Political parties deeply divided over their view of reality, political scientist says

Sweden’s party leaders did not only clash over what the country should do. They also offered sharply different accounts of what was happening in the country, political scientist Marie Demker said after Friday’s debate on Sveriges Radio’s Ekot.

The eight parliamentary party leaders argued over the economy, health care, climate and migration in a debate that at times became heated. Demker said the governing parties tried to frighten voters with the opposition’s economic policies, while the opposition focused heavily on the Sweden Democrats’ participation in government.

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The parties are extraordinarily divided over the view of reality.

What struck her most was the depth of the disagreement over basic facts. “The parties are extraordinarily divided over the view of reality,” Demker said. She argued that parties should disagree over goals and methods, but instead they were disputing issues that could, at least in principle, be established neutrally.

In one exchange, Left Party leader Nooshi Dadgostar said health care queues had increased by 30 percent. Christian Democrat leader Ebba Busch responded that the government had cut the queues by more than 40 percent. “Both things cannot be true,” Demker said.

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Both things cannot be true.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and opposition leader Magdalena Andersson kept relatively low profiles for much of the debate. Liberal leader Simona Mohamsson emphasized the importance of her party remaining in government, while Sweden Democrat leader Jimmie Åkesson adjusted his earlier stance toward the Liberals. He said voters who prioritize climate policy and oppose a socialist prime minister or finance minister should vote for the Liberals and Mohamsson.

Demker said Åkesson may have become concerned after the Liberals gained support in an SVT/Verian poll. If the Liberals fail to enter parliament, she said, it could become difficult for the Tidö parties to secure a majority. The debate focused largely on traditional left-right distribution issues, with less attention to what is often called the culture war.

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If you are inclined to support the center-right, think climate policy is the most important issue and do not want a socialist finance minister or prime minister, then you should vote for the Liberals and Simona Mohamsson.