Stockholm elections: parties compete over housing, security and healthcare
In Stockholm, Sweden, ahead of the September 13 elections, housing affordability, security, taxes, healthcare and public transport have become the main campaign issues at the city and regional levels. As The Local Sweden reports, the possible participation of the far-right Sweden Democrats in a right-wing coalition after the vote has emerged as a separate issue.
Coalitions, security and housing
On August 21, Moderate Party group leader Christofer Fjellner said that his political force no longer has “red lines” regarding forming a governing administration together with the Sweden Democrats. At the same time, he stressed that the party has no active plans to cooperate with them. The Social Democrats are using the prospect of the Sweden Democrats gaining influence as one of the campaign’s key arguments.
The Moderates promise to halve security problems in the city, including by increasing the number of security guards and surveillance cameras and making broader use of bans on being in certain locations. The Social Democrats propose increasing funding for social services to identify young people who may be recruited by criminal groups, as well as expanding the network of mobile social units and opening municipal youth centers.
In housing policy, the Social Democrats want to close Bromma Airport and build 16,000 homes on its site. The Moderates propose building 4,000 townhouses, limiting development in green areas, and seek for half of the city’s territory to consist of green spaces or parks.
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Taxes, transport and healthcare
The Moderate Party promises to reduce the tax costs of an average family with children by 10,000 Swedish kronor: by 5,000 through lower municipal and regional rates and by another 5,000 under a national program. The Social Democrats oppose tax cuts, saying that welfare and education spending are priorities.
In transport, the Moderates plan to invest 1.6 billion Swedish kronor over four years to increase the number of services operated by public transport provider SL. At the regional level, the parties are also focusing on healthcare: the Social Democrats propose reducing queues by hiring medical staff and assigning each patient a specific doctor at a local clinic. The Moderates propose setting up small doctor-led clinics and primary care centers that will operate at night and on weekends.
Both political forces promise to reduce waiting times for psychiatric care for adults and children. In school policy, the Social Democrats support limiting classes to 25 pupils and hiring 500 teachers, while the Moderates propose reducing screen use, assessing pupil behavior and retaining the free school choice system.
