• Sweden edition

Stockholm politician accused of election fraud

Published: 13 Feb 10 09:48 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/24960/20100213/

A leading candidate for the Moderate Party (Moderaterna) in Stockholm was forced to stand down on Friday when he admitted to cheating to secure a nomination for this year's general election.

Mats Rudin, a local councillor in Stockholm, was at eighth place on the party's list, which would have virtually guaranteed him a seat in the Riksdag, if the list has been confirmed at a meeting today.

Yet the party's ombudsman, Sverker Eriksson, told Swedish newspaper, Dagens Nyheter, that Rudin was standing down after admitting to paying membership fees for new members to the party, thereby boosting his chances of getting the nomination.

"He did not understand the regulations," said Eriksson, adding that paying fees for members was "like buying votes" and against party policy.

"Sure, it's happened that I've enrolled some new members - friends and others to Moderaterna, pretty often even - and I didn't take 100 kronor ($14) from them. It seemed petty," said Rudin.

TT/Tom Sullivan (news@thelocal.se)

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13:50 February 13, 2010 by Jan M
Naive and stupid or cynical and scheming. ICynical and scheming sounds more likely. I'm not sure buying Moderate Party membership for your friends makes for great birthday and Christmas presents. Having said that the Moderate Party is cash obsessed so he probably felt he was doing something normal. It would interesting to know if this is actually unusual behaviour or not.
15:29 February 13, 2010 by Rick Methven
"Sure, it's happened that I've enrolled some new members - friends and others to Moderaterna, pretty often even - and I didn't take 100 kronor ($14) from them. It seemed petty," said Rudin.

If he enrolled a 100 people for free0, cost 10k, that would not be 'pety' but just plain dumb
20:23 February 13, 2010 by conboy
There must be a reasonable explanation for this as the whole world knows public corruption does not exist in Sweden ....... Ha Ha
01:10 February 14, 2010 by Nordicreb
@Rick Methven: political promotion with the nice salary and perks that come with it. He'll make 10K back in no-time. Since he already lives in Stockholm, he doesn't have to get a second residence either.

In general, the political parties - and their Youth Leagues in particular - play fast and loose with regulations. Back in my youth (before I moved abroad) I was a longtime member and activist in the Conservative Youth Leage (Moderata Ungdomsforbundet).

Standard operating procedure in most of the youth leagues is that when someone doesn't pay their membership dues, you keep sending them reminder letter. For YEARS. In the meantime, you keep them on the membership roster, as "members who've not yet paid the dues". Why? Because for each member, you get a subsidy from the government, as a part of "partistodet". Most non-active members will not formally resign their membership, they'll just let it lapse. Except it doesn't...
03:33 February 14, 2010 by Davey-jo
This is almost a schoolboy level of corruption. I trust Sweden has more convoluted stories of intrigue and bendiness to offer us. I do like a good corruption story ; do you?
05:42 February 14, 2010 by Buccaneer
Common guys, go about your business there is nothing to see here.

Corruption? In sweden, you cant be serious!!!

It is always easier to see corruption in others.
19:44 February 15, 2010 by conboy
Well Davey-jo the release of contracts to private entrepeneurs for snow ploughing who did not possess adequate equipment or trained personnel this winter might be a place where an independent and non politically influenced police fraud squad might like to begin - just a suggestion mind you not a glimmer of accusation why would that be necessary. We live in Sweden after all where no public corruption exists whatsoever .-...
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