KristDemokraterna (KD) or Christian Democrats in English, answer the 9 Political Questions asked to all major parties represented in Stora Torget, Uppsala.Answering our questions is KD candidate for Uppsala municipality Mimmi Westerlund.
1. What are the core values your party represents?
Unlike liberals and socialists, we Christian Democrats do not harbour any utopian notions of what society may become. There is no single answer to aim for. Instead, we act based on good values. There are no perfect people and there are no perfect societies. In our pursuit of a good society, we do not ignore the individual and collective, but focus more on the interrelationships that exist in between: a life partner, family, colleagues, friends, neighbours, churches, companies, associations and charities. We are community builders.
2. Where would you place your party in the Left-Right political spectrum?
Right. We are a freedom and market-friendly based party that emphasises responsibility for our fellow human beings. We aim for reasonable taxation and want to prevent the wastage of taxpayers’ money, and we draw a line between what is and isn’t the duty of politics.
3. Which are the parties you feel closest to in the European Parliament?
We are a part of EPP, European People’s Party along with the Swedish Nya Moderaterna (The Moderates).
4. Why should people vote for your party?
We have attempted to dissolve the weak leftist government throughout the mandate period, we were a driving force behind the exposure of # transportgate which deposed two Ministers. We tore down the ‘opinion corridor’ when our grassroots movement nullified the December Agreement (Decemberöverenskommelsen). We have been a stable part of all centre- right governments since we entered the Riksdag in 1991. On top of that, you get a party that has the courage to place soft values first – safety, healthcare, and welfare.
5.What are the general priorities your party aims at achieving throughout Sweden?
1. Build more homes for the elderly
Current government policy will result in housing shortages for 20,000 elderly by 2030. This means that we will not be able to offer everyone good elderly care. The way to prevent this shortfall is to build more residences.
2. Strengthen the elderly’s personal finance
Abolish pension tax and lower the tax for elderly who want to work. Increase housing grants and rent cap levels.
3. Remove county council responsibility for hospitals
The distribution of healthcare across 21 different county councils is inefficient and unequal. We can shorten healthcare waiting times and give everyone qualitative care if the state assumes the primary responsibility for healthcare.
4. Employ an additional 10,000 police officers
We want to resolve the police crisis of the last few years with better working conditions, higher salaries and increased police recruitment. Sweden needs an additional 10,000 police officers.
5. ‘No’ to parental leave quotas
Families know best what solution is appropriate for them. That’s why we say ‘No’ to parental leave quotas and ‘Yes’ to unreserved parental leave. We also want to lower taxes for families with children.
6. Stop wasting tax payer’s money
Money that could be used for welfare is being wasted on costly and misguided subsidies and municipal white elephant building projects. We intend to stop this.
6. Why should people vote for your party on a Local level?
We have plan for a more secure Uppsala for you and your family.
In Uppsala, security should not only be a political slogan – it should be a keyword in all of the municipality’s activities and works:
Residents should be guaranteed safe streets and squares;
Children should be guaranteed a safe upbringing, and
Elderly should be guaranteed a safe elderly care.
You should simply be able to trust that basic welfare works.
Our main suggestions for safer streets and squares:
1. Values and norms should be given a greater part in integration work.
2. The municipality’s rules should be reviewed to regulate where begging should not occur
3. The security perspective should be an integral part of urban construction work to avoid creating environments that are perceived as insecure.
Our main suggestions for safer families:
1. The size of the children’s groups in kindergarden should be reduced to up to 12 children in the toddler groups and 15 in other groups.
2. Build 1,000 new smaller houses with 2-4 stories yearly, instead of tower blocks.
3. Children in need of help and support from e.g. social services should never have to wait, especially the children who grow up in families with substance abuse problems.
Our main suggestions for safer care for the elderly
1. Every person over 85 years of age should to be guaranteed a place in adapted accommodation (elderly care, nursing home etc)
2. Home service needs to be reviewed with new site sharing and improved quality, e.g. by reducing the number of home care staff.
3. Open more meeting points for older people, who offer exercise and senior restaurants, including in rural areas.
7. If elected, what will you do for Uppsala? And for Uppland?
Except for the above we’ll take responsibility for Uppsalas economy – stop wasting the tax payer’s money and start building our welfare strong again!
8. Do you have any links to further material on your party in English?
9. Any other closing comments or remarks? 
Uppsala’s residents should be guaranteed more secure streets; the children should beguaranteed a safe upbringing and kinder-garden, and the elderly should be guaranteed a safe elderly care. You should simply be able to trust that basic welfare works. Up until then – we have to cut spending on things that isn’t basic welfare such as the couch on Forum torget that cost 12 million SEK (http://www.unt.se/nyheter/uppsala/forumsoffans-prislapp-12-miljoner-kronor-5030420.aspx).
To read more about the Swedish 2018 Vote go to the homepage of the section.
Photos: Dante Löfstrand ©
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