News

Swedish centre-right holds edge before vote, Reuters (2010)

This article reports on the latest opinion polls in Sweden. The Moderates government is supported by 47% of voters, while the opposition coalition have 46.4%. The upcoming parliamentary elections will be in September.

Sweden: Moderates are largest party: poll, The Local (2010)

This article present the latest opinion poll in Sweden. According to the poll, the Moderate Party is the most supported one in the parliament (29.9%), while the opposition Social Democrats is the second (28.8%). The center-right coalition is supported by 46.4% of the electorate (the opposition by 45.5%).

Center-left coalition loses steam in Sweden, Angus Reid Global Monitor (2010)

This article reports on the most recent opinion poll in Sweden. The opposition coalition (center-left) is backed by 44.3% of the voters, while the governing center-right alliance by 50.9%. The next general elections will be on September 19.

Sweden:Left Party changes name to "Welfare Party", The Local (2010)

The Left Party in Sweden has temporarily changed its name to the Welfare Party for the duration of the election campaign. The move is an attempt to focus on its central campaign issues and shift away from recent criticism of the party leader.

Fired up Swedish feminists burn cash over pay gap, Reuters Africa (2010)

Sweden's Feminist party burned 100000 crowns as part of their campaign to illustrate the disparity in pay between men and women. The party, founded in 2005, hopes to win its first seat in the national assembly in the upcoming election.

Sweden:Alliance retain lead as gap narrows: poll, The Local (2010)

According to a recent poll the governing alliance still has the lead in the lead up to the general election, but the gap between the centre-right and centre-left blocks has narrowed.

Sweden:Alliance extends lead ahead of election: poll, The Local (2010)

According a recent poll the ruling centre-right coalition has extended its lead over the other parties ahead of the September elections. The poll also indicated that support for the Social Democrats has declined.

Sweden's far-right party gains support, The Swedish Wire (2010)

A recent poll suggests that the far-right party in Sweden is gaining support ahead of the upcoming election. A political scientist suggests that this could result in a minority government which could cause governing difficulties.

Swedish Ruling Conservatives Hold on to Lead, Angus Reid Global Monitor (2010)

According to a recent poll the governing centre-right coalition still has the lead, ahead of the opposition coalition of centre-left parties. Voters in Sweden go to the polls on September 19.

MPs support Sweden Democrats isolation: poll, The Local (2010)

Following a recent opinion poll that indicated 6.5% of voters supported the far-right party Sweden Democrats a survey of Swedish MPs indicates that 66% would be willing to work with the party in parliament, if they are successful in the election.

Swedish PM offers tax cuts and starts election campaign, Reuters (2010)

This article discusses the beginning of the Swedish electoral campaign. The four-party 'Alliance' that was able to win over the Social Democrats in the 2006 general elections, promised to continue with their low-taxes policies. The ruling Alliance, led by Fredrik Reinfeldt, appears to be leading the opinion polls.

Serious threats against Sweden's left-wing leader, The Wire (2010)

This article reports on threats against Mona Sahlin, leader of the left-wing opposition in Sweden. The candidate for Prime Minister received a series of threatening emails and letters, and the police started an investigation on the matter. Ms Sahlin has been targeted before: in 2004, a man punched her during a visit in a Northern town and in 1995 she was forced to work in a bullet-proof room. The Social Democratic Party lost of the its main leaders in the past decades (Olof Palme and Anna Lindh), and it is now taking extraordinary measures to guarantee Ms Sahlin's safety.

Sweden begins general election campaigns, The Global Times (2010)

This article reports on the start of the electoral campaign in Sweden. The ruling Alliance leader, Fredrik Reinfeldt, will compete against Social Democratic Party leader Mona Sahlin.

Swedish governing coalition leads opposition by 3.5 points in Sifo Poll, Bloomberg (2010)

This article reports on the latest opinion poll in Sweden. According to this survey, by Sifo, the governing coalition is supported by 48.6% of the electorate, while the opposition coalition stays behind (45%). The Swedish Democrats, a far-right party with strong opinions against immigration, would receive 4.5% of the votes (the threshold to enter the parliament is 4%).

Sweden: Party leaders, not issues will determine election, The Local (2010)

This article reports on the electoral campaign in Sweden for the upcoming general elections. Personal politics are playing an unprecedented role. The latest polls have predicted a very tight race between the two candidates: Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, center-right coalition, and Mona Sahlin, center-left opposition. The latter would become Sweden's first woman prime minister.

Sweden: Alliance builds tiny but consistent lead, The Local (2010)

The article reports on the election campaign in Sweden. The governing Alliance is still leading the competitions according to all polls, with the Red-Green opposition still a little behind. The Liberal Party (Folkpartiet), on the other hand, rose significantly from 2.1% to 6.9%.

Swedish politicians adopt US-style campaigning, The Swedish Wire (2010)

This article reports on the electoral campaign in Sweden. This year's elections are focusing on personal politics rather than on issues. Apparently, on September 19th, the Swedish people will vote for the candidates themselves rather than the parties. Recent polls predicted a tight race between the two main candidates: Mona Sahlin, leader of the center-left coalition, and Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, leader of the center-right Alliance.

Swedish government extends lead befor Sept. 19 vote, Bloomberg (2010)

This article reports on the latest opinion polls in Sweden. According to the polls, the ruling center-right coalition appears to be leading the race (48.7%), while opposition coalition led by the Social Democrats are losing ground (45.3%). On the other hand, it is this unclear whether or not the anti-immigration Swedish Democrats will reach the 4% threshold to enter the parliament (4.4%).

Swedish government in lead ahead of September vote-poll, Reuters (2010)

This article reports on the Swedish electoral campaign. New opinion polls show that the center-right coalition government is gaining popularity and would gain enough votes to form a majority government. The Alliance is currently supported by 49.8% of the people, while the center-left opposition by 44.8%. The polls also show that, as of now, the far-right Swedish Democrats would not reach the 4% threshold to enter the parliament.

'Sweden's elections should be supervised', The Swedish Wire (2010)

This article reports on Denmark's governing coalition's decision to send observers to the September 19 election in Sweden. The Danish coalition made this decision after two private TV channels announced that they will not air the political advertisements of the far-right Sweden Democrats. Spokespeople of the two broadcasters stated that these ads would breach legislation prohibiting messages containing hate grounded on race and religion.

Swedish TV station refuses to air 'hateful' ad, The Swedish Wire (2010)

This article reports on the decision of a Swedish private television (TV4) to reject the political advertising of the far-right Sweden Democrats. This video showed a race between an elderly woman and several women in burqas, with a slogan promising to take care of pensions, rather than immigrants. The communications director of TV4 stated that this ad contains hate grounded on race and religion, and it would break the Swedish law on freedom of expression.

Sweden's far-right furious: 'Democracy in danger', The Swedish Wire (2010)

This article reports on the reaction of the Sweden Democrats party to the decision of two private broadcasters not to air its political ad. The party stated that the Swedish democracy is in danger, and that the media representatives are now acting as censors and filters. The television ad showed a race between an elderly woman and several women in burqas, and a radio version is also available. If the Sweden Democrats will pass the 4.0% threshold, they will enter the parliament for the first time.

Sweden: Broadcaster agrees to new far-right party ad, The Local (2010)

This article reports on the Swedish TV4's decision to air the campaign advertisement of the far-right Sweden Democrats party. TV4 decided to air a shorter version of the ad, and to block the controversial shots with the words "censored by TV4". In those shots, an elderly woman competes in a race with women in burqas, as the slogan repeats that the Sweden Democrats will take care of pensions, rather than immigration.

Danish Politicians Call for Election Observers in Sweden, Spiegel (2010)

This article reports on the Danish government's decision to send observers to monitor the Swedish elections. Ever since the Swedish TV4 (a private broadcaster) refused to air a political ad from the far-right Sweden Democrats, politicians in Denmark - where immigration debates have sharpened the tone of political arena - are crying censorship.The party hired a Danish company to shoot the video.

Sweden: Red-greens present election manifesto, The Local (2010)

This article reports on the presentation of the election manifesto of the Red-Green coalition in Sweden. Mona Sahlin, leader of the Social Democrats, presented the manifesto in a press conference this week. The manifesto propose to cut taxes for pensioners and restaurants, to guarantee cheaper daycare and to introduce incentives for employers to recruit young people.

'Dragon' authour anti-immigrant prophecy may emerge in Swedish vote, Bloomberg (2010)

This article discusses whether the Swedish Democrats will reach the 4% threshold to enter the Parliament in the September 19 general elections. The far-right party campaign against immigration, and would like to cut it as much as 90%. Unlike its neighboring countries, Denmark and Norway, Sweden has not had an anti-immigration party since1994, when the New Democracy Party lost the elections.

Anti-Immigrant Party Rises in Sweden, The New York Times (2010)

This article reports on the latest updates from the Swedish electoral campaign. Recent opinion polls show that the far-right anti-immigration Sweden Democrats might exceed the 4% threshold to enter the Parliament. In a television debate the two main candidates, Mr. Reinfeldt and Ms. Sahlin, stated that they will not work with the Sweden Democrats if they will not win an absolute majority.

Sweden: Parties struggle to entice first time voters, The Local (2010)

This article reports on the last days of the electoral campaign in Sweden. Parties and candidates are struggling to win over the young voters, which would add up to 500,000 votes. Parties pay a special attention to first-time voters, as they tend to swing quickly from one side to the other.

Swedish nationalist group surges amid protests, Bloomberg BusinessWeek (2010)

This article reports on the latest opinion polls in Sweden. According to most poll, the far-right Sweden Democrats will likely reach the 4% threshold to enter the Parliament for the first time. Protesters all around Sweden tried to disrupt the nationalist group's campaign rallies, and the speeches of the party's leader, Jimmie Akesson. In poll released on September 13, the Sweden Democrats had 7.5%, with a 3% margin of error.

New poll shows Swedish govt with majority in vote, Reuters

This article reports on the latest opinion poll in Sweden. According to the most recent polls, 51.2% of the people interviewed support the center-right governing "Alliance", while only 42.3% would vote for the "Red-Green" opposition coalition. 4.3% of the people support the far-right anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, which would then reach the 4% threshold to enter the Parliament.

The rise-fall-rise journeys of Sahlin and Reinfeldt, The Swedish Wire (2010)

This article discusses the trends of the Swedish electoral campaign. It has been a tight race between the two main candidates, Fredrik Reinfeldt and Mona Sahlin. The article present the two candidates, as well as their personal and political stories.

'Swedish model' party in crisis, The Swedish Wire (2010)

This article discusses the impact of the last elections in Sweden on the party system as a whole. The 'traditional' Social Democrats have lost most of its appeal (and votes). In the mid-1990s the party would usually gain 45% of the votes, while in the last elections, they had 30.9% - their lowest percentage ever.

Protest against Swedish far-right election gains, BBC News (2010)

This article reports on the protests that followed the results of the Sunday elections in Sweden. A crowd gathered in the street of Stockholm, the capital, to protest against the election to parliament of the far-right Sweden Democrats. The anti-immigration party gained 5.7% of the votes, well beyond the 4% threshold to enter the parliament.

Centre-right wins Swedish vote but short of majority, Reuters (2010)

This article discusses the results of the Sunday election in Sweden. Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt's center-right Alliance coalition won the election, but did not gain an overall majority. The most debated outcome of the election, however, is the election of the far-right anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, who gained 5.9% of the votes - 20 seats in the 349-seat parliament.

Swedish government fails to secure majority after postal votes are counted, Bloomberg (2010)

This article reports on the vote counting operations in Sweden. The Election Authority announced that the postal votes have been counted, and that the results are final. The center-right coalition won 173 seats in the 249-seats Assembly, and will then form a minority government. Sweden has been governed by minority governments since 1971. The voter turnout was 84.6%.

Swedish government comes up short in preliminary recount, Reuters (2010)

This article discusses the vote counting operations that are still been carried out in Sweden. The postal votes and the overseas ballots have now been counted. Finally, Prime Minister's coalition won 173 seats (on election day they announced 172 seats), two seats short of the 175 majority. The center-left opposition won 156 seats, while the far-right Sweden Democrats won 20 seats. The results are now been reviewed by the administrative boards, and once published they can be appealed in 10-days.

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Swedish govt sees no reason to appeal vote count, Reuters (2010)

This article reports on the newly-elected center-right government's decision not to ask for a recount of the votes. A spokesperson stated that there is no reason to appeal, as the votes have been counted several times already.

Sweden Democrat leaves party after winning seat, The Local (2010)

This article reports on the resignation of a member of the Sweden Democrats from the local council. Eric Gerhardsson had been recruited at the last minute, and unexpectedly won the seat in the recent election. Mr Gerhardsson stated that he has now read the party's programme carefully, and does not agree with their ideas and he is not a racist. The party currently needs to fill in the 63 empty seats in local councils around the country.

Donald Duck and God mar the Swedish election, The Telegraph (2010)

This article reports on the invalid votes in the last elections in Sweden. Many Swedish voters decide to protest in unconventional ways, handwriting on their ballots. In the last election, "Donald Duck" was the most common comment in the ballot, followed by "Myself" and "Jesus".