Magdalena Andersson (S) has started talking more and more about Sweden and the Swedish people in her speeches. And recently she also described herself as “patriot”.
According to Stig-Björn Ljunggren, political editor-in-chief at Sydöstran (S), Magdalena Andersson is the first social democratic party leader to describe herself as a patriot since Per-Albin Hansson.
– He started being a patriot in the 1920s and then even more so in the 30s. Between Per-Albin and Magdalena, I don’t know that any Social Democrat of the leaders has talked about being patriots, but perhaps they have acted as such, says Stig-Björn Ljunggren in Politikbyrån.
Why is this coming now?
– It is important to win back Swedishness from the Sweden Democrats.
“The Swedish language is absolutely essential”
Sweden and the Swedish language is an important focus area for the party going forward. Riksdag member Lawen Redar leads “Increased community by sharing a common language”, one of eleven working groups that will shape the Social Democrats’ future policy.
She describes segregation and integration as one of the most important political issues in Sweden. Therefore, the Swedish language is a priority issue for S.
– We recognize that the Swedish demographics have changed. In 20 years, we have welcomed one million new people to our country and it is clear that the Swedish language is absolutely decisive for people’s life chances, says Lawen Redar in Politikbyrån and continues:
– We also have expectations that the Swedish language will be used in welfare. That is why I am very critical of the fact that we do not have a clear language policy in Sweden. I hope that this work will lead to an increase in trust in our politics.
Lawen Redar also doesn’t think it’s strange that Magdalena Andersson calls herself a patriot – she also describes herself as a patriot.
– Absolutely, she says.