From the Guardian · · 1m 50s
Sweden's far right stalls, but not its ideas
The Sweden Democrats lost their path into government, yet the politics they built is now everyone's politics.
In brief
The Sweden Democrats lost their path into government, yet the politics they built is now everyone's politics. A party can lose an election and still win the argument. The SD fell to third while its positions on immigration and crime became the Swedish default. Originally reported by the Guardian.
The inevitable win that wasn't
Founded in 1988, the Sweden Democrats had grown in every single general election since. Sunday's vote was supposed to crown them. Instead they slipped to third place.
“The party has grown in every government election since 1988.”
How close they got
In 2022 the SD, a party with neo-Nazi roots, propped up Ulf Kristersson's Tidö coalition. That supporting role bought them real influence and acceptance from the political establishment.
Ministries that never came
Kristersson promised early in the campaign that the SD would get key ministerial posts if his bloc won. With the right unable to form a coalition, that route into government has closed.
A visibly shocked leader
Jimmie Åkesson admitted losing percentage points but told supporters they were still "winners". He hinted that playing team player for coalition partner the Liberals had cost them.
“It was obvious they had lost some percentage points, but claimed they were still "winners".”
Why the votes leaked
Some supporters likely drifted to the Moderates, who had a strong night. After four years tangled up with government, the SD could no longer sell itself as the anti-establishment option. Turnout was a low 80%.
Their ideas won anyway
Anti-immigration politics, harsh sentencing and integration that demands newcomers shed their culture are now Swedish mainstream. Even the Social Democrats moved right on crime and migration after 2022.
“Much of what the SD stand for has now become part of the Swedish political norm.”
What happens next matters
If the Moderates join the Social Democrats, the SD leads the opposition. Shut out entirely, it may swing further right to fire up its base. Far-right active clubs keep recruiting either way.
“There is no shortage of far-right support in Sweden.”
The essence
A party can lose an election and still win the argument. The SD fell to third while its positions on immigration and crime became the Swedish default.
