The opposition wins the elections in Sweden

The centre-right, four-party Alliance for Sweden led by Fredeik Reinfeldt has won a narrow victory in Sweden's general elections. Outgoing Prime Minister Goran Persson has conceded his election defeat. The Swedish daily attributes the opposition's success to the fact that it offered voters a clear alternative, whereas right up to the very end of the election campaign Mr. Persson failed to make it clear with whom he would form a coalition if he won the elections. "This is how the question of government became the Alliance's trump card. The other reason for the opposition's victory was Goran Persson himself. He was far too dominant in government... Power deforms those who wield it in the long term. It accentuates their faults and deprives the leadership of its openness and dynamic force. One of the main reasons why the Social Democrats lost control in the issue of unemployment, which was one of the main issues for voters, was that they had a prime minister who acted as if jobs would appear out of thin air and unemployment was therefore no longer a problem. Voters weren't prepared to let him get away with that."

» full article (external link, Swedish)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Sweden

» To the complete press review of Monday, September 18, 2006