Swedish election Sept. 14th - Red-green mess goes home in the cottages?

[Lyanna Stark]

Finally election time in the Kingdom of Sweden. Aren't you all excited? Are you going to vote? Have you already voted? (Like the Ahead of the Curve Galactus!! That's almost like cheating!! :P ) Can't you be bothered? Are you all electioned out after the EU-elections? Or is this finally the opportunity to vote the Flying Spaghetti Monster Party into power!?

In general, it seems the excitement and outrage are pretty mellow this year. Perhaps all our outrage and excitement were already spent on the EU elections this spring, complete with supreme outrage over Danish pigs and falling PISA school results.

In any case! For the poor people who live their lives as non-Swedes and are therefor bereft of our amazing political landscape, the current situation looks somewhat like this:

Status:

- After 8 years of a centre-right coalition with a Prime Minister from the conservative "Moderate" party, it looks like the polling is pointing towards them losing power.

- The centre-right coalition contains four parties: the Moderates, the Christian Democrats, the Centre party and the Liberal/People's party.

- The "main enemies" are the green-red (red means left in Swedenland) side containing the Socialdemocrats, the Left party and the Greens.

- The current numbers are 36.9% for the centre right coalition and 48.1% for the red-green (mess)

- If the Feminist party get more than 4% of the votes and enter parliament, it will likely end up giving the red-greens a majority coalition (projected majority around 52%)

Amusingly, all the newspapers report that the centre-right coalition and the Moderates in particular are heading for a disastrous election. However, at the same time, the Socialdemocrats are also predicted to head for a disastrous election.

Fun facts:

- The Moderate leader has been compared to a "battle stallion". I kid you not.

- The centre-right coalition seems hell bent on branding the opposition a "red-green mess" (wouldn't that be "a brown mess"?)

- This analogy is faltering a bit since it seems it may end up being a red-green-pink mess.

- Pink being the party colour of the feminist party "Feminist initiative" who were previously slated as not getting enough votes to enter parliament (they need 4%) but are currently predicted to maybe manage that anyway

- The newspapers are on the ball as always with "Disastrous numbers can give election win" (for the socialdemocrats, allegedly, which would make you wonder if they really are that disastrous?)

- Expat Swedes may be the ones deciding the outcome, and apparently nobody has a fucking clue what they think.

- Apparently the Green's Maria Wetterstrand may be doing a comeback according to sources other than herself. Although there seems to be a conundrum in the fact that her husband is a Minister in the Finnish government. Can two spouses be ministers for different countries? Did the constitution take this into account? What if Sweden and Finland go to war - which side would she be on eh? Can we label her Traitor to Country? :P (and is she now related through marriage with Mark Levengood?)

- Jan Björklund is the face for the Liberal/People's party's "Feminism without socialism" apparently. You'd think they'd trot out Birgitta Ohlsson as she is at least a credible feminist and doesn't get labelled as "old military man" at all, but...actually I got nothing.

On the local level, we're having some fun stuff going on with SD politicians (SD = Social conservative anti-immigration party) bickering about who is the real SD and who is an "immigrant hugging liberal".

I know Happy Ent does election work so hats off to him for servicing this great nation the State with time he could instead be spending solving crosswords. :P

[The Marquis de Leech]

What are the main election issues?

(I love elections. Anybody's).

[Lyanna Stark]

Good question.

Supposedly employment, since after the bank crash and the near constant downturn of the last seven or so years, unemployment has become systemic and endemic even in Sweden which managed to not do too badly in the crisis. Still, that focus has proved to not really be enough for voters. "Everyone should have a job!" is kinda something everyone can agree on, but it's far duller to actually present policy in that area. Even harder to provide policy that *works*.

Since Sweden tanked in the PISA school evaluation the school system has sailed up as one of the possibly most important issues. The level of privatisation, whether the local governments should be the bosses of the local schools or whether the State should rule All, whether the students are just shit and should be ordered to sit down, ditch their phones and STFU, more grades at earlier ages, fewer grades and only at later ages, smaller class-sizes, higher salaries for the teachers, etc etc.

Feminism and equality seem to have made quite a splash which seems to have taken established politicians and parties unawares, at least to a point. While the Left party and the Greens have had pretty feminist profiles for a long time, the Socialdemocrats still looks to a lot of people like the old worker dudes' party, with most representatives being older men in grey suits, good at negotiating but perhaps less exciting when it comes to visionary politics. Their leader is also a dependable, down to earth, mellow trade union guy in his mid 50s. While I am sure he tries (and in general people probably think of him as a "pleasant sort of bloke"), he's not really the kind of figure to inspire people with his far reaching visions.

Similarly, people seem to be inclined to care for the environment, which has netted the Greens quite a few votes (I think they ended up as second largest party in the EU elections, even beating the Moderates who are traditionally the second largest party) and also boosted the Centre party. The Centre party is the old Farmers' Union party which is now an odd mixture of environmentalists and free market libertarians. This odd bunch are pro flat tax but vehemently for stricter regulation in the agricultural sector.

Nearer to me, it's definitely a leftward move. Lots of people are aghast at how tax money has ended up financing private companies in the social sector (schools, care homes, infrastucture) and how money has been squeezed out of public sector to finance risk capitalists' fortunes off-shored to the Seychelles and other interesting tax havens. Most people I know seem to be leaning left this election, although there is some indecision whether to put your vote on the Socialdemocrats, the Greens, the Left or Fi!. While before the Left was pretty monolithic Socialdemocrat (and has been since 1920), nowadays it has changed shape to be a many headed beast. My gut feeling is that the surveys are underestimating support for the red-green (-pink) side, but then I don't call several thousand people to get results either. :P

[Recovering forum addict]

I'm not voting this year either. I'm saving all my voting cards until I'm 95, and then I'll move to the smallest municipality in the country and cash them all in as votes for myself as dictator-for-life.

[Ser Scot A Ellison]

Lyanna,

How is the "seated to pee" guy doing?

[Lyanna Stark]

I'm not voting this year either. I'm saving all my voting cards until I'm 95, and then I'll move to the smallest municipality in the country and cash them all in as votes for myself as dictator-for-life.

Not sure you'd like the end result since it would most likely be somewhere like Inre Norrland (example) with bonus reindeers and mosquitoes and no post boxes or pharmacies anywhere!

Lyanna,

How is the "seated to pee" guy doing?

I have no idea who he is. :P Is he like Swedish chef but on youtube or something?

Apparently our extremely exciting election now has a wikipedia article in English with pictures. No seated to pee guy in it tho. Unfortunately.

EDIT: As the real world is weirder than fiction, I can report that one, if not THE major donor to the feminist party is Benny Andersson of ABBA. He also supplied the feminist party with 100.000SEK (around £9400) to set fire to a couple of years ago to illustrate something about women's lower salaries or something.

[Galactus]

I'm not voting this year either. I'm saving all my voting cards until I'm 95, and then I'll move to the smallest municipality in the country and cash them all in as votes for myself as dictator-for-life.

Unfortunately that's Bjurholm with 2437 inhabitants. So with one voting card every four years you'd be able to dominate in 44oo years or so?

[Lyanna Stark]

Unfortunately that's Bjurholm with 2437 inhabitants. So with one voting card every four years you'd be able to dominate in 44oo years or so?

A worthy endeavour! I think Opisthokont should attempt to become the Almighty Dictator of Bjurholm in 4400 years.

I might add here that even as a geographer, I have never, ever heard of Bjurholm. It must be the real Armpit of the Universe. They're not the ones plagued by the giant killer mosquitoes are they? Or was that somewhere in Dalarna? It's all the same to us southerners. :P Everything north of Uppsala is just trees, reindeers, lapps and outhouses.

[Edda van Heefmstra Ruston]

I know it isn't true, but the title makes me think that Red Green is running things.

[Recovering forum addict]

It's not that far from Umeå, apparently. I'll be fine, and when I'm dictator there will be post boxes everywhere.

The mosquitos are at the lower parts of Dalälven, but they're spreading quickly.

[Rorshach]

Aoife,

You're late to the party. Red Green did rule Norway for eight years before being replaced last year. (Contrary to Sweden, our Greens are the Agrarian party, which happens to be .. not all that green. They do like to keep people living off the beaten track, though).

[Lyanna Stark]

I know it isn't true, but the title makes me think that Red Green is running things.

More duct tape can't be bad!! Maybe it can be applied to our railroads to fix the lack of...fixing of the railroads.

Btw Eefa, as a student of Swedish, can you translate the title of the thread? :p

It's not that far from Umeå, apparently. I'll be fine, and when I'm dictator there will be post boxes everywhere.

The mosquitos are at the lower parts of Dalälven, but they're spreading quickly.

I for one welcome our new dictator of post boxes everywhere. May your rule be long and glorious and forever put Bjurholm on the map. Or something.

Are the mosquitoes moving south or north? If south, then it's an impending disaster; if north, then nobody cares. :P

Aoife,

You're late to the party. Red Green did rule Norway for eight years before being replaced last year. (Contrary to Sweden, our Greens are the Agrarian party, which happens to be .. not all that green. They do like to keep people living off the beaten track, though).

Hey hey, we in the banana republic of Sweden don't want influences from our richer neighbour in the west. PS. can you offer me a better paid job? :P

[Lady Sansa Stark]

In the Netherlands, we have a Red-Conservative Coalition. The followers of both parties are far from content, so this is gonna be fun at the next elections.

Edit: Which, of course, has nothing to do with the Swedish elections, so here's my question: What would be the "best" outcome according to you? Or the least worse. Or least worst. Please don't mind my English.

[The Iceman of the North]

Johnnyboy did come over to the Great City to campaign. Not sure if there were too many potential Swedish voters who actually showed up to listen to him, apart from those showing up to call him a racists.

[Galactus]

Aoife,

You're late to the party. Red Green did rule Norway for eight years before being replaced last year. (Contrary to Sweden, our Greens are the Agrarian party, which happens to be .. not all that green. They do like to keep people living off the beaten track, though).

Oh, we've had Red-Green rule from before.

The issue atm. is this: The Right-wing coalition hsa been well, an official coalition, with deals and policies and stuff (they call themslves The Alliance, yes, seriously)

The Red-Greens have been way more open about it, taking a "wait and see" approach. A formal coaliton? A minority government with support from the lett and the greens? Getting one of the minor bourgeisie parties to switch sides? (fllowing the rules of coalitions,the main conservative party has essentially been cannibalizing it's lesser partners for voters)

What makes it more confusing is A) SD, who no one likes and B) The risk of either FI getting in (small) or one of the smaller bourgeisie parties slipping beneath 4%. Either would change the situation considerably.

[Lyanna Stark]

In the Netherlands, we have a Red-Conservative Coalition. The followers of both parties are far from content, so this is gonna be fun at the next elections.

Edit: Which, of course, has nothing to do with the Swedish elections, so here's my question: What would be the "best" outcome according to you? Or the least worse. Or least worst. Please don't mind my English.

Weird coalitions are always, well, weird. Historically we've had a vague red-green bloc and a centre-right bloc, which the centre-right side seems to want to keep, but which the parties on the geren-red side at least say they want to break up, but who knows. I think we once had a left-centre coalition but I was too young to really remember (Galactus probably knows).

Ideally, I think for me, I'd like a red-green-pink majority government since I think a non majority coalition is going to have a hard time getting things through the parliament.

Johnnyboy did come over to the Great City to campaign. Not sure if there were too many potential Swedish voters who actually showed up to listen to him, apart from those showing up to call him a racists.

Hah, well I hope you enjoyed his visit. :P Did he bring out as many police as he normally does here?

I guess the Swedes living in Norway would be called expats as well? They then belong to the "no idea what they think" group. Awesome. What do the Norwegian media think about our election? I know the Danes think we should all vote SD since Malmö is turning into Beirut, or potentially already is Beirut.

Oh, we've had Red-Green rule from before.

The issue atm. is this: The Right-wing coalition hsa been well, an official coalition, with deals and policies and stuff (they call themslves The Alliance, yes, seriously)

Hahaha they make me want to yell "FOR THE HORDE!" (There's even a song)

EDIT: Does that make www.politism.se the same as Barrens chat?

[Happy Ent]

I have already voted (but not for the parliament, because I don’t have the franchise.)

I have also completed the schooling for election official for the coming election. (I already served in the Spring for the European Parliament elections.) But now I’m able to handle slips in several colours!

Fun fact: unlike most liberal democracies, Sweden does not use the “Australian ballot” (where all ballots are the same and the vote is cast by marking a spot on the ballot.) Instead, Sweden uses party voting slips that are typically collected in public: voter walk up to a desk of slips, picks the one for his party, picks an envelope, then disappears behind a screen and puts the slip in the envelope. The “disappear behind screen” part is optional, but done by most people. You’re allowed to take more slips behind the screen (thereby ensuring secrecy and coercion-freeness), but few people do that (and they aren’t encouraged to).

I’ve been through the system a few times now, talked to voting officials on all levels (including parliament) and no Swedes think this is a problem: a liberal democracy without a coercion-free voting system. I think this is scandalous.

[Lyanna Stark]

I’ve been through the system a few times now, talked to voting officials on all levels (including parliament) and no Swedes think this is a problem: a liberal democracy without a coercion-free voting system. I think this is scandalous.

You can grab a blank ballot if you don't want anyone to see? I'm not sure if this has been found to actually BE a thing that influences people's voting pattern?

Not saying it shouldn't be changed, if nothing else it would get me more meeting rooms at work since our under dimensioned meeting rooms are currently used for holding ballots. Is this a "we've always done it this way and we can't cba to change" thing?

[Galactus]

It should be noted that there are blank slips as well, in case you want to write in your own party.

(and they aren’t encouraged to).

Err, what? I've been told to take one of each slip every time I've voted.

[Galactus]

You can grab a blank ballot if you don't want anyone to see? I'm not sure if this has been found to actually BE a thing that influences people's voting pattern?

Not saying it shouldn't be changed, if nothing else it would get me more meeting rooms at work since our under dimensioned meeting rooms are currently used for holding ballots. Is this a "we've always done it this way and we can't cba to change" thing?

Yeah, a single ballot would make it significantly easier on the environment.

That said, there are advantages to the multiple lists thing: Apart from sticking two ballots in the same envelope it's pretty much impossible to spoil a vote (for one of the major parties), for instance.