We just got the results and Sweden has, for the first time ever, an extremist right wing party in our government.

 

I feel ashamed.

:(

:uhoh:

 

How'd that happen? Did not enough people vote?

Oh Anna,

 

That is sad.

 

In that case, it will be like in Denmark where the right-wing party called Danish People's Party ("Dansk Folkeparti") is very strong and very influential. The party is not member of the Danish government being against the European Union, but often it formulates the government policies via negotiations. The party is actually stronger and more influential than the Conservative Party which is the smallest of the two parties in the Danish government. The party leader Pia Kjaersgaard is stronger than Denmark's foreign minister Lene Espersen.

 

The latest I heard on Saturday - where I was not home much, and Sunday I have been reading and translating some articles including a 4-page-long newspaper theme article about the life story of the Chechen bomber and the entire case - was that the right-wing party would not make it to the Swedish parliament / Riksdagen.

 

So I am shocked to hear this.

Anti-immigration party formed from skinhead movement seizes balance of power in Sweden

 

 

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 1:48 PM on 20th September 2010

 

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• Democrats win 20 seats to enter parliament for first time
  
• Centre parties refuse to work with them as currency falls
  
  

Sweden was today coming to terms with the emergence of a far right party into mainstream politics.

The anti-immigration Democrats now hold the balance of power in Sweden after the centre-right government failed to win an outright majority.

Unemployment and the flood of foreigners into the south of the country have been blamed for the rise of the group, which began life as a faction of skinheads.

Now the party will enter Parliament for the first time, with 20 seats.

 

Stunning success: Jimmie Akesson, chairman of the right-wing party Sweden Democrats, celebrates winning the party's first seats in the new parliament

 

Despite denials they are racist, both main blocs have ruled out working with them.

A preliminary count showed Fredrik Reinfeldt's coalition winning 172 seats in the 349-member parliament. The Social Democrat-led centre-left opposition was set to secure 157.

The Democrats' leader, Jimmie Akesson, won 4.6 per cent of the vote and told chanting supporters: 'Today we have written political history together, I think that's fantastic.'

Analysts had said before Sunday's election that a hung parliament, with Reinfeldt's centre-right Alliance coalition having no overall majority, would unsettle investors and the currency duly weakened in trading this morning.

 

'An uncertain parliamentary situation is always negative for a currency, but the market pretty quickly goes back to focusing on other things,' Handelsbanken analyst Claes Mahlen said.

'I don't think the view of Sweden will change dramatically'

'If this outcome stands we will have a scenario that most Swedish voters wanted to avoid - that is that we have a xenophobic party holding the balance of power,' said Ulf Bjereld, a political scientist at Gothenburg University.

 

Sensational result: Members and supporters of the far-right Sweden Democrats react to the results of the exit polls as they win 4.6 per cent of the vote

 

Swedish newspapers said the election marked a dramatic shift for a nation known for its tolerance and liberal policies.

'It is Monday morning and time for Swedes to find a new self-image,' wrote daily Svenska Dagbladet.

'A centre-right government without a majority, a wrecked Social Democracy and a party with roots in far-right extremism holding the balance of power.'

Daily Dagens Nyheter zeroed in on the political difficulties generated by the government falling short of a majority. 'Tough situation awaits,' ran a banner headline.

Reinfeldt, who campaigned on a promise of more tax cuts and reforms to trim the welfare state, has said he was prepared to lead a minority government but repeated on Sunday he would first approach the opposition Green Party for support.

'We have said that the biggest bloc should rule and that is the Alliance,' he told supporters at an election night party, rejecting any cooperation with the far-right Sweden Democrats.

 

Blonde ambition: Members and supporters of the far-right Sweden Democrats celebrate in Stockholm

 

But the reception from the Green Party was cool.

'In the current situation we have continued red-green cooperation," said joint Green Party leader Maria Wetterstrand, referring to the alliance with the opposition Social Democrats.

Disappointment: Fredrik Reinfeldt's coalition managed only to pick up 172 seats in the 349-member parliament

 

Reinfeldt benefited from one of Europe's strongest economic recoveries to become the first sitting centre-right prime minister to win re-election in a country that was ruled for much of the last century by the Social Democrats.

In the election, voters were choosing between Reinfeldt's model of a leaner welfare state with more income tax cuts and privatisations, and an opposition platform that wanted the rich to pay more to fund schools, hospitals and care for the elderly.

The Social Democrats had their worst election in almost 100 years, with voters apparently backing the welfare reforms and tax cuts pushed through by the Alliance of Reinfeldt's Moderate Party, the Liberals, Centre and Christian Democrats.

The rise of the right, meanwhile, was put down to a significant increase in the unemployed, whose numbers have risen during the global economic crisis.

The Democrats have a strong base in the south of Sweden, where many residents feel overrun.

Umea University expert Svante Ersson said Sweden Democrat voters were often young men who felt ignored by society.

'They don't necessarily have to be xenophobic - it could be a way to make a statement against the establishment,' said Ersson.

The Sweden Democrats have been inspired by the success of the People's Party in neighbouring Denmark that provides vital parliamentary support for the government there.

The party wants to curtail immigration and criticises Muslims and Islam as un-Swedish.

 

Shock: Sweden's papers react with surprise to the victory which leaves the country's politics in a state of flux

 

Immigrants account for 14 per cent of Sweden's population, just above the 12.4 per cent average for northern Europe, according to United Nations figures.

Jan Haggstrom, chief economist at Handelsbanken, said that even a minority Reinfeldt government could manage well and he saw little chance that the centre-left opposition would link up with the Sweden Democrats on key parliamentary issues.

'We have such strong public finances. It would take something really spectacular for people to start worrying ... and start selling Swedish government paper,' he said.

Sweden has been among the most welcoming of European Union countries to immigrants seeking asylum or refugee status, taking in people after the Balkan wars of the 1990s and becoming a favourite destination for Iraqis after the U.S. invasion.

 

 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1313639/Anti-immigration-party-formed-skinhead-movement-seizes-balance-power-Sweden.html#ixzz104hZUemF

Watched it. I'm with Miløpartiet, de Grøna, so I was happy on that front. Shame about Sverige Demokraterna :(

^ Same here. Very happy that we gained so many new voters! (2% up since last election)

 

The fact that we now have racists in our government makes me ill. :(

^ Same here. Very happy that we gained so many new voters! (2% up since last election). SOME CONSOLATION. :dance: :thumbsup:

 

The fact that we now have racists in our government makes me ill. :(

 

I THINK THAT IT WILL END UP IN A MINORITY GOVERNMENT OF THE PARTIES WITHIN THE ALLIANCE.

 

I do not think that the total opposition parties will vote together against a proposition from the government.

 

As I understood one of the official statements from "Miljöpartiet", it is dedicated to keeping Sveriges Demokraterna away from influence.

 

I hope that "Miljöpartiet" will be consulted from time to time by the government before a proposition. I doubt that this will happen frequently, but from time to time is better than nothing.

 

I also heard that a nationalsocialist aka. NAZI has been elected to a local community - I think it was "kommune". :( :o

 

The newspapers are right: SWEDEN IS NOT THE SAME COUNTRY ANYMORE AFTER THIS ELECTION.

 

Denmark has this experience with the established parties keeping "Dansk Folkeparti" (Danish People's Party) out of influence. That party was established in 1995 and was a huge success from the very beginning. The party had huge success by ALL coming elections - gaining more seats by each election ever since.

 

Since 2001 it has been supporting the current two-party government, and it is consulted frequently, and it is indeed stronger and more influential than the minor government party - the Conservative party!! :o

 

From day one (in 2001) of the two-party government, it has formulated a tight policy against immigration which soon influenced the government's policy. One of the main issues / topics in the 2001 election and ever since was / has been how to handle or rather minimize immigration from Muslim countries.

 

The legislation is becoming more and more oriented towards anti-immigration - in particular from Muslim countries.

 

I am not surprised to learn that Sveriges Demokraterna has strong support from Skaane in south Sweden - not so far away from Denmark and Dansk Folkeparti / Danish People's Party.

^ Same here. Very happy that we gained so many new voters! (2% up since last election)

 

The fact that we now have racists in our government makes me ill. :(

 

Yeah, we're the 3rd biggest party now? :awesome:

 

And @ Nancy, yeah, a lot of the Sverige Demokraterna members come from Skåne. They also have a special look.

Yeah, we're the 3rd biggest party now? :awesome:

 

And @ Nancy, yeah, a lot of the Sverige Demokraterna members come from Skåne. They also have a special look.

 

Yeah, we are! :dance:

 

Omg, yes, they DO have a special look :facepalm:

Yeah, sort of aggresive and slightly nazi-ish...:inquisitive: You get what I mean?

 

It'll also be interesting to see who replaces Mona Salin if she steps down.