The Sweden Democrats are at a new high in the polls. At 20.2 % they are again the second most popular party in Sweden, with a 2% increase in support since the last poll. The increase is largely due to increased support in Stockholm. It is also said that SD gains when the other parties try to shut it out, like in the current all-party-minus-SD talks on how to meet the rise in violent crime ().
Just today’s headlines – “Man taken into custody after morning’s shooting” () and “Explosion in Lund – female student seriously injured” () – are examples of what voters are waking up to. Morning’s shooting? It makes you wonder what’s on the agenda for the afternoon. The student was injured in the explosion directed at the corner store below her on the first floor.
It’s a dangerous development when people don’t feel safe. It’s a dangerous development when what politicians do and what they describe isn’t matched by what people are experiencing. It’s easy to understand that people cast about for something untried, since what’s been tried isn’t addressing their concerns. The government, and the parties they’re working with, need to up their game. That at least the Social Democratic party is still no. 1 is not good enough.