Swedish Democrats look to enter Parliament

By Clifford F. Thies

In 2006, a four-party, center-right coalition achieved a wafer thin majority in the Swedish national parliament. Almost immediately, the Social Democrats and their erstwhile coalition partners - the Left Party and the Greens - surged to a lead in opinions polls. Progress in restoring the Swedish economy to a market-orientation appeared to be in jeopardy.

According to the Wall Street Journal / Heritage Foundation index of economic freedom, the Swedish economy had dramatically improved from 61 in 1995 to 70 in 2005. During the most recent years, it has improved further, to 72 in the latest assessment. In contrast, the United States economy, which had improved from 77 in 1995 to 79 in 2001, and, further improved to 81 in 2009, fell back to 78 after the first year of the new Obama Administration. With even more regulations and tax increases enacted this year, the economic freedom rating of the U.S. is sure to fall even further in the next assessment. Would the socialist left accomplish in Sweden what it is accomplishing in the United States in terms of rolling back market-oriented reforms and ruining the economy? Or, would the center-right parties rebound so as to be able, after this September’s election, to continue to advance the reform agenda, possibility to overtake the emerging USSA (United Socialist States of America)?

As the accompanying chart shows, the parties of the center-right in Sweden, now to include the Democratic Party, have jumped ahead of the parties of the left. These parties include the four parties currently forming the ruling coalition (the Christian Democrats and the Center, Moderate and Peoples parties), as well as the Democrats. The largest party of these five is the Moderate Party. This party is a neo-liberal party, i.e., a fusion of market-liberalism and conservatism. It refers to itself as the “New Moderates” because its aim is to revive the market as well as other social-intermediating institutions of a free society within a country that had become famous not only for democratic-socialism, but for the breakdown of the economic vibrancy, family and community life previously associated with the Swedish people.

Among the potential problems for organizing a five-party coalition is the issue of immigration. The Center Party, which was formerly a party representing agrarian interests, has evolved into something of a libertarian party, representing small business interests as well as small landholders. It is also a green party, being favorably disposed to issuing green cards to immigrants. The Peoples Party, a market liberal party, has also evolved into something of a libertarian party, and favors the integration of immigrants into Swedish life, including establishing language and work requirements. The Democrats, on the other hand, come across as opposing immigration. It may be possible to reconcile these divergent viewpoints; but, as the Dutch are showing us, it may be difficult.