Swedish's Social Democrat, Stefan Löfven heaps praises on Nelson Mandela as he called for a Sweden where everyone has a shot in life.

Sunday, 07 July 2013
In the last day of Swedish political retreat in Visby, known here as Almedalen, the Social Democrats made the last call with the leader of the party, Stefan Löfven talking what his Sweden would look like if he get to the helm.

Stefan Löfven (pcitured below) started by praising former political prisoner turned president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, for all what he endured to foster democracy, peace and reconciliation to the country where the Apartheid system meant that Black people had no future but to remain discriminated. His reference to Mandela and South Africa was to make the point that Sweden has become a country where the wealth gap within the communiies has widen in the past years.

"We in the Swedish labour movement are proud to have stood by his side [Nelson Mandela] in the struggle against Apartheid, even when an international - and Swedish - right were against us. Mandela, you have given democracy to a country, a voice for the people and hope to an entire generation all over the world. Madiba, our thoughts are with you," he said.

The leader responding to the youths who introduced him said that Sweden must regain its places as a country where others used to look up to for inspiration. He called for solitary, the language used by socialists and unions and those who frown at big corporations dominating political policy design and formation.

Youth unemployment was one of the areas the leader hit at so much and accused the government for pushing the youths of Sweden to a zone where they lacked hope and sense of purpose. He accused the Prime Minister, Fredrik Reinfeldt, for not having enough time to explain away the youth cannot get a job and that the government instead in presenting new reforms and new arithmetic.

"More than 40,000 young people have been out of work since January - or even longer. That's more than three times as many as when the Alliance took power. And you can not blame the measurement methods. The 14 countries in the EU alone who have lower levels than us measure in exactly the same way. It's not statistics, but policy that needs to be changed," said Löfven and continued: "Something has broken in Sweden and Sweden no longer lead in anything."

If elected to office, his social democrats party will start straight away tackling youth unemployment with education. He announced at a conference later that strengthening school, students, and teachers, including smaller classes in kindergarten up to grade three would be his priority. The social democrats want to invest Skr3 billion on the proposal to attain that objective.
Stefan Löfven talkin at Almedalen on Sunday

"To get a high school education is crucial, as without it, it's very difficult to enter the labour market. Since 2007, when the Alliance took over, those who fail primary school increased by 20 percent. It is time to reverse this trend," says Stefan Löfven.

Stefan Löfven talked of other things the Social Democrats want to change. He talked about a fair tax system and that society should stand up for those looking for work or are ill, rather than leaving them to waste.
"Instead of being the country where inequality is growing fastest, Sweden will be the best at giving everyone, regardless of gender or background, health or disability, the same opportunities in life. And I know that there is broad support in Sweden for this, both in the left and right. That is why the Conservatives are now starting to call themselves "new" - as the old ones were rejected when they were honest about what a moderate policy creates," he said.

"Many Swedes today face barriers in employment, threat in the subway and the streets, and hatred from the silly extreme right. Even here in Almedalen we've seen Nazis marching in our streets. Never, never will I accept it," he said, and continued:
"Racism is proven as an ideology, and it is timeless rubbish. It will not be able to influence in parliament - and above all, never, ever be able to reduce people's life chances."
He also struck a blow for equality, saying that Sweden needs to feminist politics "not feminist PR."
by Scancomark.com Team

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