Immigration debate affects Sweden vote

POLLS have opened in Sweden’s general election in what is expected to be an unpredictable race, amid heated debate on immigration.

Yesterday’s election is Sweden’s first since the government in 2015 allowed 163,000 migrants into the country of 10 million, far less than what Germany took in, but still the most per capita of any European nation.

It is highly unlikely that any single party will get a majority, or 175 seats.

The latest opinion poll suggests that Prime Minister Stefan Lofven’s ruling Social Democrats will substantially lose seats but still emerge a winner with an estimated 24.9% of the votes. The polls showed the far-right, anti-immigration Sweden Democrats would get 19.1%. With a rise in their popularity, immigration has become a hot topic. The party, rooted in a neo-Nazi movement, has softened its image, and has played a role in breaking down taboos on what Swedes could say openly about immigration without being shunned as racists. During a debate of party leaders on Friday, the Sweden Democrats’ Jimmie Akesson caused a stir by blaming migrants for the difficulties in finding employment. NORTH KOREA staged a huge military parade yesterday to mark its 70th anniversary as a nation. But the country held back its advanced missiles and devoted nearly half of the parade to civilian efforts to build the domestic economy, in keeping with leader Kim Jong Un’s new strategy.