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The Swedish Moderate Party
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True or false? The Swedish political party that is today called "Moderaterna" was formed in 1904 in the restaurant Runan in Stockholm.
It’s the early 20th century. From the mines, forests, and factories, come goods that Sweden exports to other countries. These are good times for those who own the land and the corporations. They think industrialisation is changing society for the better. But, industrialisation is not the only change that is under way.
The king is losing his power. So are the nobility, and the church. Labourers have started to make demands, and even women want to vote! And these changes are not very popular among the land and factory owners. They want to keep the church, the king, the military, and the nation as they are.
They are conservative and nationalistic. Politically, they are to the right. In 1904, the conservative members of parliament gather to form a new political party. It’s to be called the Conservative Party, and its mission is to slow down the ongoing changes in society. But, labourers and women do get the right to vote.
And the political right starts losing more elections. During the 1930s, the Social Democrats grow so strong that the conservatives no longer stand a chance. At the same time, the Nazis take over in Germany. The youth organisation of the Conservative Party is inspired by Hitler, and wants their party to be more like the Nazis. But most people in the party take a stand against Nazism, and the youth organisation is expelled.
The party changes its name, several times, but voters still seem to prefer other parties. Now it is 1970. The party has changed its name to the Moderates. Its leader is Gösta Bohman. He is sick and tired of the fact that the Social Democrats have been in power since the 1930s.
Bohman talks more about what the Moderates want to achieve, and less about what they are against. The Moderates borrow ideas from liberalism. Three of their main issues are: People should be empowered to make their own decisions: there should be more freedom to choose, things like healthcare and schools. It should be easier to start and run a business, with fewer regulations. And taxes should be lower, so that more people can live off their income, without the need of welfare subsidies.
They also think that Sweden should join the European Common Market, the predecessor of the EU. And then it happens: in 1976, the Moderates and two other centre-right parties win the election! The centre-right parties keep control of the government for six years. The Centre Party and the Liberals get to take turns picking the prime minister. But the parties have a tough time agreeing with each other, and in 1982 they lose the election.
But now they know that it’s possible to beat the Social Democrats. Also, the Moderates have grown to become the largest of the centre-right parties. Nine years later they succeed again: in 1991, the centre-right parties win the election. This time, the Moderates get to pick the prime minister. It’s Carl Bildt.
During his three years as head of government, many reforms are implemented: more private ownership and competition, less government ownership, and fewer regulations. After that, the centre-right parties spend 12 years in opposition before returning under the name Alliance for Sweden. Just like last time, it’s the Moderates’ leader who gets to be prime minister. This time his name is Fredrik Reinfeldt. And by now, there are almost no traces left of the old, nationalistic Conservative Party.
The Moderates are no longer a party mainly for nobility and managing directors. The party has moved from the right end of the political spectrum, towards the middle. But many in the party believe they have moved too far. In the 2014 election, the Moderate party loses power. Since then, a lot has happened within the party.
Since 2017, the leader of the party has been Ulf Kristersson. The party is now moving in a more conservative direction. The former prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt is subject to criticism from within the party. The most important issues for the Moderate party now are: lower taxes on work and business reduced subsidies fighting crime, with stricter punishments and a larger police force better integration, and reduced immigration expanded nuclear power. The Moderate party hopes to come to power in the 2022 election, forming a conservative-liberal government together with the Christian Democrats.
They will also accept the support of the Sweden Democrats. In such a cabinet, Moderate leader Ulf Kristersson would become the prime minister.