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Sweden’s Social Democrats elect Magdalena Andersson as new leader

Swedish Finance Minister Magdalena Andersson has been voted in as new leader of the Social Democrats, taking over the reins of the party from Prime Minister Stefan Löfven.

Published: 4 November 2021 16:13 CET
Sweden's Social Democrats elect Magdalena Andersson as new leader
Magdalena Andersson, sitting between Prime Minister Stefan Löfven and her husband Richard Friberg. Photo: Adam Ihse/TT

Andersson’s election came as no surprise – she was nominated as Löfven’s successor by all 26 of the Social Democrats’ party districts, and all potential rivals stood down earlier this autumn before a real leadership contest was even launched.

This likely – but not automatically – means she will become Sweden’s next and the country’s first female prime minister.

Löfven has not yet said when he will resign as prime minister, awaiting the conclusion of ongoing negotiations with the Centre Party about forests and planning permission for shorelines, but has promised that he will announce a date next week for his departure.

Andersson will then have to pass a parliamentary vote, which requires a majority of members of parliament not to vote against her (in other words, a majority must vote for her or abstain). That’s not a 100 percent safe guarantee, given the current tight margins in parliament.

The 54-year-old economist from Uppsala has held her current position of Sweden’s finance minister since 2014, retaining the position through all three Löfven governments. She has been a member of the Social Democrats since 1983 when she joined as a 16-year-old, and has held several advisor roles in the prime minister’s office, the finance department, and senior director at the Swedish Tax Agency.

Taking the stage after she was elected to succeed Löfven at the party’s conference in Gothenburg on Thursday, she said: “I’m of course both honoured and glad and I feel a great deal of humility for the task, but above all I am hugely excited to lead our great and proud party.”

Andersson also outlined three political priorities for the coming years.

Firstly she wanted to “take back democratic control of schools, healthcare and elderly care” in the country that has long had a debate over welfare sector liberalisation and privatisation and companies being able to profit from tax funds.

Secondly she wanted Sweden to become a leader in the “climate transition” and becoming a role model for the world.

“Thirdly, I want, no I demand that we turn every stone to end segregation and smoke out the violence that threatens our entire community,” Andersson said.

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POLITICS

Over a thousand people join protest against Stockholm attack

Over a thousand people joined a demonstration in Gubbängen, southern Stockholm, on Saturday, protesting Wednesday's attack by far-right extremists on a lecture organised by the Left and Green parties.

Published: 27 April 2024 15:36 CEST
Over a thousand people join protest against Stockholm attack

The demonstration, which was organised by the Left Party and the Green Party together with Expo, an anti-extremist magazine, was held outside the Moment theatre, where masked assailants attacked a lecture organised by the two parties on Wednesday. 

In the attack, the assailants – described as Nazis by Expo – let off smoke grenades and assaulted several people, three of whom were hospitalised. 

“Let’s say it how it is: this was a terror attack and that is something we can never accept,” said Amanda Lind, who is expected to be voted in as the joint leader of the Green Party on Sunday. 

She said that those who had attended the lecture had hoped to swap ideas about how to combat racism. 

“Instead they had to experience smoke bombs, assault and were forced to think ‘have they got weapons’?. The goal of this attack was to use violence to generate fear and silence people,” she said.  

EXPLAINED: What we know about the attack on a Swedish anti-fascist meeting

More than a thousand people gathered to protest the attack on a theatre in Gubbängen, Stockholm. Photo: Oscar Olsson/TT

Nooshi Dadgostar, leader of the Left Party, said that that society needed to stand up against this type of extreme-right violence. 

“We’re here today to show that which should be obvious: we will not give up, we will stand up for ourselves, and we shall never be silenced by racist violence,” said said.

Sofia Zwahlen, one of the protesters at the demonstration, told the DN newspaper that it felt positive that so many had turned up to show their opposition to the attacks. 

“It feels extremely good that there’s been this reaction, that we are coming together. I’m always a little worried about going to this sort of demonstration. But this feels safe.”

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