The Sweden Democrats have a clear plan and they are working hard to implement their goals. They also change their policies when necessary.
This is what happened in 2019 when SD suddenly swung on the EU issue. They no longer wanted Sweden to leave the EU. The reason was a long series of opinion polls which showed that the Swedish people wanted to remain in the union.
But when it is not worthwhile to run Swexit, SD at least wants to be Sweden’s most EU-critical party. With that, they hope to win over large voter groups – such as those critical of the EU.
Part of the Sweden Democrats’ DNA
In a noted debate article the SD leader directs adamant criticism of the EU and believes that it is an undemocratic institution. Jimmie Åkesson writes that “we buy – albeit reluctantly – that the EU in its current form, in the short and medium term, is the European form of cooperation that is realistic”.
Many took him at his word and concluded that SD wants to leave the Union unless the EU changes its mind. The question was when the SD leader wants to leave the EU.
When he received questions about this during the day, he gave a different message. SD wants to remain in the EU – but wants the EU to be evaluated.
What led many to believe that SD would pursue the Swexit issue is because it is probably part of the Sweden Democrats’ DNA as a nationalist party. Of course, Sweden can have collaborations – but it is the nation state that must decide.
Instead, the SD leader chooses to continue to accept EU membership, but not without criticism. It consists above all in the EU reviewing the policy that SD wants to pursue.
Åkesson exemplifies the reduction obligation, farm sales of wine, and not least fundamental issues such as migration. Åkesson does not want to leave that to some French and Germans in Brussels.
Profitless with Swexit – in today’s situation
But has SD abandoned the idea of Swexit? Probably not. They wavered on the issue as recently as 2019. The reason was most likely not that they changed their opinion, but that they realized that it is futile with today’s state of opinion.
The official line is not the same as what the party leadership really wants. In SD’s world view, it is left-liberal values that are at the root of the large immigration to Sweden. It has been known for a long time.
But the EU’s open borders, which mean that Sweden cannot alone control the door to our kingdom, are of course a scourge for a believing Sweden Democrat. Instead of demanding Swexit, SD now tries to market itself as the Riksdag’s most EU-critical party.
That’s enough time, for Jimmie Åkesson.