Political life in Sweden is shaped by the aftermath of its 2018 legislative elections, which, following several months of deadlock and a hung parliament, concluded in a second minority government that combined the Social Democrat and Green parties, again headed up by Stefan Löfven (Social Democrat), and which came about thanks to an agreement between both ruling coalition parties and the Centre Party and Liberal Party (neither in government). As is the case in other Nordic countries, Sweden’s European political positions receive prior agreement from Parliament and as such the stance taken by country’s four majority political parties are of the greatest significance. Following on from our review of Germany (c.f. article No. 11105), and Poland (c.f. article No. 11119), we detail here Sweden’s candidates’ social programs.
Most of Sweden’s political parties’ European election manifestos address and concur on the need to manage the issues of climate and immigration, while questions on social and work-related topics are generally minimized.
Swedish Social Democratic Party, (Socialdemokratiska Arbetarepartiet, SAP), European election program
Over time the ruling Social Democrats have become increasingly pro-European and this European program is more socially oriented than its markedly more liberal national government platform. The SAP’s social and labor market proposals:
- A Europe that creates more jobs, safeguards workers’ safety, and places the interests of employees above those of big business, and a Europe that supports Swedish collective agreements, seeks to end tax and social fraud and corruption, and leads the way towards creating green employment,
- People taking precedence over the market, which at European level means the economy should be used to improve citizens’ living conditions,
- Trade union rights should be written into a social protocol within the EU Treaty, the next time a major change to the treaty is being effected, which should aim to avoid unfair competition linked to low social conditions (social dumping), (as social objectives currently occupy a subordinate position relative to economic goals, the free provision of services takes precedence over social rights),
- A Europe that leads the way in ecological transition by way of knowledge, investment and security as professional life (the world of work) changes,
- A Europe where more females are in work, where more youths are well trained and where individual freedoms are supported as well as national wealth,
- Continued development of the EU’s internal market, but where business and growth go hand in hand with reinforced measures for a social, sustainable, and more equal Europe.
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