The Tidö party, the Moderates, are now reaching out to immigrant voters ahead of the election, promising to introduce a fast track to Swedish citizenship for immigrants who are “well-integrated” if Ulf Kristersson remains prime minister. According to the party, individuals who, for example, learn Swedish quickly should be able to obtain Swedish citizenship several years earlier than the main rule allows.

The Tidö parties recently tightened the requirements for Swedish citizenship to eight years of residency in Sweden. But now the Moderates are coming forward with a proposal that would allow certain immigrants to bypass the main rule and become Swedish citizens after just five years.

Minister for Migration Johan Forssell (M) says the idea is that those who make an effort and integrate quickly should be rewarded.

– For example, if someone starts a business or perhaps learns the language very quickly. Or if someone has made a particularly valuable contribution to Sweden, such as starting an organization against honor-related oppression. Then it’s reasonable to be able to become a citizen a little faster than others. That said, of course we will never compromise on security, Forssell tells DN.

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The exact criteria that will apply have not yet been determined. According to Forssell, the proposal needs further investigation and must be developed in consultation with, among others, the Security Service.

Wants to Reward Rapid Integration

The proposal is based on the principle that those who quickly become part of Swedish society should also be able to get their citizenship earlier. The Moderates point, among other things, to quick language acquisition, entrepreneurship, and other societal contributions as examples of circumstances that could qualify a person for the fast track.

READ ALSO: Åkesson’s statement on immigration policy: “Not much more can be done”

At the same time, the party stresses that the stricter citizenship requirements introduced earlier this year will remain. In addition to the longer qualification period of eight years, requirements for self-sufficiency, good conduct, and knowledge about Swedish society were also introduced.

Hopes to Win More Immigrant Voters

The Moderates at the same time point out that immigrants are not a homogenous group and believe the party has potential to win more voters with a foreign background.

In recent years, Johan Forssell has traveled around the country to meet people who have successfully established themselves in Sweden, something he says inspired the new proposal.

– Quite a few of those I meet are center-right. I think we have great potential with them. But we are underperforming in this group. I think we have the potential to make inroads as a party, he tells DN.

The proposal for a fast track to citizenship will be included in the Moderates’ election manifesto ahead of this autumn’s election.

SD Wants to Stick to 8 Years

In a social media post, Sweden Democrats’ migration policy spokesperson Ludvig Aspling writes that the new requirement of eight years of residency in Sweden to apply for citizenship is the line that should apply in the future.

Samnytt has reached out to Aspling for comment on how the Sweden Democrats view the Moderates’ election proposal.

READ ALSO: Ekeroth: “The right really wants to lose the election”

SWEDISH POLITICS

M wants to attract immigrants in the election – proposes fast track for citizenship

Published 12:49
Minister for Migration Johan Forssell (M) and the party’s strongman in Sollentuna, Henrik Thunes, meet entrepreneur Ahmed Amer, who came to Sweden from Sudan in 2012. After trying several different careers, he now sells coffee from his mobile coffee cart. Photo: Lotta Härdelin

The Moderates want to attract immigrant voters – and are now running on a fast track for citizenship for those who are particularly well-integrated. But what does that mean?

– For example, if someone has made a particularly valuable contribution to Sweden, says Migration Minister Johan Forssell (M).

– What should one have? A dirty italiano?

It wasn’t a hot chocolate spiked with coffee. Johan Forssell gets a double espresso in his hand and a lesson in the perfect balance between acidity, bitterness, and sweetness.

He stands on a rocky construction site in Sollentuna to get the recipe for successful integration and to hear what a young entrepreneur is looking for.

– Lower taxes and create the right opportunities. Invest in children and youth, says Ahmed Amer.

He came to Sweden from Sudan as a nine-year-old in 2012. Today, he drives around in his red moped car selling coffee. The goal is to save up for pilot training.

A large part of the Tidö Agreement has focused on tightening migration policies. But it does not seem to have paid off in the polls, with just over a month to the election and the gap with the opposition still wide.

The tough line will remain. But the Moderates will focus more on integration during the election campaign and during the next parliamentary term, says Johan Forssell.

– Occasionally I get asked: why do you only raise problems? Very often things actually go well, but those stories aren’t heard.

Have you talked too much about the problems?

– No, I was elected to solve problems. It becomes a lot of focus on what does not work, but one shouldn’t forget there is so much that works, sometimes almost despite politics.

He believes that hard work hasn’t always paid off, sufficient demands have been lacking, or that people haven’t received the support they needed.

– Immigrants are sometimes described as a homogenous group. They’re not. Yes, there are those who do not behave. But the vast majority of immigrants are a large and valued part of Sweden today. Sometimes this isn’t sufficiently evident in the public debate. We might have some responsibility for that too, so be it.

The Moderates propose a fast track to citizenship. Photo: Lotta Härdelin

In recent years, he has traveled around Sweden under the banner “integration journey” to meet people who have established themselves well in Swedish society and to find inspiration for new proposals. He sees an opportunity to attract new voters among immigrants.

– Quite a few of those I meet are center-right. I think we have great potential with them. But we are underperforming in this group. I think we have the potential to make breakthroughs as a party.

The Moderates are now proposing a fast track to citizenship – modelled after a previous German model. The fast track will be aimed at talents or those who have become particularly well-integrated.

Instead of the new requirement of having lived in Sweden for eight years, the fast track could allow citizenship after just five – in line with the party’s election slogan that effort should pay off.

Exactly what will qualify a person for the fast track must be investigated and anchored with the Security Service.

But the Migration Minister provides some examples.

– For example, if someone starts a business or perhaps learns the language very quickly. Or if someone has made a particularly valuable contribution to Sweden, such as starting an organization against honor-related oppression. Then it’s reasonable to be able to become a citizen a little faster than others. That said, of course we will never compromise on security.

Minister for Migration Johan Forssell is also the chairman of the Moderates in the city of Stockholm. Here he meets Sundbyberg politician and party colleague Gustaf Reinfeldt. Photo: Lotta Härdelin

In June, the Tidö parties tightened the requirements for becoming a Swedish citizen. Instead of five years’ stay as before, eight years in Sweden is now required. At the same time, new requirements were also introduced on livelihood, conduct, and knowledge about Swedish society.

– Here, citizenship has almost come in a box of cereal. You haven’t had to know the language, you haven’t needed to know anything about Sweden. You have even been able to commit crimes. You haven’t needed to work, yet you become a citizen. Now we are changing that.

Why didn’t you include the fast track from the beginning, was it the Sweden Democrats who blocked it?

– No. The reform we are making of citizenship is the biggest in 50 years. Sometimes you have to do things in several steps at once.

The proposal is included in the Moderates’ election manifesto, which will be presented later in the campaign.

Johan Forssell tries to keep calm about Tidölaget’s lagging in the polls.

– We like to sprint. And everyone who’s sprinted knows that the final stretch is good with uphill climbs. Then it’s easier to sprint past someone who isn’t running as fast when it starts getting tough.

Have you misjudged what voters wanted?

– No, I don’t think so. We were elected with a clear mandate to bring order to Sweden. And I am very proud of what we have done.