- The Danish guys have succeeded in something big. They have got a one-party social democratic government that promotes a very sassy welfare policy, and that can only be impressed by, says Torbjörn Hållö, economist at LO.
- It is a great sadness that a sister party that has been very close to us over the years, is now about to leave the social democracy, says Magnus Manhammar, MP for S.
In Denmark, the Social Democrats won back government power after last summer's election. Under the leader Mette Frederiksen, the party has pursued a tough immigration policy and at the same time profiled itself on welfare issues.
- We are happy to be to the left of the center when it comes to distribution policy, where we focus on the working class and the employees. But if you want to protect the welfare state, you must also have control over immigration and I think we have found the right balance now, says the party's migration policy spokesperson Rasmus Stoklund.
"Must do as you do in Denmark"The Social Democrats won government power this summer without ever moving forward in the election. But the party won votes from the right-wing Nationalist People's Party while losing to parties on the left. That equation then made it possible to form government.
This has got the Social Democrats in Sweden interested in Denmark. Just over ten years ago, 70 per cent of the LO members in Sweden voted for S (according to Statistics Sweden). Today, the figure is 35 percent. How can the party win back the workers' voters? Is it Denmark the role model, or does the harsh immigration policy make it all a deterrent?
- You have to do as you have done in Denmark. To let ordinary employee groups' interests be the focus of politics, says Torbjörn Hållö.
- It is good if you run questions about stronger welfare, but if you do not stand up for human rights, the other does not play such a big role, says Magnus Manhammar.