On the 13th of September, Swedes will head to the polls for a parliamentary election that will, in a sense, serve as a referendum on whether the far-right Sweden Democrats—once a marginal force—will become part of the government in a country formerly regarded as Europe’s most liberal, writes Reuters.
The party, which has roots in the neo-Nazi movement, currently enjoys 19% voter support; the ruling center-right minority coalition has pledged to include the Sweden Democrats in its bloc to ensure Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson remains in office for a second term. Kristersson told Reuters in late August that an agreement had been reached to form a joint majority government under his leadership.
The election will reveal whether Swedish citizens wish to deepen the political shifts that have already dismantled the long-standing consensus on immigration and national identity, transforming one of Europe’s most open societies into a testing ground for stricter policies regarding integration, citizenship, and border control. Kristersson has pointed out that, thanks to his cooperation with Sweden Democrats leader Jimmie Akesson, the country has seen growth, lower energy and food prices, a reduction in gang-related crime, and a significant drop in the number of asylum grants. The Prime Minister has pledged to strengthen ties with the far-right party after the election and to give the party seats in the government.
Over the past four years, the Swedish government has abolished permanent residence permits for asylum seekers, tightened welfare laws, and expanded the deportation of individuals who have no right to remain in the country. The number of asylum applications has fallen to its lowest level in 40 years, and while Kristersson has indicated that the main focus will now shift to integration, the Sweden Democrats want to go a step further. One of Akesson’s closest allies in the party,
Mattias Karlsson, stated that Swedish culture, language, laws, norms, morals, and traditions prevail in Sweden;
if someone cannot accept this, they should live elsewhere. Despite a consensus on the need for a strict immigration policy, many Swedes view the far-right as dangerous; polls indicate a tight race against the center-left opposition, which holds a narrow lead that is nonetheless shrinking. Birgitta Ohlsson, Sweden’s former Minister for European Affairs, stated that the entry of the Sweden Democrats into government would have a hugely negative impact on the country’s liberal ideals—an impact already visible while the party remains outside the government, but one that could become ten times worse.
The rise of far-right forces to power has already altered the European political landscape; such parties are already part of governments in Finland, Italy, Croatia, and the Czech Republic, and are posing increasing challenges in France and Germany.
Akesson’s party has been a key parliamentary pillar for Kristersson over the past four years, and some analysts suggest the election will not signal a radical shift, but rather an acknowledgment that
Akesson has succeeded in shedding the party’s extremist reputation.
The party apologized for past neo-Nazi and antisemitic views. Political commentator Jan Guillou told Reuters that the election would also serve as a referendum on whether Sweden continues down the far-right path. A policy that Swedes would have perceived as a rejection of the country’s liberal values just a decade ago is now gaining support among voters across the entire political spectrum.
Meanwhile, critics worry that the Sweden Democrats’ pledges to end multiculturalism, restore traditional Swedish values, and ban certain types of Muslim attire could deepen societal divisions and shift the political center of gravity further to the right. Author and anti-racism activist Kurdo Baksi expressed fears that even more people would be deported. He is also concerned about freedom of the press and speech, as well as the right to assemble for protests.
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