What did the party leaders say about global issues in their Almedalen speeches? - and what didn't they say? FUF listened to all eight speeches. Despite a troubled international situation, the focus was primarily on Swedish domestic policy. Global issues were overall limited space, even if climate, war, security and assistance was mentioned in some of the speeches.
The party leader's speech in Almedalen gives the parties the opportunity to set the agenda themselves and raise the issues they want to characterise the election campaign. When FUF listened to global development issues in this year's eight speeches, it became clear that the world was rarely at the centre.
The speeches were primarily about Sweden and Swedish domestic policy. Aid, global poverty and international development cooperation were largely absent. In several of the speeches, there was also little discussion of Sweden's role in the world.
But some global issues took their place. Ebba Busch (KD) said that Sweden should be a “European leader” in aid policy and contribute to strengthening democracy and reducing poverty in the world. Jimmie Åkesson (SD) spoke about war and security, and mentioned Ukraine, Iran and Israel. Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist (C) reasoned about the relationship between trade, economy and security in a world where authoritarian states use economic dependencies as a means of power.
Climate and green transition recurred in several speeches, but often with Sweden as a starting point. Daniel Helldén (MP) linked the climate transition to the economy and national security, Magdalena Andersson (S) spoke about reducing Sweden's dependence on dictatorships' fossil fuels, and Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist spoke about increased Swedish climate ambitions. Simona Mohamsson (L) raised trade with Europe and nuclear power, among other things, while Nooshi Dadgostar (V) concluded her speech with positions for a free Palestine and a free Ukraine. Ulf Kristersson's (M) speech mentioned the dangerous world and the shaky world economy, but the focus was on how Sweden should be strengthened.
Would you like to hear what else was said and not said about the world in the Swedish election on the Almedal stage? You can do that in FUF's short analyses published on Instagram:
Ebba Busch, Christian Democrats
Simona Mohamson, Liberal Party
Jimmie Åkesson, Sweden Democrats
Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist, Centre Party
Magdalena Andersson, Social Democrats
Ulf Kristersson, Moderate Party
Is there something in the text that is not correct? Contact us at opinion@fuf.se