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Sweden Democrats

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Sweden Democrats
ChairmanJimmie Åkesson
Founded6 February 1988
IdeologySwedish nationalism
National conservatism
Social conservatism[1]
European affiliationAEN[2] (observer status)
International affiliationNone
ColoursBlue, yellow
Website
www.sverigedemokraterna.se

Sweden Democrats (Sverigedemokraterna, SD), founded in 1988, is a Swedish political party that describes itself as a nationalist movement. Polling data throughout the summer months of 2008 show the party approaching the 4 percent threshold necessary for entry into the Swedish Parliament, notably reaching 4.4% in both August and September.[3]

As of early 2009 the party claims about 3,600 members. There are thirteen district party associations in Sweden for the SD, as well as around one hundred local or municipal associations. Young members are organised in the Sweden Democrat Youth. The current Youth Organisation was founded in 1998. The party also distributes a newspaper to its members, SD-Kuriren. Since 2005 the paper has been printed in tabloid format, and approximately 28,000 copies have been published.

The party has often drawn criticism from various groups and have been described as anti-immigrant,[4] [5][6][7] and xenophobic[8][1]. But the party itself claims that these accusations lack validity.

Ideology

The Sweden Democrats' party programme is based on Nationalism:[9][1]

Basic political ideas

"The pillar of Sweden Democrats' ideological message is manifest from the party's statement of principles, which it published in 2003:

"The critical ingredient of a safe, harmonic, solid and supportive society is the common identity, which in turn requires a high degree of ethnic and cultural uniformity amongst the people. From this, it follows that the nationalist principle, the principle of one state, one nation, is absolutely fundamental to the Sweden Democrats’ political values. The nationalist principle is based on the concept of the nation state, that the territorial boundaries of the state shall coincide with its demographic boundaries. In its ideal form, such a society is therefore ethnically homogenous. [...] Cultural diversity is as necessary to mankind as biological diversity is to nature. The different cultures are mankind’s common heritage and they should be acknowledged and kept apart for the benefit of us all. [...] Countries containing a multiple of relatively strong cultures have tended to develop in such a way that they end up diluting the different ethnicities and totally eradicating their original identities. We the Sweden Democrats believe that the safest way to protect the diversity of cultures, taking into consideration respect for human rights, is to do so as much as possible in the paradigm of the nation state. (Sverigedemokraterna 2003)"[1]

Foreign policy

The Sweden Democrats believe that immigration, Islamization, supranationality (e.g., the European Union), cultural imperialism (mainly from the USA), and globalisation are the greatest threats to the unique Swedish culture. The party wishes to pursue a looser co-operation between Sweden and other European states.

National and social justice

The party claims to advocate national responsibility, social justice, and an ecological consciousness. Further, the party wishes to promote a general moral improvement in Swedish society, protect fundamental Western and Protestant ethics, and strengthen national unity in order to create solidarity between ethnic Swedes.

Economic policy

The Sweden Democrats wish to lower taxes and reduce government intervention in the economy to promote the growth of small business enterprises. In order to reduce unemployment, the party sees a need to improve the general business climate, especially for smaller enterprises. A key point in the party's economic policy is the claim that the "multicultural experiment" costs the Swedish government approximately 267 billion Swedish kronor (2000) every year[citation needed]. Thus, by reducing the costs of immigration, the party believes that it will both be able to reduce taxes as well as enhance the general level of welfare.

Family policy

They are in favor of the traditional nuclear family and believe that every child should have "one father and one mother," according to their website.

Immigration policy

The party explicitly states that the current immigration and assimilation policies have been a failure. The party feels that the current situation with a large number of immigrants living in cultural enclaves is not beneficial for the country. The immigrants themselves are rootless, there has been rising antagonistic tensions between various population groups, and the immigration in itself, the party says, has caused social and economic strains on the country. Against this background, the party wishes to restrict immigration and encourages the repatriation of large immigrant groups. The party has referred to the recommendations from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) which state that the return of refugees should be the solution to refugee problems. Party secretary Torbjörn Kastell has said that the party wants "a multicultural world, not a multicultural society."[1] In a 2008 survey, a significant minority of 39 percent of all Swedes thought that there were "too many foreigners in the country"[10], and in 2007 a survey showed that 49 percent of all Swedes wanted to restrict the number asylum seekers.[11] However, this does not mean that all of those would support SD policies.

According to the party manifesto:

"The tendency in modern times has been towards incredibly widespread immigration from distant countries. An explicit goal to create a pluralistic society has seriously jeopardized the Swedish nation and its homogenous composition. There can be no doubt that such a policy constitutes a grave violation of the nationalist principle (Sverigedemokraterna 2003). [...] The mass immigration of the past decades has come to pose a serious threat to our national identity by creating huge areas populated by people who will never see themselves as Swedish nor as part of our culture or our history. Thanks to an irresponsible immigration policy designed to create a 'multicultural society', new ethnic minorities have established themselves on Swedish soil, with growing social problems being the result (Sverigedemokraterna 2002)."[1]

Political history

Early campaign sticker using the Bevara Sverige Svenskt ("Keep Sweden Swedish") slogan.

The party has its origins in the movement Bevara Sverige Svenskt ("Keep Sweden Swedish").[12][1] During the mid 1990s, the party leader Mikael Jansson strove to make the party more respectable, modelling it after other "euronationalist" parties, most prominently the French National Front. This policy continues to be followed by the present leader Jimmie Åkesson. This effort included ousting openly extremist members.

The Sweden Democrats were active in LePen's Euronat, but first the main party left, then the youth organisation.[13]

The 2002 election campaign

The Sweden Democrats regarded their results in the 2002 Swedish general elections as a success. The party focused its campaign on its pledges to restrict immigration and build a culturally homogenous Sweden. Party officials stressed during the campaign that the Sweden Democrats is a democratic party that opposes all forms of xenophobia and racism. The party's meetings were disturbed by demonstrations by left-wing groups such as Anti-Fascist Action and the Young Left and several party members were assaulted.[14]

The 2006 election campaign

The Sweden Democrats again failed to gain representation in Sweden's national parliament, the Riksdag, in the 2006 general elections. However, they significantly increased their support by receiving 2.9% support at the national level and gaining representation in a majority of the nation's municipalities. In the municipality of Landskrona, 22% voted for the Sweden Democrats.

The Mohammed cartoon debate

After the Danish paper Jyllands-Posten published twelve cartoons depicting Mohammed and ignited the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy during the fall and winter of 2005, the party gave its unreserved support to the publication with reference to the freedom of speech. The party stated that it saw no reason why a Danish newspaper should be forced to abide by Muslim rules and prohibitions regarding expression. When the boycott of Danish products was launched in the Middle East, the Sweden Democrats launched a "Buy Danish" campaign in support of Danish workers.[15] In 2006 the party entered the Mohammed cartoon debate by publishing a Mohammed-depicting cartoon on its youth league and SD-Kuriren websites. The cartoon showed Mohammed from behind holding a mirror in front of his face. However, instead of any facial features, the mirror showed only a blank head. The cartoon was captioned "Mohammed's Face" (Muhammeds ansikte in Swedish).[16]

The publication attracted the attention of the Swedish government. The government informed internet service provider Levonline about the party's publications. Subsequently, Levonline shut down the party’s web page. The government and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Laila Freivalds, denied any direct interference. However, at the same time Laila Freivalds condemned the publication as a provocation.[17][18][19][20] Freivalds then resigned as Minister after being accused of interference with press freedom, and lying about such actions.

This event spurred debate on government censorship in Sweden. The party also had a hate speech charge filed against them due to the posted caricature.[21] Similar hate speech charges were filed against other Swedish publishers who depicted Mohammed.[16] However, these charges were immediately deemed to be unfounded by the Swedish Justitiekansler (Chancellor of Justice).[22]

The party originally planned to publish a set of cartoons in the party newspaper, SD-Kuriren. However, after the controversy erupted, party leader Jimmie Åkesson issued a statement on the party's website on 9 February 2006, stating that it would refrain from further publications online and in print, due to concerns that it might spur hostile actions against Swedes and Swedish interests.[23][24][25][26]

The shutdown of the party's websites was reported to Konstitutionsutskottet by the Liberal People's Party leader Lars Leijonborg.[27] The party filed charges against the Security Police and the Department of State with the Swedish Justitiekansler and Justitieombudsman, alleging that the government's interference was unconstitutional.[28] The spokesperson of the Swedish Green Party Peter Eriksson also expressed concern over possible government involvement in the event.

Controversies

The Sweden Democrats have complained about difficulties buying advertising space due to the media using the right to choose whom they permit to advertise.[29] However, on June 16, 2006, Dagens Nyheter and Svenska Dagbladet decided to stop their boycott. Expressen still retains the ban on Sweden Democrat advertising.[30]

  • Between 1993 and 1995, Robert Vesterlund was active in the party (both in the main party and, for a short time, the leader of the party's youth organization before it was disbanded). After the debacle with the youth organization, he left the party.[12]
  • During the Swedish general election in 1998, the French National Front supported the Sweden Democrats financially. The then-party leader Mikael Jansson has stated that the support consisted of printing 250 000 of the party's election brochures.[31][32]
  • In 2002, second vice-chairman Torbjörn Kastell stated in a Dagens Nyheter interview that, as a way to counter the multicultural policies pursued by the main parties, he advocated a policy that would ban mosques, prohibit the wearing of traditional Muslim clothing in public spaces, and end the serving of special food in public schools. However, he stressed that he found it unfair that these kinds of ideas were viewed as xenophobic and racist. He felt that the policies were merely ways to assimilate immigrants into Swedish society.[14]
  • In a speech during the 2002 election campaign the leading member Kenneth Sandberg said "Even more often it happens that dark skinned youths mug and knock down helpless elderly on their way home with their meagre pensions. Our young boys - blond, blue eyed - are humiliated and mugged of their cell phones. A new phenomenon in Sweden's history is the gang rapes of our girls.". [14]
  • For the 2004 election to the European Parliament, the party received 200,000 SEK from the Belgian anti-Semite Bernard Mengal.[34][35]
  • Party secretary Tommy Funebo left the party in 2004 and publicly described the party as being infested by extremists, only differing from them for tactical reasons. Being without a party program, he stated, they are only united in their hatred towards foreigners. The party leader at the time, Mikael Jansson, said he rejected this utterly and called Funebo a destructive liar.[36]
  • In 2004, party chairman Mikael Jansson defended the so called "bergsjö letter" sent out by the SD in Gothenburg. In the letter, SD Gothenburg said they wanted to use party money to help "Swedes and fraternal peoples moving from areas with many immigrants." They also wanted "Bergsjön to be divided into one multicultural part and one Swedish part."[37]

The Sweden Democrats' response to the controversy

The party dissociates itself from all forms of totalitarianism and racism and states that it considers the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights a fundamental component of its politics. Furthermore, the party says that its fundamental goal is to combine the principle of social and economic justice with traditional conservative values. For this reason, the party believes that it is not easily pinpointed on the traditional left-right political spectrum in Swedish politics.[23] Also, the Sweden Democrats say they have expelled all openly extremist members from the party, and refuse membership to anyone who has extremist views. The Sweden Democrats have complained of a media boycott, which they say has resulted in constant negative characterisations of the party. On March 18 2006 the Sweden Democrats filed a complaint with the Press Ombudsman against Expressen for their series of articles about the party.[38]

Election results

Popular vote in the general election 2006 after municipality.
  4 percent or more
  2,93 percent or more

The party has recently seen its electoral support increase, receiving 2.9% of the votes in the September 2006 general elections. At the local level, the party is represented in a majority of the Swedish municipalities.

In the 1988 Swedish general elections, the party received 1,118 votes. At the municipal level, the party failed to gain seats in any municipality.

In the 1991 Swedish general elections, the party received two local mandates (that is, two representatives in the municipal assembly), one in Dals-Ed and one in Höör.

In the 1994 Swedish general elections, the party received 13,954 votes. It received a total of five local mandates, two in Höör, two in Dals-Ed, and one in Ekerö.

In the 1998 Swedish general elections, the party received 19,624 votes (0.37% of the total number of votes cast). It received a total of eight local mandates, two in Höör, two in Trollhättan, two in Haninge, one in Sölvesborg, and one in Dals-Ed.

In the Swedish elections for the European Parliament in 1999, the party received 8,568 votes (0.33% of the total number of votes cast).

In the 2001 elections to the Church Assembly, the party received 0.8% of the total number of votes cast and gained two mandates in the Church Assembly (Kyrkomötet).

SD municipal election results 2002-2006.

In the 2002 Swedish general elections, the party received 76,300 votes (1.44% of the total number of votes cast), making it the largest party without representation in the Swedish Parliament. At the municipal level, the party presented candidates in 79 Swedish municipalities. In 29 municipalities the party gained a total of 63 local seats.

In the Swedish elections for the European Parliament in 2004, the party received 27,707 votes (1.13% of the total number of votes cast).

In the 2005 elections to the Church Assembly, the party received 1.7% of the total number of votes cast.

In the 2006 Swedish general election the Sweden Democrats went forward strongly, gaining 2.9% of the votes and thus ensuring governmental financial support for the next four years. The party is thus 1.1 percentage points from achieving representation in the national parliament, the Riksdag, and it has also strengthened its positions in various local assemblies, particularly in southern Sweden. In the city of Landskrona the party received 22.3% of the electoral votes and is thus the third largest party in the city council. The party gained a total of 286 local seats in 145 Swedish municipalities.

Party leaders

Other prominent party members

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Rydgren, Jens. "Radical Right-wing Populism in Sweden and Denmark". The Centre for the Study of European Politics and Society. Retrieved 2006-05-25.
  2. ^ Sverigedemokraterna.net: Sverigedemokraterna erhåller observatörsstatus i europeisk partigrupp (Swedish)
  3. ^ Sifo Väljarbarometern (Swedish)
  4. ^ "The rise of the far right in Europe". CNN.com. Archived from the original on 03-16-2008. Retrieved 2006-05-25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |archivedate= (help)
  5. ^ "Sweden shuts website over cartoon". BBC.co.uk. February 10, 2006. Retrieved 2006-05-25.
  6. ^ "Sweden Democrats in record election". The Local. 2006-09-19. Retrieved 2006-12-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
  7. ^ "Swedish Security Service SÄPO Annual Report 2002 (pdf)" (PDF). sakerhetspolisen.se. 2002. Retrieved 2009-03-12.
  8. ^ Larsson, Stieg. "National Analytical Study on Racist Violence and Crime - RAXEN Focal Point for SWEDEN" (PDF). Retrieved 2006-05-25. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ "Sverigedemokraterna - Presentation in English". Retrieved 2009-04-13. Template:Sv icon
  10. ^ The Local - New poll: Sweden Democrats on the rise,
  11. ^ SVD: Folk tycker inte som journalister
  12. ^ a b c "Aftonbladet nyheter: HOTET MOT DEMOKRATIN". Retrieved 2006-05-25. Template:Sv icon
  13. ^ Janssons Frestelse week 18, 1999.
  14. ^ a b c "I Sveriges namn". Dagens Nyheter. Retrieved 2006-05-25. Template:Sv icon
  15. ^ "Stöd Danmark - Köp danskt!". Sverigedemokraterna. Retrieved 2006-05-25. Template:Sv icon
  16. ^ a b "Muhammedteckningar borta efter Säposamtal". Dagens Nyheter. Retrieved 2006-05-25. Template:Sv icon
  17. ^ "Regeringen har inte varit inblandad". Dagens Nyheter. Retrieved 2006-05-26. Template:Sv icon
  18. ^ "Säpo försvarar beslut att stänga SD-sajt". Dagens Nyheter. Retrieved 2006-05-26. Template:Sv icon
  19. ^ "Mycket krävs för sajtstängning". Dagens Nyheter. Retrieved 2006-05-26. Template:Sv icon
  20. ^ "Säpo lägger locket på". Dagens Nyheter. Retrieved 2006-05-25. Template:Sv icon
  21. ^ "Centerpartist polisanmäler Sverigedemokraterna". Dagens Nyheter. Retrieved 2006-05-25. Template:Sv icon
  22. ^ "Kritik mot stängning av nättidning". Svenska Dagbladet. Retrieved 2006-05-25. Template:Sv icon
  23. ^ a b "Sverigedemokraterna". Retrieved 2006-05-25. Template:Sv icon
  24. ^ "Vädjanden från landsmän fick oss att stanna upp". SD Kuriren. Retrieved 2006-05-25. Template:Sv icon
  25. ^ "Sverigedemokratisk Ungdom tar bort bilder efter samtal med SÄPO". SD Kuriren. Retrieved 2006-05-25. Template:Sv icon
  26. ^ "Sverigedemokraterna avstår från vidare publicering av Muhammedbilder av hänsyn till svenska liv". SD Kuriren. Retrieved 2006-05-25. Template:Sv icon
  27. ^ "Stängning av SD-sajt till KU". Dagens Nyheter. Retrieved 2006-05-25. Template:Sv icon
  28. ^ "Sverigedemokraterna anmäler UD och SÄPO till JO och JK". SD Kuriren. Retrieved 2006-05-25. Template:Sv icon
  29. ^ "Swedish General Election 2002". British Helsinki Human Rights Group. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2006-08-01.
  30. ^ "DN - Kultur - Fritt fram för Sverigedemokraterna att annonsera". Retrieved 2006-08-01.
  31. ^ "Extremparti får mothugg". Svenska Dagbladet. Retrieved 2006-05-25. Template:Sv icon
  32. ^ "Sverigedemokraternas utländska kontakter". Sverigedemokraterna. Retrieved 2006-05-25. Template:Sv icon (via Internet Archive)
  33. ^ "SD-politiker spred antisemitism". EXPO. Retrieved 2006-05-25. Template:Sv icon
  34. ^ "Extremist ska finansiera sd:s EU-val". Helsingborgs Dagblad. Retrieved 2006-05-25. Template:Sv icon
  35. ^ "Sverigedemokraterna får miljoner av rik rasist". Expressen. Retrieved 2006-05-25. Template:Sv icon
  36. ^ "Sverigedemokraterna och avhopparen". EXPO. 2004-06-03. Retrieved 2006-12-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: year (link) Template:Sv icon
  37. ^ "Mikael Jansson (sd) om bergsjöbrevet: "lätt att försvara"". EXPO. 2004-11-24. Retrieved 2006-05-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: year (link) Template:Sv icon
  38. ^ "Sverigedemokraterna anmäler Expressen till Pressombudsmannen". SD Kuriren. Retrieved 2006-05-25. Template:Sv icon
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