Ulf Kristofferson: Several questions hang in the air when you read the new party programme
The new proposal for the party programme, which Magdalena Andersson presented today, is said to point out a new direction for the Social Democrats.
There was so much talk of renewal at the press conference that a reporter asked if the party would change its name to the New Social Democrats.
But in essence it is mostly a summary of political course changes that have already taken place.
In the new party program, wording that is completely overplayed is removed. The clearest example is that the goal of freedom of military alliances is replaced with an embrace of Swedish NATO membership. The freedom of alliance, which the Social Democrats have celebrated for generations, became unsustainable when Russia began its large-scale war against Ukraine. The party leadership was forced to change feet in a hurry, despite the fact that it was against what is stated in the current party program from 2013.
Another policy area where reality has run away from the beautiful formulations of the party program is migration. After the refugee crisis in 2015, the Social Democrats were forced into a drastic change of course, where the previously generous refugee policy had to be thrown on the rubbish heap. And in the new party programme, stricter migration policy applies in full.
Lifts Olof Palme’s old speech as a model
It is also in the area of immigration policy that the Social Democrats most clearly draw support for the claim that they are going “back to the roots”. Lawen Redar, who was the driving force in that discussion, and put forward many sharp proposals, likes to highlight Olof Palme’s speech on regulated immigration as a role model.
It becomes even clearer when you look at criminal policy. In the previous party program there was nothing about what to do about gang crime. But since then, the Social Democrats have swung more and more in the direction of harsher punishments and tougher measures. As shootings and explosions have become an increasingly large social problem. That change of course is also reflected in the new party programme, where crime gets its own section.
Several questions hang in the air
A similar adjustment is made in the case of private companies in welfare. Previously there were formulations about freedom of choice and diversity. Now the criticism against profit interests is sharper and the goal is to stop all new privatisations. But if the Social Democrats plan to take back businesses that were previously privatized, you get no answer.
Another question that still hangs in the air is how the Social Democrats view nuclear power. In fact, the word nuclear power is not mentioned once in the proposal for the new party program. Anyone who wonders whether the Social Democrats want more or less nuclear power does not get a clear answer.
The proposal will now be sent out for referral. At the congress in Gothenburg, 28 May – 1 June 2025, it will be hammered through. Until then, you can count on a lively internal debate about the stricter migration policy and what should happen to nuclear power.