Social Democratic Municipality Blocks Small Parties from Election Campaign

Ahead of this autumn’s election, the municipal housing company AB Bostaden in Umeå has decided to restrict democracy by only giving door codes to political parties already represented on the municipal council.

Umeå has long been a Social Democratic stronghold. Since the 2022 election, the municipality has been governed by the Social Democrats and the Green Party.

The Social Democrats received 37.8 percent of the vote in the 2022 municipal election, while the Green Party got 7 percent. The ruling minority also has a budget partnership with the Left Party, which received 13.1 percent. Altogether, these three left-wing parties gathered 57.9 percent of the votes in the election.

In other words, the ruling parties have a firm grip on the municipality. Before the election, there is a risk that smaller parties could take votes and disrupt the current balance of power. Therefore, it has been decided that only parties already holding a mandate in the municipal council will be allowed to conduct door-to-door campaigns in AB Bostaden’s properties.

For new and smaller parties, including Alternative for Sweden, Citizens’ Coalition, and the Communist Party, this means limited opportunities to reach voters on equal terms during the election campaign.

S defends undemocratic move

AB Bostaden is Umeå’s largest landlord and owns around 15,000 apartments and dormitory rooms, representing about 45 percent of the municipality’s rental housing stock. For many parties, the company’s properties are therefore an important place to reach voters in the election.

Board chair Lena Karlsson Engman (S) defends the decision and says the aim is to limit the number of actors granted access to the apartment buildings out of consideration for the residents.

– We have chosen to be restrictive, both regarding the time period and who gets access, she told VK.

Lena Karlsson Engman (S) out campaigning. Now she doesn’t want competition. Facsimile Facebook

According to Karlsson Engman, the line has been drawn at parties already holding a mandate in the municipal council. The reasoning is that through previous elections they’ve already shown sufficient voter support to be considered.

At the same time, the decision gives established parties a clear advantage in the election campaign. Parties outside the municipal council are denied access to door codes and thus lose the opportunity to campaign door-to-door in a large share of Umeå’s rental housing, while established parties retain this possibility.

The issue has sparked local debate as AB Bostaden is a municipally-owned company with a dominant position in the local rental market. Representatives from smaller parties argue the decision may limit political competition, while the company’s leadership maintains that it is about order and consideration for the tenants – not about favoring or disadvantaging particular parties.