DISSATISFACTION IN SWEDEN

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31080, 8 June 1966, Page 13

DISSATISFACTION IN SWEDEN

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter)

STOCKHOLM, Sweden. Political observers in Sweden are wondering whether the 34 years of absolute power of their Social Democrat Party are nearing an end. Mounting criticism is regarded by some as an indication that the party is losing its grip on the country-.

Most of the complaints, which come even from the party’s own supporters, are directed against housing difficulties, high prices and shortages.

Sweden has the highest building rate in Europe. But one-twentieth of her population, or 400,000 people, are in need of homes.

The cost of living last year soared by 6 per cent. Price structures have become distorted as the biggest increases have been on such essential goods as food, and the smaller ones on luxuries including cars. The social welfare state has been highly developed. But there is widespread dissatisfaction with the shortage of nurses and doctors in hospitals, of teachers in schools, and of vacancies in day schools as well as with high taxation, balance of payment difficulties and inflation.

The position of the SocialDemocrats is further jeopardised by the recent announcement of the Prime Minister Mr Tage Erlander that he will retire as party chairman after the 1968 elections. It is generally thought that this means that he will also retire as Prime Minister. A change in the Government is hardly likely by the time of the next General Election, In 1968, but it is by

no means considered an impossibility in 1972.

One reason for the continuing success of the party is that there is at present no opposition party with the slightest chance of forming a majority government. This has previously meant that many of the public have voted Social Democrat simply because they would be throwing away their vote if they did not. Now, however, the Centre Party and the Folk Party are examining every possibility of joining forces. In the present Parliament, this would give them a total 77 seats in the Lower House compared with Social Democrats’ 113, a working chance which might sway the public. At the last election, in 1964, the Social Democrats lost one seat while the Centre party gained one, and the Folk party gained two. The Communists gained three. Mr Carl-Henrik He. mansson, the Communist party

leader, an extremely personable, and wealthy man, is often described as the most brilliant politician in Parliament. He brought new life into the party when he broke completely with Moscow and declared its interests were solely national. In a few months, he is expected to change the party’s name, shedding the “Communist” tag which is believed to have frightened off some voters.

There will, of course, hardly be a massive swing to the Communists, but it is expected that they will draw off a good many votes from the Social Democrats. Observers are convinced that if the voters were offered a reasonably attractive alternative, they would seize it unhesitatingly. For, while Swedes appreciate security from the cradle to the grave, they are not at all happy about a cost of living so high that they are unable to buy meat for the Sunday dinner.