Other parties to watch (in no particular order)

Here are some of the other political parties with the potential to have an impact in the 2009 European Parliamentary elections.

Pirate Party – Piratepartiet (pp)
www.piratpartiet.se
No MEPs
The party was created in 2006 following a crackdown by Swedish authorities on internet piracy. The party is dedicated to reforming copyright laws and abolishing the patent system. Long considered a bit of a sideshow in Swedish politics, the party’s membership soared after a Swedish court handed down guilty verdicts in The Pirate Bay trial. A recent poll indicated that the party now has enough support to gain a seat in the European Parliament.

Sweden Democrats – Sverigedemokraterna (sd)
www.sverigedemokraterna.se
No MEPs
This far-right party’s campaign slogan is “Give us back Sweden!” which refers to the Sweden Democrats’ wish to see Sweden leave the EU. While the party supports free trade, they see no reason for Sweden to be in the EU, believing that it pollutes the Swedish model of collective wage negotiation and employment rules. The party believes immigration and asylum policies are national matters which shouldn’t be decided upon in Brussels. It is against Turkey joining the EU and against Sweden adopting the euro.

Feminist Initiative – Feministiskt initiativ (fi)
www.feministisktinitiativ.se
1 MEP (ALDE)
Founded in 2006 ahead of Sweden’s national elections, the party is now setting its sights on Brussels to strengthen women’s rights and “prevent all forms of discrimination”. They want a woman’s right to an abortion to be considered a human right as well as the creation of an EU Commissioner for gender equity. The party also calls for an end to the militarization of the EU and complete separation of church and state throughout the EU. The party’s current MEP, Maria Robsahm, was originally elected to the European Parliament as a member of the Liberal Party, but later switched to the Feminist Initiative.

The party’s election platform can be found in English by clicking here.

The June List – Junilistan (j)
www.junilistan.se
2 MEPs (IND/DEM)
Created just months ahead of the 2004 European Parliamentary Elections, the June List shocked Sweden’s political establishment by gaining enough votes to claim three of Sweden’s 19 allotted seats. But the party failed miserably in the 2006 Swedish general elections and has been more or less absent from the political scene ever since. Nevertheless, it hopes to defend its seats, running on a platform which supports Swedish EU membership, but is against shifting any more power from Stockholm to Brussels. The party also thinks future EU treaties should be decided by referendum, rather than by the Riksdag. It opposes a common EU foreign and security policy, but supports further enlargement (including the admission of Turkey).

Step by Step guide:

1. The European Parliament in 30 seconds or less

2. European Parliamentary Elections

3. Who can vote in Sweden?

4. How do I vote and how does the election work?

5. Who on earth do I vote for on June 7th?

6. But what do the parties in Sweden actually want to do?

6 a.   Riksdag Parties (from left to right)

6 b.   Other parties to watch (in no particular order)

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