Political scientist: One of the few occasions that is not just about NATO

2022-05-08T04:31:57.985Z

Agenda's party leader debate will be one of the few occasions before the holiday where it is possible to hear politicians talk about something other than the security situation and the defense issue. This is the opinion of Jonas Hinnfors, political scientist at the University of Gothenburg. - The war in Ukraine and the inflated NATO issue have forced the parties to throw their election planning in the trash. Agenda's party leader debate will be a chance for them to show ideological direction and profile themselves in the government issue.

According to Jonas Hinnfors, the dominance of the NATO issue means that this year's election campaign will be short and perhaps even tough.

He believes that the parties will use Sunday's debate to try to reach out with the issues they believe will dominate when the focus has shifted from the NATO issue.

Everyday finances and welfare

- An area that the Social Democrats will want to highlight.

The party has been careful to point out that the defense investment should not go beyond basic financial security, care, welfare and other welfare and they have also flagged with the tax tool.

While the Moderates want to invest in the defense without raising taxes, and then you have to prioritize something else, says Jonas Hinnfors.

- Several parties will also want to talk about more expensive energy and fuels, increased living costs and inflation.

This is the dividing line between increased contributions on the one hand and reduced fees and taxes on the other.

Crime and punishment

- The migration issue has become more difficult to pursue due to the influx of refugees from the Ukraine war, which all parties accept.

Therefore, I think SD, M and KD will intervene strongly in the crime issue and the riots during Easter and paint a picture of a society that is unable to maintain the monopoly of violence.

Crime and punishment, often linked to migration, have been the Sweden Democrats' parade issue and now the Moderates and Christian Democrats have been hooked.

The government issue

- It has been difficult for voters to keep up with all the tours around the spring change budget, but that only reflects the uncertain parliamentary majority ownership.

Will the Center Party support the S budget or not?

Will the Liberals support KD + M's budget or not?

- It is about showing who you want to be seen with and who you can collaborate with.

The discussion tonight will be a test of how the parties position themselves in relation to each other and show what their intended government base looks like.

None of the blocks are really cohesive.

But we should not expect any clear messages, it is more about how the parties package their messages.

Most to win

- The Liberals have not improved their position in public opinion since the change of party leader, and for most voters Johan Pehrson is completely unknown.

This may be his chance to make an impression.

He has everything to gain from doing something different, presenting the party in a new way that can attract voters.

Most to lose

- The Center Party has been hit by a kind of little boy punk, things are not going very well for the party in public opinion.

Their broad center-left policy has so far not attracted voters.

Annie Lööf needs to translate it into factual politics in order for it to be meaningful, at the same time as it is a very difficult task to strike a balance between the various blocs.

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