Here, 70% of Foreign Candidates Run for the Social Democrats

Nearly 70 percent of the candidates with non-European names in Alvesta are running for the Social Democrats. At the same time, one of the party’s candidates hopes to attract more “foreigners” to the polls. But the Social Democrats are not alone in having a municipal list with a significant overrepresentation of candidates with foreign backgrounds.

The Social Democrats in Alvesta certainly stand out ahead of the upcoming municipal election. Out of 23 candidates whose names, based on a linguistic analysis, originate from outside Europe, 16 appear on the Social Democrats’ list. This amounts to almost 70 percent.

Several of these candidates are backed by SSU Alvesta, which was revived in 2022 and has since worked to recruit new members and youths.

One of the candidates, 19-year-old Hadna Ali, lives in Alvesta Norr—the voting district in the municipality with the lowest voter turnout in 2022. Here, 61 percent of the residents also have a foreign background.

Ali believes her own background can help the Social Democrats reach voters who might not otherwise participate in elections.

– I am a foreigner and can reach out to foreigners through my profile and where I come from. My hope is to get more people to vote, she told the public broadcaster.

Not Just the Social Democrats

The Left Party also has lists where candidates with foreign backgrounds are overrepresented.

In Sävsjö, the Left Party recently had to remake its entire municipal list after turbulence following high-profile revelations concerning party representatives. The new list consists of eight candidates—seven of whom have Arabic names.

On the station house in Sävsjö, the store sign “Baazar” is visible / The Left Party’s new top name Ahmad Alhindy. Photo: Leffe00 / Private

The top candidate in the municipality is Ahmad Alhindy, 29, who came to Sweden from Damascus in 2014. He now tops the Left Party’s list despite lacking previous political experience.

– As a foreigner, I also want to help contribute to a better image of foreigners. Sweden is my homeland, and we care about it, he told the public broadcaster.