The Social Democrats start as favorites for an election where a right-wing coalition would get nearly 50% of the vote in the polls tomorrow
Swedish citizens are being called on this Sunday to elect the head of government in general elections marked by the rise in crime, immigration and the country’s future accession to NATO. A theme that, despite the remarkable support after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, was barely noticed in the campaign. A few hours before the votes are deposited in the polls, the Social Democratic Party starts as a favorite with the outgoing Prime Minister, Magdalena Andersson, at the head. However, nothing has been decided yet. After the rise of the far right, coalitions are critical in elections that sit very close between the left and right blocs.
According to the latest Kantar Sifo polls, the Social Democrats have nearly 30% of the support (they added 28.3% in the last election in 2018), while the far-right Swedish Democrats take 20% (17.5% four years ago). ) and the right-wing Moderate Party, 17% (nearly three points less than in the last election). In this way, the polls suggest that a center-left alliance with the Social Democratic, Green, Left and Center formations would get between 48.6 and 52.6% of the vote, compared to 47.1 and 49.6% that it would be a coalition of the right. and the far right, with the Swedish Democrats (SD), the moderates, the Christian Democrats and the minority liberals -these last two are against agreeing with the far right-.
The three main protagonists of the parliamentary elections are Andersson (55 years old), who defends the welfare state with the slogan ‘Our Sweden can do better’ and hardens the party line on immigration. The leader of the far-right Jimmie Åkesson (43), who after seventeen years at the head of the SD converted the ultra-minority party – heir to an originally neo-Nazi group formed in the late 1980s, barely got 1% of the vote two decades ago. – in an indispensable actor so that the right can rule. And finally the leader of the conservative opposition Ulf Kristersson (58), who for the second time aspires to lead the executive to end eight years of power from the left, for which he does not hesitate to agree with the far right, an unprecedented alliance in the Scandinavian country.
The campaign focused mainly on crime and immigration, areas where the Andersson government has taken a soft stance, according to the opposition. The shooting at a playground in Eskilstuna, 120 kilometers from Stockholm, last August sparked criticism from the opposition. A mother and child got caught up in the crossfire between rival gangs, prompting the far right kesson to visit the city from where he urged the government to take serious action to tackle crime in Sweden.
Scandinavian police say these killings are often the settlement of rival gangs often controlled by migrant clans, and are increasingly taking place in broad daylight. So much so that Sweden, one of the richest and most egalitarian countries in the world, now tops the European rankings for deadly shootings. For every million inhabitants per year, Stockholm records four deaths from firearms, while the European average is 1.6. So far this year 48 people have died from firearms in the area, three more than in 2021.
The SD leader also criticizes the important migrants entering the country. And it is that with more than 2 million – the majority from Syria, Finland and Iraq – they represent 19.42% of the total population. 40% of Swedes find this volume “too high” for a country with its characteristics.
Meanwhile, the parties are on their toes over future accession to the Atlantic Alliance, an initiative that has risen from 37 to 53% support after the invasion of Ukraine, according to a Novus survey published in May.
Source: La Verdad
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