Published: Less than 2 hours ago
The Social Democrats must decide why they exist and what they want.
Investing in policies for economic justice would be a good thing, according to a report from the party’s think tank.
It was not a culture war that caused S to lose power after eight years in government, according to the analysis that Tiden and editor Martin Rynosson put forward today.
And it was not that the two partner parties, the Left Party and the Center Party, went backwards, something that the rise of the Social Democrats and the Green Party could not cover up.
Because without real ideas and a clear political line that can win more voters, government power is far away, according to the analysis.
Reason to exist
“Precisely for these reasons, it is important that the Social Democrats establish and clarify what it is that is our fundamental driving force as a movement, our raison d’être”, write the authors and add:
“If we don’t have a clear answer to that question, we also have no compass needle to guide us in the negotiations and compromises, apart from the will to continue to govern”.
In the election campaign, S was criticized because the only driving force seemed to be staying in power. Nothing seemed sacred, except the no to SD cooperation.
The report considers voter flows, societal changes, major events and political choices. There, rather than how the election campaign was run by S, explanations for the electoral fallout can be sought.
After the change of government and the government parties’ Tidö Agreement, S-leader Magdalena Andersson has made it clear that she has no major problems with the migration policy that the government will pursue and which the Sweden Democrats described as a paradigm shift. Nor has the tightened criminal policy received much criticism from the S management.
Justice first
The report advises the party not to be tricked into conflicts with the right-wing and SD over tougher penalties and migration proposals. Rethinking, developing and prioritizing a policy for economic justice is much more important.
“Today’s economic injustices are obvious and something that many Swedes experience themselves. One of the hallmarks of our time is a popular discontent based on the fact that large groups of people have correctly identified that they deserve better, that they should be treated with greater respect.” it is suggested.
Groups that have traditionally voted S must return or be won over “…because otherwise in the long run we risk losing the trade union movement (to the Sweden Democrats or to depoliticisation)”.
The party’s own election analysis is to be delivered in February.