The non-Socialist Alliance government won a second mandate and Moderate leader Fredrik Reinfeldt made history by winning a second term, although not as a majority party. It is a victory that comes with a new challenge and a difficult one - that of creating government stability with the entry into parliament of rightist Sverige Demokraterna party or SD. In my own interpretation of the results of the 2010 Swedish national elections, I could say that the electorate voted the Alliance continuity in power because it would be senseless and stupid to jeopardise the country's economic performance by changing political leadership. It is needless to repeat the same argument that without a growth-oriented economy, Sweden's welfare state system cannot survive especially not with the overwhelming cost of keeping social and economic equality.
The Alliance will continue as a minority government and it is here where the challenge of true leadership begins. Both political blocs will not have anything to do with the immigrant-hostile SD. Initially, Reinfeldt said that he would want to invite the Green Party or MP but which MP spokesperson Maria Wetterstrand dismissed. It would appear amateurish for both political blocs to show weakness or lack of vision in tackling any lead negotiating role the SD could have in parliament. I think that across the bloc cooperation can be achieved on an issue to issue basis, especially those that concern the general interest of the people.
The small margin of win that the Alliance government have is also a strong reminder to look into the root cause of discontent that propelled the SDs into winning around 5.7 percent of parliamentary seats. And why was SD particularly strong in places such as Skåne. Whatever is ailing the population in places where SD got its votes should be seriously looked into by both political blocs. It is not enough to curse SD's win as well as its appeal that won voters. It is crucial to seek cure for the malady that created an SD.
In being a minority government, the Swedish electorate also sent a reminder that winning and continuity in power should not be taken for granted and that those who will continue governing cannot do so in great comfort. The political landscape of Sweden is changing, the composition of the Swedish voters have also changed, especially generationally. What is the expectation of half-a-million first-time voters when they cast their votes? What kind of future will they have?
The Swedish immigration issue is a very thorny question that has been left unanswered by both political blocs. And yet problems of immigration have gotten so complicated that there is no clear policy on asylum and refugees. The refugee burden-sharing mechanism among EU-member states is not equal as there are certain EU countries that refuse to increase their intake quota of asylum seekers.
It is a new era in Swedish politics after this election, one that will not allow any genuine leadership to take for granted the democratic decision of the majority. The new era demands innovation if not imagination in terms of actions and responses to new challenges unfolding in Sweden's social and political landscape. Today, it is not enough to have an ideology based on equality if the burdens of keeping that equality is not shared by all. The saying: "Some are more equal than others" has no place in true democracy.#
