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Tag archives for Swedish election

When social media makes a difference

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Last Sunday a xenophobic, rightist party was elected into the Swedish Parliament.

I and many others immediately felt Sweden become a colder and rougher country to live in. My Facebook News Feed soon drowned in status updates about how sad and disappointed people felt. A lot of people didn’t let it stay at sharing their feelings in status updates. Several Facebook groups were instantly founded and people were given the opportunity to show their discontent about the election result, for example Sverigedemokraterna ur Riskdagen – Ja tack (The Sweden Democrats out of the Parliament – Yes please) and The Swedish news paper Aftonbladets’ campaign Vi gillar olika (We like different) who together have more than 400 000 likes.

17-year-old Felicia Margineanus went even further and founded the Facebook manifesto Get together för jämlikhet KL 18 på Plattan (Inget bråk, bara kärlek!)(Get together for equality at 6 pm at Plattan (No fighting, just love!) and challenged everyone to participate in a peaceful protest against racism and xenophobia. As a result, over ten thousand people gathered at Sergels torg in Stockholm this Monday.

Demonstration-Sergels-torg-100920-by-Maria-Öhrn

More than 10,000 people gathered at Sergels torg in Stockholm to protest against racism. Photo: Maria Öhrn

The Sweden Democrats got 5,7 % of the votes in the election. As tragic as that may be, it’s still important to point out that 94.3 per cent of the Swedes did NOT vote for SD and that a huge number of people are opposed to the party and its xenophobia. And even though social media didn’t play that much of a role in the Swedish election of 2010, it is now a force to count on when it comes to opposing the racist tendencies in Sweden.

Mikaela

September 23, 2010

When social media makes a difference

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Last Sunday a xenophobic, rightist party was elected into the Swedish Parliament.

I and many others immediately felt Sweden become a colder and rougher country to live in. My Facebook News Feed soon drowned in status updates about how sad and disappointed people felt. A lot of people didn’t let it stay at sharing their feelings in status updates. Several Facebook groups were instantly founded and people were given the opportunity to show their discontent about the election result, for example Sverigedemokraterna ur Riskdagen – Ja tack (The Sweden Democrats out of the Parliament – Yes please) and The Swedish news paper Aftonbladets’ campaign Vi gillar olika (We like different) who together have more than 400 000 likes.

17-year-old Felicia Margineanus went even further and founded the Facebook manifesto Get together för jämlikhet KL 18 på Plattan (Inget bråk, bara kärlek!)(Get together for equality at 6 pm at Plattan (No fighting, just love!) and challenged everyone to participate in a peaceful protest against racism and xenophobia. As a result, over ten thousand people gathered at Sergels torg in Stockholm this Monday.

More than 10,000 people gathered at Sergels torg in Stockholm to protest against racism. Photo: Maria Öhrn

The Sweden Democrats got 5,7 % of the votes in the election. As tragic as that may be, it’s still important to point out that 94.3 per cent of the Swedes did NOT vote for SD and that a huge number of people are opposed to the party and its xenophobia. And even though social media didn’t play that much of a role in the Swedish election of 2010, it is now a force to count on when it comes to opposing the racist tendencies in Sweden.

Mikaela

September 23, 2010

When social media makes a difference

Leave a comment

Last Sunday a xenophobic, rightist party was elected into the Swedish Parliament.

I and many others immediately felt Sweden become a colder and rougher country to live in. My Facebook News Feed soon drowned in status updates about how sad and disappointed people felt. A lot of people didn’t let it stay at sharing their feelings in status updates. Several Facebook groups were instantly founded and people were given the opportunity to show their discontent about the election result, for example Sverigedemokraterna ur Riskdagen – Ja tack (The Sweden Democrats out of the Parliament – Yes please) and The Swedish news paper Aftonbladets’ campaign Vi gillar olika (We like different) who together have more than 400 000 likes.

17-year-old Felicia Margineanus went even further and founded the Facebook manifesto Get together för jämlikhet KL 18 på Plattan (Inget bråk, bara kärlek!)(Get together for equality at 6 pm at Plattan (No fighting, just love!) and challenged everyone to participate in a peaceful protest against racism and xenophobia. As a result, over ten thousand people gathered at Sergels torg in Stockholm this Monday.

More than 10,000 people gathered at Sergels torg in Stockholm to protest against racism. Photo: Maria Öhrn

The Sweden Democrats got 5,7 % of the votes in the election. As tragic as that may be, it’s still important to point out that 94.3 per cent of the Swedes did NOT vote for SD and that a huge number of people are opposed to the party and its xenophobia. And even though social media didn’t play that much of a role in the Swedish election of 2010, it is now a force to count on when it comes to opposing the racist tendencies in Sweden.

Mikaela

September 23, 2010

When social media makes a difference

Leave a comment

Last Sunday a xenophobic, rightist party was elected into the Swedish Parliament.

I and many others immediately felt Sweden become a colder and rougher country to live in. My Facebook News Feed soon drowned in status updates about how sad and disappointed people felt. A lot of people didn’t let it stay at sharing their feelings in status updates. Several Facebook groups were instantly founded and people were given the opportunity to show their discontent about the election result, for example Sverigedemokraterna ur Riskdagen – Ja tack (The Sweden Democrats out of the Parliament – Yes please) and The Swedish news paper Aftonbladets’ campaign Vi gillar olika (We like different) who together have more than 400 000 likes.

17-year-old Felicia Margineanus went even further and founded the Facebook manifesto Get together för jämlikhet KL 18 på Plattan (Inget bråk, bara kärlek!)(Get together for equality at 6 pm at Plattan (No fighting, just love!) and challenged everyone to participate in a peaceful protest against racism and xenophobia. As a result, over ten thousand people gathered at Sergels torg in Stockholm this Monday.

Demonstration-Sergels-torg-100920-by-Maria-Öhrn

More than 10,000 people gathered at Sergels torg in Stockholm to protest against racism. Photo: Maria Öhrn

The Sweden Democrats got 5,7 % of the votes in the election. As tragic as that may be, it’s still important to point out that 94.3 per cent of the Swedes did NOT vote for SD and that a huge number of people are opposed to the party and its xenophobia. And even though social media didn’t play that much of a role in the Swedish election of 2010, it is now a force to count on when it comes to opposing the racist tendencies in Sweden.

Mikaela

September 23, 2010

When social media makes a difference

Leave a comment

Last Sunday a xenophobic, rightist party was elected into the Swedish Parliament.

I and many others immediately felt Sweden become a colder and rougher country to live in. My Facebook News Feed soon drowned in status updates about how sad and disappointed people felt. A lot of people didn’t let it stay at sharing their feelings in status updates. Several Facebook groups were instantly founded and people were given the opportunity to show their discontent about the election result, for example Sverigedemokraterna ur Riskdagen – Ja tack (The Sweden Democrats out of the Parliament – Yes please) and The Swedish news paper Aftonbladets’ campaign Vi gillar olika (We like different) who together have more than 400 000 likes.

17-year-old Felicia Margineanus went even further and founded the Facebook manifesto Get together för jämlikhet KL 18 på Plattan (Inget bråk, bara kärlek!)(Get together for equality at 6 pm at Plattan (No fighting, just love!) and challenged everyone to participate in a peaceful protest against racism and xenophobia. As a result, over ten thousand people gathered at Sergels torg in Stockholm this Monday.

Demonstration-Sergels-torg-100920-by-Maria-Öhrn

More than 10,000 people gathered at Sergels torg in Stockholm to protest against racism. Photo: Maria Öhrn

The Sweden Democrats got 5,7 % of the votes in the election. As tragic as that may be, it’s still important to point out that 94.3 per cent of the Swedes did NOT vote for SD and that a huge number of people are opposed to the party and its xenophobia. And even though social media didn’t play that much of a role in the Swedish election of 2010, it is now a force to count on when it comes to opposing the racist tendencies in Sweden.

Mikaela

September 23, 2010

Volunteering on election day

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Socializing across party lines. Photo: Kajsa

When the Swedes went to the polls on Sunday, we were many who volunteered for the various parties outside the polling stations.

Overall, it is difficult to get people to engage in politics, and it is especially difficult in a small community like the one that I live in. Yet we were four people from different parties who handed out the ballots to voters during most of the day.

This is the task of the party volunteers on election day — to stand outside the polling station and with a smile hand over the party’s ballots to voters. It is forbidden to agitate and it is not allowed to stand inside the polling station. Luckily it did not rain for more than five minutes during the entire day.

You might think there’d be heated discussions between the party volunteers who “compete” side by side all day long, but it’s absolutely not like that! The greatest harmony reigns, and it’s actually very nice. The latest gossip is discussed and we all help each other if necessary. It is a really nice way to spend your day.

Kajsa

September 21, 2010

Like two peas in a pod?

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Swedish politican or American TV star? Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Sweden’s general election is just two days away. Think almost everything has been said by now, remains to be seen if the winning side gets things done.

Time now to focus a truly serious political matter. The two peas in a pod, or as we Swedes say, “lika som bär”.

Everyone over here knows Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt looks like our cartoon character Alfons Åberg, that’s no news.

This one I find more intriguing. Is this CSI star William Petersen or Green Party leader Peter Eriksson?

William and Peter get my vote in TV4:s ongoing look-alike survey.

/Oliver

Oliver

September 17, 2010

Will the films make a difference in the general election?

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Now that we’ve had a look at the iPhone applications and billboards the different parties use to promote themselves, I think it’s time for some TV commercials! Translations are just below every short film.

The Social Democratic Party focuses on unemployment among youth:

“207 000 young persons are just waiting to enter the game. We cannot wait.”

So does the Moderate Party:

“Love at work. One of many reasons why more people should have a job. Nya Moderaterna (The New Moderate Party). Sweden’s only workers’ party.”

The Center Party is doing the same with this film:

- What’s going to come out of this little powerhouse?
- I’ve been thinking of letting him take courses at the Public Employment Service.

-When I grow up I want to be “utlasad”. (very hard to translate this very Swedish word – it basically means losing your job because you were the last one they hired…)

-Are you going to be a pro?
-No, I want to be on unemployment benefits, like my dad!

-What do you want to do when you’re done with school?
-Most of all, I’d like to go from one internship to another.
-How exciting!

-One month to go, after that it’s unemployment measures for me!

Voice-over: Are we going back to a Sweden built on benefits, or shall we have real jobs in new companies? It’s up to you!

The Green Party is more into green topics:

“All around us there are people working for the environment. Now it’s time for a government that does the same. Modernize Sweden!”

When it comes to the Christian Democratic Party, it’s more of an animal theme…

“We want a more humane Sweden.”

So, what do you think – would any of these films make you give the party your vote?

/Mikaela

Mikaela

September 16, 2010

Sweden’s political parties — same same but different

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Swedish election campaigns 2010. Left, the center–right Alliance: “Forward or backward?” Middle, the Green Party: “If you don’t know what to vote for, vote for the environment!” Right, the Social Democrats: “207,000 young people long to show their potential.”

Spent yesterday doing research on political parties in Sweden. In September Sweden.se will focus on the upcoming election (September 19) by covering Swedish politics and Swedish society in general, so I’m preparing some relevant content. Among other things, David Wiles will make a brilliant summary of what the main parties in Sweden stand for.

Looking at the Swedish Election Authority website (Valmyndigheten), I was baffled by the number of parties registered in Sweden: 768! Funny, then, that the seven parties now in parliament (the Moderates, the Liberals, the Center Party, the Christian Democrats, the Social Democrats, the Green Party and the Left Party) are all so similar that it’s really difficult to know which one to vote for.

Over the last few years, all Swedish parties seem to have moved toward the center of the political scale. And to make matters even worse, the four center–right parties (the Moderates, the Liberals, the Center Party and the Christian Democrats) and the three center–left parties (the Social Democrats, the Green Party and the Left Party) have formed coalitions. In other words, even if you manage to choose one party to vote for, you’ll still end up with a coalition government built on political compromises. It’s a tough job exercising ones democratic right.

You’re probably still wondering about what the other 761 parties are. Well, among them are many local one-issue parties, started by an individual or a group of individuals with a very particular cause. The local party SOS Tomelilla wants to save the small town of Tomelilla from collapse. The national party Enhet (Unity) aims to “introduce loving visions into the politics in order to create a more human society.” Just to give you two examples.

Who knows, maybe it’s time to go crazy and vote for something like Jongleringspartiet (the Juggling Party), which strives for more juggling in society whenever and wherever possible, just to show that we need new life in Swedish politics, with parties that actually differ from one another. And why not throw in a leader with some charisma as well? /Emma

The Juggling Party: “Do you think that the other parties just talk rather than juggle? Vote for the Juggling Party!”

Emma

August 12, 2010