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Bildt bashes new Sweden Democrat poll rise

Published: 9 Nov 12 10:18 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/44332/20121109/

Yet another poll has found the far-right Sweden Democrats are the country's third-largest political party, prompting claims by Foreign Minister Carl Bildt of the Moderate Party that the far-right party "damages Sweden".

In a poll carried out by the Demoskop polling firm and published on Friday in the Expressen newspaper, the Sweden Democrats were shown to have support of 9 percent of Swedish voters, an increase of 1.9 percent compared to results from the previous month.

Two weeks ago, another poll carried out by the Ipsos research firm also found the Sweden Democrats to be the country's third-largest political party amid an effort by party leader Jimmie Åkesson to rid the party of the image that its members are a bunch of "angry young men".

The recent Sweden Democrat poll surge doesn't sit well with Bildt, who expressed concerns about what the far-right party's advance might mean for Sweden.

"They are trying to isolate Sweden from the rest of the world. That can't happen," he told Expressen.

According to Bildt, the Sweden Democrats have "no other solutions" other than isolationist policies that would "cause serious damage to Sweden".

Support for Bildt's own Moderate Party dropped by 1.6 percent in the Demoskop poll, landing at 30.3 percent.

Meanwhile, support for the Social Democrats crept up 0.5 percent to 33.1 percent, allowing it to maintain its claim as Sweden's largest political party.

Overall support for the four parties of the centre-right Alliance government dropped 1.6 percent to 44.3 percent, while support for the three centre-left opposition parties fell 0.5 percent to 45.7 percent.

And while support for the Christian Democrats rose 0.8 percent to 3.7 percent, the party remains below the threshold required to maintain representation in the Riksdag.

Among several factors cited by political scientist Tommy Möller as contributing to the rise of the Sweden Democrats, was the fact that more voters now view the far-right, anti-immigrant party as "a legitimate party".

Party leader Åkesson said the immigration policies of the Alliance government have "played into our hands".

"Immigration has been quite high during the entire centre-right governing period," he told Expressen.

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt attacked the Sweden Democrats as a being nothing more than internet-based provocateurs "dressed up in suits".

The Demoskop findings were based on responses from 1,003 people who were asked, "Which party would you vote for if the election were today?"

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10:50 November 9, 2012 by Mib
It's very simple! LISTEN and UNDERSTAND why people are turning to that party! Then use ACTION to meet some of those concerns that voters have. I would say the Swedish Democrats are a party for voters to protest against the current Government policies whether they are Right or Left. They don't want the Swedish Democrats to have any power, but if the Government cotinues to ignore voters concerns, then don't be surprised when they choose someone else.IT'S CALLED DEMOCARCY AT WORK!!
12:01 November 9, 2012 by HenryPollard
Let's compare the two:

Jimmie Åkesson:

Hasn't been part of a ruling government, thus has only made some speeches which have upset some precious newspaper editors.

Carl Bildt:

Dismantled the very economic model that defines Sweden in the name of private profit.

Ruined Sweden's history of neutrality by blindly following the USA into foreign conflicts.

Accellerated the tidal wave of immigration that has seen Sweden accept around 10x more refugees than it's neighbouring countries, thus ensuring that in coming decades, Sweden will no longer be home to the 'Swedes'.

If one of these men is truly damaging Sweden, it sure aint Åkesson.
12:57 November 9, 2012 by Osk
Mlb - quite right
13:57 November 9, 2012 by johan rebel
So it doesn't sit well with Bildt, huh?

Well, Carl, about time you took a long and hard look in the mirror then!
14:19 November 9, 2012 by occassional
Time the sanctimonious powers heard the message and stopped the tide of bogus refugees among other things.
15:09 November 9, 2012 by skylarkpilot
As a recent migrant to Sweden myself, albeit from the UK, the problems experienced by Sweden and the UK seem remarkably similar. At current rates of immigration and reproduction, English citizens in the UK will find themselves an ethnic minority in their own country within twenty five years ( official government statistic). In Sweden, having a smaller Swedish demographic to begin with, Swedes will find themselves in this situation even quicker. You only have to look at Migrationverkets own figures to work that one out.

I am not saying immigration is a bad or negative thing, but the expectations of the native countrymen have to be carefully managed. Neither government in either country want to be the first to explain this to their populations.

A rise in nationalism is to be expected as the truth dawns with no explanation or plan for integration. The politicians who believe that this can simply be ignored are

just burying their heads in the sand.

The future for Sweden is as bleak as that for the UK for so long as politicians are idle.

As the man once said "For evil to triumph all that is required is for good men to do nothing"
15:52 November 9, 2012 by intrepidfox
All political parties talk about democracy. Love or hate SD they are still a democratically voted party elected by the people. If Bildt & co don´t like it then they can get stuffed as they are going against all their own principles concerning again DEMOCRACY
16:08 November 9, 2012 by Spuds MacKenzie
"According to Bildt, the Sweden Democrats have "no other solutions" other than isolationist policies that would "cause serious damage to Sweden".

Uhh, yeah Carl. Because your policy of allowing 50,000 uneducated muslim refugees per year into a country that continues to lose jobs (see SAS, Ericsson, Saab, etc.) causes no damage to Sweden, eh?!
16:35 November 9, 2012 by rubble
Carl Bildt is Sweden's combo of Dick Cheney (neo-CON) and Bill Clinton (neo-LIB), albeit without the artificial heart or the blowjob-inspired perjury. He is a driving force behind destruction of the folkhemmet, plus is US/NATO/UK toady lickspittle. On the domestic side, he urges the tide of 3rd world refugees that is going to destroy one of the few viable, just, and prosperous democracies left in the world.

Truly sickening to see the entire weight of the Svensk control infrastructure (ie media, major parties, universities, even unions) buying into the 'every stray-dog and their litter, even with fleas or rabies' syndrome. I guess nation-state suicide by cultural/economic dilution is the new lagom.
16:58 November 9, 2012 by Lavaux
The Sweden Democrats aren't far right or even right wing. They're socialists who only want to share the economic pie with ethnic Swedes. Put differently, they're socialists whose greed is enhanced by their unwillingness to share welfare goodies with non-Swedes, which means they've betrayed the international solidarity of the working classes. This is why the left despise SD, and I'm shocked that the Swedish right (which is to the left of the American left) doesn't hang this fact around the Swedish left's neck.

I'll never cease to be amazed by people who will believe a thing that simply is not true just because everyone else acts as if they believe it. Sweden: An entire nation that functions on the Emperorer's New Clothes principle.
19:34 November 9, 2012 by HenryPollard
Let's compare the two:

Jimmie Åkesson:

Hasn't been part of a ruling government, thus has only made some speeches which have upset some precious newspaper editors.

Carl Bildt:

Dismantled the very economic model that defines Sweden in the name of private profit.

Ruined Sweden's history of neutrality by blindly following the USA into foreign conflicts.

Accellerated the tidal wave of immigration that has seen Sweden accept around 10x more refugees than it's neighbouring countries, thus ensuring that in coming decades, Sweden will no longer be home to the 'Swedes'.

If one of these men is truly damaging Sweden, it sure aint Åkesson.
22:02 November 9, 2012 by jostein
Actually, Bildt started this tsunami by 1992 abolishing the "Lucia-överrenskommelsen" put in place by Ingvar Karlsson (SAP) 1989. Bildt is the worst and most destructive man in sweden alive today.
11:19 November 10, 2012 by rise
Well Mr Bildt, SD will have my vote anyway, regardless of what you're trying to say.
18:08 November 10, 2012 by Swedish Cat
Well said all above. What puzzles me is how Sweden who is standing up so strong for equality between men and women can support Islam like they do. The two does not mix and never will. France forbid the burka in public places as it was dangerous for non Islam women walking not covered into Muslim areas. As it show women are voting SD more and more for I guess this very reason. The question is what is more important. Women's safety and human rights or Muslims right to have their faith and act like home.
20:49 November 10, 2012 by godnatt
Funny.

So simply saying you should not have your borders wide open and be forced to support legions of illiterate unskilled fundamentalist nuts for their whole lives is "isolationism"?

I'm sure Bildt likes that it could someday drive down wages for actual Swedes, but fortunately it appears people are getting sick of this insanity at a quickly increasing rate...
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