Swedish Nationalists Rise as Record Immigration Stirs Backlash

[Judi Lynn]

Swedish Nationalists Rise as Record Immigration Stirs Backlash
By Johan Carlstrom and Niklas Magnusson Aug 20, 2014 5:00 PM CT

The Sweden Democrats, a nationalist party that targets deep cuts to immigration, is poised to double its support in elections next month as Swedes prepare for a change of government.

Several polls show the party garnering more than 10 percent of votes, enough to ensure that neither the government of Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt nor the Social Democrat-led opposition can win a majority on Sept. 14. Both blocs have refused to collaborate with the Sweden Democrats, even as the electorate tries to drag the group into the mainstream.

Support for the party, which came into being in the 1980s following a merger of political movements including a group called Keep Sweden Swedish, has swelled as the country absorbs a growing number of immigrants and asylum seekers from the Middle East. The development casts a shadow over Sweden’s reputation as an open society that has regularly topped United Nations rankings in accepting asylum seekers.

“We’re becoming more tolerant toward immigration but at the same time there’s very strong, broad opposition against our liberal policies,” said Andrej Kokkonen, a researcher at Gothenburg University. “The Sweden Democrats have capitalized on that.”

More:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-08-20/swedish-nationalists-rise-as-record-immigration-stirs-backlash.html

[littlemissmartypants]

1. Always enjoy your posts.

Thank you.
~Lmsp

[newfie11]

2. I wonder if this has anything to do with crime?

When we were in Ireland 2 years ago several people I talked to said they were having an increase of theft and blamed it on immigrants from some of the eastern bloc countries.

[Blue_Tires]

3. Isn't Sweden also the country GWB 'persuaded'

to accept tens of thousands of Iraqi refugees 10-11 years ago?? While the U.S. took in precious few in comparison?