Introducing the Feminist Initiative

The Feminist Initiative (Feministiskt Initiative - Fi) polled 0.68 percent of the national vote in the 2006 parliamentary elections. Former Left Party leader Gudrun Schyman is the official spokesperson.

History and ideology
The Feminist Initiative is a feminist political party founded in 2005 and first stood in the 2006 general election.

Fi had generated a great deal of media hype by the time the party announced its official launch in September 2005. Gudrun Schyman was at that time an independent member of parliament.

According to surveys undertaken in 2005 (and again in 2010) up to ten percent of Swedes stated that they could consider voting for the party but come election time active voter support had declined to 0.68 percent.

The party fought a more successful EU election campaign in 2009, polling 2.2 percent of the votes.

The Feminist Initiative is mostly made up of volunteers and is reliant on donations, which have famously included a 1 million kronor ($72,000) hand out from ABBA star Benny Andersson.

The party's ideology is based on feminism and works against discrimination in all its forms.

2010 election platform
Gudrun Schyman is leading Fi's campaign to challenge partriachal structures in Sweden's society with its 2010 election chosen via an open web vote on the party's homepage.

Key points
*Women on average earn 4,700 kronor less per month than their male counterparts – Fi wants to change this
*Introduce individual quotas on parental leave
*Shorter working days
*Cut sales tax on train and bus travel
*Amnesty for illegal immigrants hiding in Sweden
*Change rape legislation to shift burden of truth from the victim

Comment
When Fi was formed, the party refused to align itself with either of the blocs in Swedish politics, but it has come to be established as party on the left of the spectrum.

The party has struggled to find media coverage during the 2010 election campaign, but grabbed headlines in July when 100,000 kronor was burned in a demonstation for equal pay during political week in Almedalen.

With Gudrun Schyman on board the party retains an outside chance to mount a surprise on September 19th, as their issues touch on subjects, such as equality and tolerance, that many Swedes cherish.

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