Like the centre-right parties, the Social Democrats have long advocated an almost limitless mass immigration policy to Sweden, with millions of people from third world countries being granted Swedish residence permits or citizenship.
However, they now state that they have completely changed their minds on the issue and instead claim to want a “strict Swedish migration policy” with stricter requirements for staying in Sweden.
Under both the Conservatives and the Social Democrats, Sweden has for decades been among the European countries that have taken in the most non-European migrants – leading not only to widespread insecurity, poverty, polarisation and huge social costs – but also to the spread of organised crime across the country and the fact that ethnic Swedes are, or soon will be, in a minority in many Swedish municipalities.
Although leading representatives in both the Moderate and Social Democratic parties are in many cases exactly the same people who previously frantically wanted to fight the Sweden Democrats and other anti-immigration movements, and worked for almost completely free immigration to Sweden, both parties state that they have now completely turned around on the migration issue, and now say they want a very restrictive immigration policy instead.
During the present so-called “Tidö” government, the Moderates have advocated tougher measures, deportation of criminals and tougher requirements for citizenship – but in reality, mass immigration has continued at roughly the same levels as before.
“Central force for social development”
The Social Democrats’ proposal for a new party programme has a similar tone, and the focus is said to be on immigration and combating the widespread crime in society.
– We will be the central and strongest force for social development in Sweden, says Social Democratic party leader Magdalena Andersson.
“It has been necessary to respond to serious crime with a shift in criminal policy, where a large number of penalties have been increased”, the programme states.
In 2013, the Social Democrats declared that they wanted “generous and regulated immigration” – a statement that has been completely cancelled and instead they now say they advocate “a strict Swedish migration policy” with “greater requirements for everyone in Sweden to learn Swedish”.
At the same time, they want migrants granted residence permits in Sweden to be distributed evenly across the country, with a special focus on “efforts to combat racism and discrimination”.
Sossarnas nya migrationspolitik sammanfattad:
✅️ Folkutbytet ska fortsätta men på en nivå att “integrationen fungerar”.
✅️ Nyanlända ska spridas ut överallt. Alla svenskar ska tvångsintegreras.
✅️ “Rasism” och “diskriminering” ska motverkas, dvs kvoteringen skall öka. pic.twitter.com/Pf1IDVCjcw— MEMIS (@MemIngenjoeren) November 19, 2024
Translation:
The new migration policy of the Social Democrats summarised:
- The population replacement should continue, but at a level where “integration works”.
- The new arrivals will be scattered everywhere. All Swedes will be forcibly integrated.
- “Racism” and “discrimination” are to be countered, i.e. quotas are to be increased.
“Free immigration is not left-wing”
The draft will now be submitted for consultation and the new party programme will not be approved until the party congress in May next year.
Magdalena Andersson claimed last year that the reason the Social Democrats previously favoured mass immigration was that they were “caught up” in the “social climate” – and she argued that it was the conservatives, not the Social Democrats, who had pushed Sweden’s generous migration policy the hardest.
– Free immigration is not left-wing. Those who have pushed the most free immigration policy in Sweden are the right. It is Ulf Kristersson and Gunnar Strömmer who have done that, she said at the time, referring to the fact that both Sweden’s prime minister and justice minister had previously advocated completely free immigration to Sweden.
On forums and social media, however, many argue that the Social Democrats’ credibility on the migration issue is very low – and that it is unlikely that a party that, despite warnings, has been a driving force in turning Sweden into what it is today is also capable of solving the problems that have arisen and reversing the trend.
