Green Party (Sweden)
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox political party
Template:Green politics sidebarThe Green Party (Template:Langx, Template:Lit, MP), commonly referred to as Template:Lang in Swedish, is a political party in Sweden based on green politics.
Sparked by the anti-nuclear power movement following the 1980 nuclear power referendum,<ref name="Ljunggren">Template:Cite journal</ref> the party was founded in 1981 out of a discontent with the existing parties' environmental policies. In the 1988 general election, they won seats in the Swedish Riksdag for the first time, capturing 5.5 percent of the vote, and becoming the first new party to enter parliament in seventy years.<ref name="1988 riksdag election results">Template:Cite web</ref> Three years later, they dropped back below the 4 percent threshold.
In 1994, they returned to parliament and have since retained representation there. The party is represented nationally by two spokespeople, always one man and one woman. These roles are currently held by Amanda Lind and Daniel Helldén.
Between 3 October 2014 and 30 November 2021, the Green Party was a part of the Social Democratic-led government. This was the first time the Greens entered government in their history.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Greens left the government after the right-wing opposition parties' budget for 2022 was passed in the Riksdag, and the government's own budget failed to pass.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In the 2018 general election, the Greens received 4.4% of the vote and 16 seats, making the party the smallest in the Riksdag. Despite this, the party was still able to maintain its place in government.
Ideology
Fundamental principles
In their party platform, the Greens describe their ideology as being based on "a solidarity that can be expressed in three ways: solidarity with animals, nature, and the ecological system", "solidarity with coming generations", and "solidarity with all of the world's people". A Green analysis of society is based on a holistic viewTemplate:Sndeverything is connected and interdependent.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The platform then describes these solidarities being expressed in "several fundamental ideas", these being participatory democracy, ecological wisdom, social justice, children's rights, circular economy, global justice, nonviolence, equality and feminism, animal rights, self-reliance and self-administration, freedom, and long-sightedness.<ref name="party platform">Template:Cite web</ref> The Swedish Green Party has its roots in the environmental, solidarity, women's rights and peace movements.
Climate change and the environment
The Green Party was the first political party in Sweden to raise the issue of climate change.Template:Citation needed Fighting climate change is a major policy issue for the party. For example, the party's main criticism of The Alliance's 2010 election manifesto was the "entirely astonishing" lack of effort in fighting climate change,<ref name="Fullständigt häpnadsväckande">Template:Cite journal</ref> and in 2013, the party announced a budget proposal that was dominated by a Template:Currency "climate package".<ref name="2013 budget">Template:Cite journal</ref> The party supports a general shift in taxation policy, towards high taxes on environmentally unfriendly or unsustainable products and activities, hoping to thus influence people's behavior towards the more sustainable choices.Template:Citation needed
Nuclear power
The anti-nuclear movement was a major factor in the party's creation.<ref name="Ljunggren" /> The party's platform reads that "we oppose the construction of new reactors in Sweden, or an increase in the output of existing reactors, and instead want to begin immediately phasing out nuclear power."<ref name="party platform" /> MP Per Bolund clarified in 2010 that the party "does not propose shutting down nuclear power reactors today, but rather phasing them out as new and renewable electricity is phased in."<ref name="bolund chat">Template:Cite web</ref>
European integration
The party was initially opposed to membership in the European Union, and sought a new referendum on the issue. The party's EU opposition captured them 17 percent of the votes in the 1995 European Parliament election, the first following Sweden’s EU accession.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> The Greens included withdrawal from the EU in their party platform as recently as 2006.<ref name="2006 manifesto dn">Template:Cite journal</ref>
This policy was abolished in a September 2008 internal party referendum.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> However, the party remains somewhat Eurosceptic. The section of the party platform on the subject opens by citing how decentralization and making decisions locally, as reasonably possible, is a central part of green politics. It continues to state that the Greens "are warm adherents to international cooperation. We want to see Europe as a part of a world of democracies, where people move freely over borders, and where people and countries trade and cooperate with each other."<ref name="party platform" />
Symbol
The Green Party's party symbol is the dandelion.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Leadership and organisation
The Greens, like many other green parties around the world, do not have a party leader in the traditional sense. The party is represented by two spokespeople, always one male and one female. The current spokespersons are Amanda Lind<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and Daniel Helldén.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The spokespeople are elected annually by the party congress, up to a maximum of nine consecutive one-year terms.<ref name="constitution">Template:Cite web</ref>
The party congress, consisting of elected representatives of all of the party's local groups, is the highest decision-making organ in the Green Party. The congress, in addition to the two spokespeople, also fills many other important posts in the party, including a party board (Template:Langx), which is the party's highest decision-making authority between party congresses, and the day-to-day operation of the party's national organisation. The congress also elects a party secretary (Template:Langx), who is an internal, organisational leader for the party.<ref name="constitution" /> The current party secretary, initially elected by the 2021 party congress, is Template:Ill.
Spokespersons of the Green Party (1984–present)
Secretaries-general (1985–present)
| Secretaries-General | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| style="background:Template:Party color;" | | Kjell Dahlström | 1985–1999 |
| style="background:Template:Party color" | | Håkan Wåhlstedt | 1999–2007 |
| style="background:Template:Party color" | | Agneta Börjesson | 2007–2011 |
| style="background:Template:Party color" | | Anders Wallner | 2011–2016 |
| style="background:Template:Party color" | | Amanda Lind | 2016–2019 |
| style="background:Template:Party color" | | Marléne Tamlin (acting) | 2019 |
| style="background:Template:Party color" | | Märta Stenevi | 2019–2021 |
| style="background:Template:Party color" | | Linus Lakso (acting) | 2021 |
| style="background:Template:Party color" | | Katrin Wissing | 2021–present |
Current status
Currently, the Swedish Green Party has about 10 000 members, and is a popular party foremost among young people and women.
Organisations connected to the Swedish Green Party:
- The Young Greens of Sweden (Template:Lang)
- The Green Students of Sweden (Template:Lang)
- The Green seniors of Sweden (Template:Lang)
The Swedish Green Party is part of the European Greens.
Criticism
Scandal involving Islamic extremism
The Green Party was hit by a political scandal in April 2016, as images emerged of Green Party housing minister Mehmet Kaplan attending a dinner party alongside leading members of the Turkish far-right extremist group Grey Wolves.<ref name="AlJazeera">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="SvD">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Following attention to comments made by Kaplan in 2009 comparing Israel to Nazi Germany, Kaplan resigned as minister, while still defended by the party leadership.<ref name="AlJazeera"/><ref name="TheLocal">Template:Cite news</ref> During a seminar in 2014, Kaplan equalized jihadists who travel to Syria with Swedish volunteers who fought on the Finnish side against the Soviet Union during the Winter War 1939-1940.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Kaplan later defended himself as being misunderstood and said he is against "young Swedes traveling to the war in Syria".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After his resignation, images emerged of Kaplan and other members of the Green Party displaying hand gestures associated with the Muslim Brotherhood.<ref name="AlJazeera"/><ref name="TheLocal"/>
Another controversy ensued as a rising Green-Party star, Yasri Khan, refused to shake hands with a female TV reporter.<ref name="SvD"/><ref name="TheLocal"/> Lars Nicander, director of the Centre for Asymmetric Threat Studies at the Swedish Defence University, compared the revelations with how the Soviet Union sought to infiltrate democratic Western parties during the Cold War, alleging that the Green Party similarly may have been "infiltrated by Islamists".<ref name="AlJazeera"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Yasri Khan was criticised by members within the party. He withdrew his candidacy for the Green Party executive board and also quit his seats on a regional board and city council. Spokesperson Fridolin said: men, especially those wanting to be in Swedish politics, should have no problems shaking a woman's hand.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Green Party's spokespersons also commented on the debate saying there's no evidence of Islamists influencing party policies, but underlined the party needs a "reset" with greater focus on environmental issues.
In April 2016, Kamal al Raffi, a Green Party politician from the council of Burlöv Municipality as well as the chairman of the local Syrian community group invited Osama bin Laden's former advisor Salman al-Ouda to hold a lecture to be attended by his and two other community groups. This invitation was controversial in Sweden as Al-Ouda, a muslim salafist, is known for openly antisemitic views and denying the Holocaust. The Green Party politician was suspended for a time by the party leadership.<ref name="sydsv28april2016">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="svt27apr2016">Template:Cite news</ref> During the scandal, the party secretary promised the party will better handle crises in the future.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In May 2016, Green Party co-spokesperson and Environmental Minister Åsa Romson confirmed she would resign from both positions as a result of her leadership during the party crisis, along with controversies of her own, such as referring to the September 11 attacks as the 11 September "Template:Lang" ('accident' or 'misfortune', Romson later claimed she had meant the latter) in a television interview.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Romson later explained her comment, and said: "Of course, the attack on New York on 11 September 2001 is one of the biggest attacks, terror-actions and assaults on the peaceful and democratic world we have seen in modern times. I have no other opinion on this matter."
Campaign on higher prices
The Green Party was rated in 2022 as Sweden's most disliked party by voters.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Campaigning and election promises of making prices higher regarding gasoline was heavily criticized.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Electoral politics
| Group | Votes (%) |
Avg. result +/− (pp) |
|---|---|---|
| Students | 19 | +{{#expr:-10+19}} |
| Members of SACO | 16 | +{{#expr:-10+16}} |
| Aged 18–21 | 16 | +{{#expr:-10+16}} |
| Aged 22–30 | 16 | +{{#expr:-10+16}} |
| First-time voters | 16 | +{{#expr:-10+16}} |
| Government employees | 12 | +{{#expr:-10+12}} |
| Public sector employees | 12 | +{{#expr:-10+12}} |
| Local government employees | 12 | +{{#expr:-10+12}} |
| White-collar workers | 11 | +{{#expr:-10+11}} |
| Employed persons | 11 | +{{#expr:-10+11}} |
| Members of TCO | 11 | +{{#expr:-10+11}} |
| Females | 11 | +{{#expr:-10+11}} |
| Unemployed | 10 | {{#expr:-10+10}} |
| Private sector employees | 9 | {{#expr:-10+9}} |
| Males | 9 | {{#expr:-10+9}} |
| Aged 31–64 | 9 | {{#expr:-10+9}} |
| Blue-collar workers | 9 | {{#expr:-10+9}} |
| Business owners | 8 | {{#expr:-10+8}} |
| Raised outside Sweden | 7 | {{#expr:-10+7}} |
| Members of LO | 7 | {{#expr:-10+7}} |
| On sick leave | 7 | {{#expr:-10+7}} |
| Aged 65+ | 4 | {{#expr:-10+4}} |
| Farmers | 4 | {{#expr:-10+4}} |
| All groups (total) | 10 | 0 |
It is often believed that the party is situated on the left on a left-right scale due to its co-operation with the Social Democratic Party. The party participated in a political and electoral coalition called the Red-Greens with the Social Democrats and Left Party from October 2008 until the 2010 general election in September 2010, and has vowed to co-operate with the Social Democrats until 2020.<ref name=aftonbladet /> In several municipalities, however, the Greens cooperate with liberal and conservative parties, and the party does not define itself as left, nor right. Rather, they place themselves on one end of a scale between sustainability and growth. In an article published in 2009, Maria Wetterstrand, then party co-spokesperson, defined the party as a natural home also for green-minded social liberals and libertarian socialists, by referring to its liberal policy regarding immigration and its support of personal integrity, participation and entrepreneurship, among other issues.<ref name=newsmill />
Church politics
The party does not directly participate in elections to the Church of Sweden. However, Greens in the Church of Sweden, an independent nominating group, participates in church elections at all levels.
Relationship with other parties
The Green Party has a good relationship with the Social Democrats, and to a lesser extent, with the Left Party. The party does not rule out participation in a government with the minor liberal and centre-right parties in Sweden. The Green Party on first entering the Riksdag, allied with the Conservative Bloc in opposition to the Social Democrats. The Green Party has made clear that its preference among cooperative arrangements with the Conservative Bloc does not include support of a government led by the liberal-conservative Moderate Party. However, historically there have been political deals concluded with the parties forming the centre-right Alliance as an example concerning education. Co-operation with the Moderate Party on the municipal level are relatively frequent. Template:Citation needed
Membership
Template:Historical population
Election results
Parliament (Riksdag)
| Election | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 91,787 | 1.7 (#7) | Template:Composition bar | Template:No | |
| 1985 | 83,645 | 1.5 (#7) | Template:Composition bar | Template:No | |
| 1988 | 296,935 | 5.5 (#6) | Template:Composition bar | Template:Increase 20 | Template:No2 |
| 1991 | 185,051 | 3.4 (#8) | Template:Composition bar | Template:Decrease 20 | Template:No |
| 1994 | 279,042 | 5.0 (#6) | Template:Composition bar | Template:Increase 18 | Template:No2 |
| 1998 | 236,699 | 4.5 (#7) | Template:Composition bar | Template:Decrease 2 | Template:Partial2 |
| 2002 | 246,392 | 4.7 (#7) | Template:Composition bar | Template:Increase 1 | Template:Partial2 |
| 2006 | 291,121 | 5.2 (#7) | Template:Composition bar | Template:Increase 2 | Template:No2 |
| 2010 | 437,435 | 7.3 (#3) | Template:Composition bar | Template:Increase 6 | Template:No2 |
| 2014 | 408,365 | 6.8 (#4) | Template:Composition bar | Template:Steady 0 | Template:Yes2 |
| 2018 | 285,899 | 4.4 (#8) | Template:Composition bar | Template:Decrease 9 | Template:Yes2 |
| Template:Partial2 | |||||
| 2022 | 329,242 | 5.1 (#7) | Template:Composition bar | Template:Increase 2 | Template:No2 |
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Regional councils
| Election | Votes | % | Seats | +/– |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 98,042 | 1.9 | Template:Composition bar | |
| 1985 | 104,166 | 2.0 | Template:Composition bar | |
| 1988 | 237,556 | 4.8 | Template:Composition bar | Template:Increase 73 |
| 1991 | 156,594 | 3.1 | Template:Composition bar | Template:Decrease 39 |
| 1994 | 236,666 | 4.6 | Template:Composition bar | Template:Increase 44 |
| 1998 | 226,398 | 4.4 | Template:Composition bar | Template:Decrease 8 |
| 2002 | 204,169 | 3.9 | Template:Composition bar | Template:Decrease 15 |
| 2006 | 256,547 | 4.74 | Template:Composition bar | Template:Increase 13 |
| 2010 | 398,782 | 6.9 | Template:Composition bar | Template:Increase 36 |
| 2014 | 442,760 | 7.2 | Template:Composition bar | Template:Increase 2 |
| 2018 | 265,522 | 4.1 | Template:Composition bar | Template:Decrease 58 |
| 2022 | Template:Composition bar | Template:Decrease 17 |
Municipal councils
| Election | Votes | % | Seats | +/– |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 91,842 | 1.6 | Template:Composition bar | Template:Increase 129 |
| 1985 | 142,498 | 2.5 | Template:Composition bar | Template:Increase 108 |
| 1988 | 302,797 | 5.6 | Template:Composition bar | Template:Increase 456 |
| 1991 | 199,207 | 3.6 | Template:Composition bar | Template:Decrease 304 |
| 1994 | 298,044 | 5.3 | Template:Composition bar | Template:Increase 230 |
| 1998 | 252,675 | 4.8 | Template:Composition bar | Template:Decrease 8 |
| 2002 | 227,189 | 4.2 | Template:Composition bar | Template:Decrease 116 |
| 2006 | 269,560 | 4.8 | Template:Composition bar | Template:Decrease 7 |
| 2010 | 418,362 | 7.1 | Template:Composition bar | Template:Increase 250 |
| 2014 | 483,529 | 7.7 | Template:Composition bar | Template:Increase 46 |
| 2018 | 301,825 | 4.6 | Template:Composition bar | Template:Decrease 337 |
European Parliament
| Year | List leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | EP Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Per Gahrton | 462,092 | 17.22 (#3) | Template:Composition bar | New | G |
| 1999 | 239,946 | 9.49 (#5) | Template:Composition bar | Template:Decrease 2 | Greens/EFA | |
| 2004 | Carl Schlyter | 149,603 | 5.96 (#7) | Template:Composition bar | Template:Decrease 1 | |
| 2009 | 349,114 | 11.02 (#4) | Template:Composition bar | Template:Increase 1 | ||
| 2011 | Template:Composition bar | Template:Small | ||||
| 2014 | Isabella Lövin | 572,591 | 15.41 (#2) | Template:Composition bar | Template:Increase 2 | |
| 2019 | Alice Bah Kuhnke | 478,258 | 11.52 (#4) | Template:Composition bar | Template:Decrease 2 | |
| 2020 | Template:Composition bar | Template:Small | ||||
| 2024 | 581,322 | 13.85 (#3) | Template:Composition bar | Template:Steady 0 |
See also
- Elections in Sweden
- Green politics
- Green Youth (Sweden)
- List of environmental organizations
- Referendums in Sweden
- Worldwide green parties
References
External links
Template:Green Party (Sweden) Template:Swedish political parties Template:Green parties Template:Authority control