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Green fury over Alliance illegal immigrant stance

Published: 14 Mar 13 08:53 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/46724/20130314/

The Green Party has threatened to walk away from an agreement with the centre-right Alliance government to cooperate on immigration policy over its stance toward illegal immigrants.

During a Wednesday night crisis meeting, the Greens decided they would abandon what was billed as an "historic" agreement with the centre-right Alliance government when it was forged in March 2011.

"If the government isn't ready to carry out the changes we've agreed to make, then we are no longer cooperating," Green Party spokesperson Gustav Fridolin told the Dagens Nyheter (DN) newspaper.

The Green-Alliance immigration partnership has long been under strain, with the Greens charging the government has been slow to implement agreed-upon changes and Migration Minister Tobias Billström of the Moderate Party indicating he will push for a more restrictive asylum policy following the next elections.

Not only are the Greens upset by government support for a recent police crackdown on illegal immigrants, but they are also frustrated that the government refuses to budge in altering what it meant by "particularly distressing circumstances" ("särskilt ömmande omständigheter") necessary to allow an asylum seeker to stay in Sweden.

Wednesday's crisis meeting was called after Billström said the government isn't ready to change the definition of the term, according to DN.

The Greens said they are ready to abandon the cooperation if Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt fails to offer evidence the government has other plans than those indicated by Billström.

The Local/dl
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09:31 March 14, 2013 by matressmonkey
So the greens are furious that a government is acting against illegal behavior. And they wonder why they are a fringe party?
09:54 March 14, 2013 by JohnAndersson
A fringe party? Miljöpartiet is the third biggest party in Sweden.
10:22 March 14, 2013 by TG22
Well what would you expect from greens? Party made out hippies, loosers, and crazys
11:00 March 14, 2013 by grandmary
We have the same problem in the US where a bunch of extremist nuts can hold the major parties hostage, only we have it from the right. Its great that these extremists can have their voices heard just so everyone can know how unserious they are. Anger is an wonderful release but it can not be the basis for running a functioning society. The greens are trying to hold Rienfeldt hostage on this one against he will of most Swedes. If Reinfeldt pays attention to the greens SD will just get bigger and bigger.
11:02 March 14, 2013 by Hisingen
Illegal is illegal.

How can the greens condone illegality?

Only if it suits their agenda, of course.
11:10 March 14, 2013 by occassional
Renegades of the original Greens these muppets don't even realise their darling, the environment, would be the first to benefit from restrictive immigration policies.
14:15 March 14, 2013 by Svensksmith
Exactly. Keeping the population levels down is the best thing for the environment.
15:04 March 14, 2013 by goldenabdullah
Very very true. How is supporting illegal activity consistent with pro environment. How is Gustav Fridolin throwing rocks at israelis in 2003 consistent with pro environment. I like the green movement but these people have hijacked it.
22:45 March 14, 2013 by Investor612
Grandmary,

If you think all the extremists in the US are on the right, you're not paying attention. Extremist "greens" are in positions of power in our current administration.

In Sweden one would think a party focused on the environment would be against policies that contribute to rapid population growth. But apparently not.
04:22 March 15, 2013 by Solidspine
Swedish and living in America I find it so sad that Sweden has allowed so many muslims to live in Sweden.

It will be the death of the country.
07:27 March 15, 2013 by RobinHood
A responsible party supports the law, even a law it disagrees with. That is democracy. If a responsible party disagrees with a law, it campaigns to have the law changed. Why is it necessary to give Sweden's thiird largest party a lesson in how democracy works?
00:40 March 17, 2013 by Kronaboy
Too little too late, staunch green supporters like my wife have already resigned their membership.
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