Sweden's Role in the Norwegian Election: A Cautionary Tale and a Model

As Norway heads to the polls, economic issues are at the forefront. Meanwhile, Sweden continues to be used as a cautionary example when it comes to gang crime, but is also highlighted as a pioneer in a completely different area.

On Monday, Norway will vote, and the major issues in this year's election campaign have all, "in one way or another," revolved around the economy.

This is according to Johannes Bergh, who leads the election research program at the Institute for Social Research in Oslo:

– Tax policy, social inequality, economic management. These types of issues have been very important. It's about how we in Norway, like most other countries, have experienced inflation and rising energy prices, and there has been much talk about how ordinary people are faring.

Jobs and food prices are also prioritized issues for voters.

Issues in the Norwegian Election

At the same time, international issues, due to the global situation, have received more focus than usual.

– Such as trade policy and the relationship with the USA, security policy due to the war in Ukraine, and the war in Gaza, says Johannes Bergh.

However, gang crime is also a current topic in the neighboring country to the west.

According to Johannes Bergh, it is not at the top of the agenda in this year's election campaign – it has received more attention previously and is usually highlighted in connection with criminal incidents – but it is a theme that has nevertheless been discussed a lot in Norway for a long time.

Gang Crime in Sweden Without Wealth Tax

And Sweden is usually brought up in this context.

– Especially in the Progress Party, Sweden is often used as a kind of horror example. They often talk about "the Swedish condition," says the researcher.

This term has also been used in Denmark and has become so established that several Swedish researchers in 2022 published the anthology "The Swedish Condition," aiming to broaden the description of crime issues and provide their view of the development of crime in Sweden.

Johannes Bergh says that it is when talking about crime that Sweden is still mentioned the most in political Norway, but at the same time, for some parties, Sweden has emerged as a model country – in a completely different issue.

– In Norway, we have a wealth tax that parties on the right want to remove or reduce, and then they refer to Sweden, which does not have such a tax, says Johannes Bergh.

Gahr Støre: "Higher Unemployment"

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Labour Party) does not think Sweden is an obvious role model.

But he also does not want to talk about "the Swedish condition."

– Sweden is the country closest to Norway, where we can learn from how society is organized and what values apply. But there are some quite large differences. Sweden has higher unemployment. We have lower. Sweden has bigger gang crime problems than Norway. We also have challenges, but I refrain from calling them Swedish, says the Prime Minister to DN, adding that "Norway must still think that Norway is Norway."

Jonas Gahr Støre enters the election with a tailwind. According to the latest opinion poll, his red-green side has a majority in the Storting, with 91 seats against the conservatives' 78. According to researcher Johannes Bergh, it is a battle that will be exciting to follow: the one between the "right-wing wave" among especially young people in Norway, and the one between the red-greens who have gained more support in recent months, when it has been relatively calm politically.

– These are two different trends fighting against each other in this election, he says.