During the Moderates' party leadership speech yesterday in Almedalen, Ulf Kristersson focused on domestic issues such as security, integration, the work against gang crime and issues concerning children and young people's health and opportunities. What was missing, however, was the perspective of Sweden's role in the world and the work to achieve the global sustainability goals.
The Moderates' party leader Ulf Kristersson emphasized in his party leadership speech in Almedalen that it is high time for Sweden to change government and that the Moderates, if the Alliance were to win, would most likely need to form a minority government and thus also need to pursue a humble and pragmatic policy. However, he clearly promised that the Moderates will not "rule with or negotiate with the Sweden Democrats". According to Ulf Kristersson, some of the international challenges facing the country are competition, globalization, digitalisation and the climate threat. He also emphasized that these threats do not take a break while we in Sweden "quarrel about migration". Sweden's future government must be able to work with several challenges at the same time and that, Kristersson said, the Sweden Democrats cannot.
When it comes to migration policy, Kristersson argued for a "long-term policy" that extends across bloc borders and advocated a more closed and restrictive migration policy that focuses on those who have already arrived in Sweden. Stricter language requirements for those studying Swedish at SFI were highlighted here as an example. Furthermore, he briefly listed some other of the party's positions that can be linked to international issues, including that a Swedish withdrawal from the EU is excluded. He was careful to point out his opposition to airline taxation. While the party leader himself mentioned the climate threat as real, he did not go further into measures. Kristersson also expressed his support for a Swedish membership in NATO and a strengthening of the defense.
In the speech, Ulf Kristersson did not mention Sweden's work with the global sustainability goals. We thus lacked the perspective of Sweden's role in the world and suggestions on how these goals should be met in the best possible way. The speech was based on the idea of the equal value and rights of every human being. Ulf Kristersson spoke about the importance of "the team before the self". The question is, however, where does the New Moderates think that the limit for people's equal value and rights goes? Does the reasoning refer only to Swedish citizens or should it also extend beyond the country's borders, to also include the many people seeking protection in Sweden? How consistent is the Moderates' idea of human rights and equal value with their proposals for tougher migration policies and thus also people's limited mobility across national borders?
This is a chronicle. The author is responsible for analysis and opinions in the text.
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