The Swedish Green Party

These people sitting here are angry. And disappointed. They are angry because factories, cars, and farms are causing so much damage to nature: to the plants, animals, air, and water – to the environment. And they are disappointed that Sweden has just decided to continue using nuclear power. During this meeting in 1980, they decide to form a new political party: the Green Party.

And they are not going to be like the other parties. This party opposes economic growth, and supports a life with less work and less consumption. Enormous changes - a radical party. The party will be run democratically, listening to its members. They don’t want someone to lead them, but rather someone to speak on behalf of the members.

That’s why they don’t elect party leaders, but instead spokespersons: one woman and one man, for a maximum of eight years. In 1986 there is a disaster at a nuclear power plant in Chernobyl, in the Soviet Union. Radioactive particles spread over Sweden and other countries. Two years later, during the summer, thousands of seals die from a viral disease. The Chernobyl disaster and the seal death lead more people, and media, to pay attention to environmental issues.

And now in 1988, voters elect the Green Party into the Riksdag. They dance in, wearing woolly cardigans and sandals. This surely is not a party like any other! The Green Party claims to be neither right nor left. Instead, they place themselves on another scale – one where environment and sustainability oppose economic growth and industrialism.

In 1991, the party loses its seats in the Riksdag, but they are back in the following election. In 1994, the main issue is whether Sweden should join the European Union or not. The Green Party is against it. The 1998 and 2002 elections, the results are split evenly between the right and left parties; neither side can form a coalition with their own majority. The side that the Green Party supports will form the government.

The Green Party has the ability to tip the scales of power. Most of the time, they use this power to support Social Democratic governments, but only in exchange for new and stronger environmental regulations. Now the spokespersons are Maria Wetterstrand and Peter Eriksson. They are more similar to other party leaders; they wear jackets, and more often make decisions centrally, without asking their members. And now the party supports Sweden’s EU membership!

The changes lead to conflicts in the party. Some still want to be different and fight for radical changes in society. This group is sometimes called fundamentalists, or ‘fundies’. Others prefer to compromise and fight for changes that are smaller, but that have greater chance of actually taking place. These people are called realists, or ‘realos’.

As time goes by, the realos gain more influence. The Green Party increasingly appears like the other parties. After the 2014 election, the Green Party takes seats in the Government for the first time, in a coalition with the Social Democrats. Among others, the spokespersons, Gustav Fridolin and Åsa Romson become ministers. But, being in a coalition requires compromise.

It was easier to be radical and stick to principles before they had power and responsibility. The party is forced to compromise on several of their core issues. The Government, including the Green Party, decides to make it harder for refugees to gain asylum in Sweden, and to sell off coal mines, rather than closing them down like the Green Party wanted. Many of the Green Party’s voters are now angry and disappointed. Both spokespersons are criticised, and Åsa Romson resigns.

She is replaced by Isabella Lövin. After the 2018 election, the Green Party is again part of the government. In 2019, Gustaf Fridolin is replaced as spokesman by Per Bolund and in 2021, Isabella Lövin is replaced by Märta Stenevi. In November 2021, the Parliament votes on Sweden’s national budget for 2022. The government’s budget does not pass.

Instead, the opposition's budget proposal wins. Now, the Green Party leaves the government. They do not want to be involved in governing the country on a budget from right-wing parties, which also includes Sweden Democrats. In 2022, environmental issues are included in all political parties' election platforms. But the Green Party believes that they are pushing the issues harder than any other party.

Which way should the Green Party go now? Which policy is most effective if you want to improve the environment and stop climate change? Is it better to be radical, or to compromise with other parties?