New Democracy (Sweden)
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New Democracy
Ny Demokrati |
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|---|---|
 |
|
| Founder |
Ian Wachtmeister Bert Karlsson |
| Founded | 4 February 1991 |
| Dissolved | 25 February 2000 |
| Headquarters | , Gothenburg |
| Ideology |
Right-wing populism Economic liberalism Pro-Europeanism Welfare chauvinism |
| Political position | Right-wing |
| European affiliation | None |
| International affiliation | None |
| Colours | Yellow |
| Website | |
| www.nydemokrati.se (defunct) | |
New Democracy (Swedish: Ny Demokrati, NyD) was a political party in Sweden, founded in 1991 and elected into the Riksdag in its first election, falling equally fast out again in 1994. Following its exit from the Riksdag, New Democracy, however, continued its decline, which culminated in 2000 when it was finally declared bankrupt, retaining only one city council post at the time (until 2002). Numerous local fractions were reformed into minor parties (such as Sjöbopartiet), facing mixed success.
New Democracy successfully campaigned on an agenda of reform and, although not nationalist, restricted immigration (initially on economic grounds rather than cultural). Its economic policy, stressing the importance of entrepreneurship and deregulation, was generally perceived as right-wing policies. The party furthermore favored a Swedish application for European Union membership (attained in 1995). It also called for wide-scale political reform, including cutting government departments, reducing the Riksdag to 151 members and electing Prime Minister by direct ballot rather than through the Riksdag.
Until the entrance of the Sweden Democrats in the Swedish Riksdag in 2010, these years were the only time a "populist" party had been represented in the Riksdag.
Before New Democracy was formed, both founders Bert Karlsson and Ian Wachtmeister were well known in Sweden as charismatic public figures; Mr. Karlsson a self-made man, founder, owner and manager of both a record company and an amusement park; and Count Wachtmeister a businessman and from a highly esteemed aristocratic family. In addition, they had also been noted for some limited non-partisan political activity. They had planned starting a party for a short time, as they met for the first time in mid-November 1990 in a café at the , waiting for a flight. There, they discussed the matter after Wachtmeister had read in Expressen that Karlsson had "appointed" him Prime Minister in his dream-team government. Appearing on television on 23 November, a specially commissioned Sifo poll was announced where 23% of voters had responded that they could imagine voting for "Bert Karlsson's party". Thus, the party had been secured popular support as well as media attention already before it had been formed.
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