As I write this I am following the election results being reported in my native Sweden.
In Sweden, we have had a Social democratic (S) government for more or less 70 years, however last year a right-wing coalition got the confidence of the Swedish people and this election have been mostly about if S will regain confidence or if the coalition, calling themselves “Alliansen” will be entrusted to continue ruling the country.
However, as the results trickle in, the most surprising outcome (at least to me who have not been to involved in the election for geographical reasons, I live in Ghana) is that the nationalistic party Sverigedemokraterna have gotten almost 6 % of the Swedish vote. This means, in the Swedish multi party system that the nationalistic party has entered the parliament (the barrier is at 4%) but also that the party might get a very important role if the right nor the left get a majority of votes.
So what does this party stand for? Well, their platform is classical nationalist, it is about cutting immigration and thereby solving problems. As someone who is living globalization, I think their program is definitely not a good idea.
But Sverigedemokraterna party leader Jimmy Åkesson was just reported to have said:
– Now other parties have to take our immigration policy into consideration.
More information om the Swedish elections 2010 in English from Alhjazeerah , BBC and the Local.
UPDATE: Let me add my friend Per who is reporting for CNN!
Flipping through my calendar (a Filofax my friends always tease me about because it is big, heavy and not modern at all) my eyes fix on today’s date: 23 November 2010. I shake my head. Really, November? November as in the end of the year?
