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🇸🇪 Sweden /Elections & Politics

Op-ed: The Social Democrats must give voters something to vote for

From Dagens Nyheter · () Swedish

Translated from Swedish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Opinion Named sources Context piece
  • Former Social Democratic lawmaker Juan Fonseca argues that warnings about a possible new Tidö government are not enough to reverse the party’s decline in opinion polls.
  • He calls for higher pensions for the poorest retirees, stronger healthcare and elderly care, and better protection for people with immigrant backgrounds.
  • Fonseca says the party should address segregation and crime without treating entire groups with suspicion.

The Social Democrats cannot win elections by warning voters about the next possible Tidö government, former party lawmaker Juan Fonseca writes. With both the Sweden Democrats and the Left Party gaining ground in opinion polls, he says Social Democratic leader Magdalena Andersson must show voters what her party itself wants to do.

Voters need to know what Social Democracy itself wants to do, not only what the party warns about.

· Juan FonsecaHe argued that the Social Democrats need a positive policy program rather than a campaign centered on warnings.

Fonseca identifies two groups that he believes deserve particular attention: older people and Swedish citizens with immigrant backgrounds. Many pensioners have worked, paid taxes and helped build modern Sweden, he writes, yet now face narrow margins as the costs of food, housing, medicine and care rise. He calls for sharply higher pensions for those with the least money, better healthcare, more staff in elderly care and stronger protection against high costs.

The elderly have worked, paid taxes and built modern Sweden.

· Juan FonsecaHe used this point to support stronger pension and welfare policies for older people.

The party should also speak directly to citizens with immigrant backgrounds, according to Fonseca. Many work in healthcare, care services, industry, public transport and retail. Others run businesses, pay taxes and contribute to the economy and welfare system. Their contribution should be recognized, he writes.

Politics should promote work, participation and cohesion, not create uncertainty about who belongs in Sweden.

· Juan FonsecaHe outlined his position on citizenship, residence permits and integration.

Fonseca urges the Social Democrats to oppose arbitrary or discriminatory rules that could revoke dual citizenship. He also wants permanent residence permits protected from broad retroactive changes and calls for the abolition of the state repatriation grant. At the same time, he says the party must confront segregation, crime and integration failures through policies on work, education, language and security. Those problems, he argues, cannot be solved by casting suspicion on entire groups. The party needs credible policies that offer voters a clear vision of Sweden, including higher pensions, functioning healthcare, dignified elderly care and respect for all citizens.

Elections are not won by warnings alone, but by credible policies that give people something to vote for.

· Juan FonsecaHe concluded by calling for a clearer Social Democratic vision.
About this summary

Originally published by Dagens Nyheter in Swedish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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