile, a failure to address immigration concerns, as well as Reinfeldt success in managing the economy. The Social Democratic failure drew parralels with a larger decline of European left parties.[21]
This represented, however, only one theory of electoral failure. Another theory suggested that electoral failure was based on internal factors. Critics charged that the Social Democrats failed to win over the middle class and had completely lost touch with their original vision which had made them a dominant political party.[22] One might infer, therefore, that they attempt to look outside of Sweden for explanations for electoral failure was part of an attempt by party leaders to avoid responsibility for electoral defeat. This inference is based on a general pattern of nationalist politics in which different political parties have used foreign nations to explain Swedish difficulties, whether the United States or Russia (depending on the political block).[23]
See also
References
- ^ Val till riksdagen - Valnatt - Val 2010
- ^ "Live Blog: election night in Sweden". The Local. 20 September 2010.
- ^ "Sweden braces for rollercoaster election". The Local. 19 September 2010. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
- ^ "The Swedish election: Moderate and happy". The Economist. 16 September 2010. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
- ^ "Gapet halverat mellan partiblocken". Sydsvenskan (in Swedish). Tidningarnas Telegrambyrå. 14 December 2008. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
- ^ "Valet 2010" (in Swedish). Sveriges Television. Retrieved 19 September 2010.
- ^ a b c Wikstrom, Cajsa (19 September 2010). "Far-right tests Swedish tolerance". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 20 September 2010.
- ^ a b "Läkare: Hakkors ristades in själv" (in Swedish). Sveriges Television. Tidningarnas Telegrambyrå. 18 September 2010. Retrieved 20 September 2010.
- ^ "I Sveriges namn". Dagens Nyheter. http://www.dn.se/?a=59907. Retrieved 2006-05-25. (Swedish)
- ^ a b "Demonstrators stopped the SD meeting". Profile. 13 September 2010. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
- ^ Brandel, Tobias (15 september 2010). "SD kan inte hålla möten". Svenska Dagbladet. Retrieved 16 september 2010.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help) - ^ Engstrom, Henry (15 September 2010). .folkbladet.se/news/artikel.aspx?articleid=5353123 "threatened SD meeting was canceled". Folkbladet. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
{{cite news}}: Check|url=value (help) - ^ "National Police Commissioner criticizes police Värmland". Sveriges Television. 16 September 2010. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
- ^ Wikstrom, Cajsa (20 September 2010). "Swedish ruling bloc retains power". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 20 September 2010.
- ^ Template:Sv "Val till riksdagen - Valnatt". val.se. 2010-09.20. Retrieved 2010-09-21.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ McGuinness, Damien (20 September 2010). "Sweden narrowly re-elects centre-right alliance". BBC Online. Retrieved 20 September 2010.
- ^ Lannin, Patrick (20 September 2010). "Swedish centre-right wins ballot but loses majority". Reuters. Retrieved 20 September 2010.
- ^ Stiernstedt, Jenny (20 September 2010). "Alliansen segrar – SD blir vågmästare". Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). Retrieved 20 September 2010.
- ^ "Mass demonstration: We are ashamed", Sveriges Radio.
- ^ a b http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-21/swedes-throng-streets-to-protest-against-anti-immigrant-party-in-goverment.html
- ^ http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2010/0922/1224279430777.html
- ^ http://www.swedishwire.com/component/content/article/2:politics/6316:swedish-model-party-in-crisis
- ^ http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=43678
External links
- Val 2010 from the main website, english version
- NSD: European Election Database - Sweden publishes regional level election data; allows for comparisons of election results, 1992–2010
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