Scandinavia Leaning Right

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31597, 7 February 1968, Page 12

Scandinavia Leaning Right

The swing away from socialism in Denmark, which in last month’s election caused the defeat of the coalition Government led by Mr Jens Krag, continues the trend to the Right that has been observable in Scandinavian politics in recent years. Mr Krag, the Social Democratic leader, was forced to go to the country by a revolt of extreme Left-wing members of the People’s Socialist Party, on which he relied to keep his minority Government in office. Higher taxes in the wake of Britain’s devaluation, and an attempt to impose a oneyear wage freeze, were the immediate cause of the Government’s losing support Public uneasiness over Mr Krag’s tolerance of P.S.P. policy, which advocated withdrawal from N.A.T.0., was opposed to Denmark’s bid to enter the Common Market and urged a reduction of the armed forces, also contributed.

The decline of socialism was seen first in Norway in 1965, when the Socialists, who had held office for 30 years, were replaced by a coalition of the Centre and the Right The new Government promptly checked the State’s growing control of industry, which had given rise to complaints’of waste, inefficiency, and, in at least one case, corruption. Norway has continued to make advances in social welfare; and the Government’s enthusiasm for the Common Market is widely shared.

A sterner test for socialism in Scandinavia will come next September, when the Swedes will go to the polls. If the Swedish electorate swings to the Right, as many observers predict, the main reason will be dissatisfaction with the Government’s housing policy. The Socialists have been in office for 36 years; yet Sweden has the worst housing shortage in Europe. This is generally attributed to rigid building controls and State regulation of rents. Although Sweden is a prosperous country, the high cost of living puts butter and beef largely beyond the reach of workingclass families. High taxation rates reflect the cost of social services.

If a non-socialist coalition takes over in Sweden, the long-established pattern of politics in Scandinavia will have changed in a matter of two or three years. Political scientists have not far to look for an explanation: it is to be found in a politico-economic system, common to Denmark, Norway and Sweden, in which wage increases are linked to the cost-of-living index. After years of almost chronic inflation the people are beginning to demand economic security at a more manageable cost