Stockholm is run by sore losers who circumvent parliament

Stockholm's red-green city government is engaged in a "guerrilla war" against the national parliament, according to Carl Bergkvist of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce. He contends that when the national legislature makes a decision, the city administration seeks loopholes to steer policy in a different direction. This approach, he argues, stems from an inability to accept the results of the last election and a disregard for the popular mandate.

Bergkvist invokes the historical example of Axel Oxenstierna, a 17th-century Swedish statesman who helped shape a system of governance based on institutions, responsibility, and obedience to the law. This system, he asserts, has been a cornerstone of Sweden's historical strength, ensuring that even those in power are subordinate to rules greater than their own will. He believes this principle is currently being challenged in Stockholm.

The article highlights two instances of this alleged defiance. Firstly, the Social Democrats in Stockholm suggested increasing ground lease fees if the national government proceeds with more liberal rent-setting policies for new constructions. This move would use the city's role as a landowner to counteract a national housing reform. Secondly, in the case of the Eastern Link road project, the city government not only offered criticism but also vowed to actively work against the project within the bounds of existing legislation, rather than accepting the national government's decision.

While acknowledging the legitimacy of opposing large infrastructure projects, Bergkvist emphasizes that the issue transcends mere traffic or urban development. When the capital city's leadership actively seeks to undermine national directives, it raises fundamental questions about the division of power between the state and municipalities. He concludes that by consistently searching for loopholes and administrative obstacles, the city government is effectively neutralizing parliamentary reforms and shifting the balance of power.