‘The most important thing is taking control of health care, schools and social care’
2021-11-16
Three quick questions to Tobias Baudin, newly elected Social Democratic Party Secretary, about next year’s general election strategy and how as party secretary with a trade union background he wants to put his stamp on the party’s policies.
How are the Social Democrats going to win next year’s general election and govern the country for a third term?
– By having policies that can and will make a difference to ordinary people: new and more-secure jobs, control of welfare and safe streets and squares regardless of where you live in the country. We will, of course, also be meeting people all over the country, talking, discussing and listening. Just like I said at the party congress, I will be out wearing out rails and roads in order to make it clear what are the Social Democratic Party’s solutions to society’s problems. Because I know Sweden can do better.
How will it be evident that the Social Democrats have a party secretary with a trade union background?
– You will see that our union–party cooperation will continue to be strong and will be strengthened. Also by the focus on creating more but also secure jobs with decent contracts and good wages. At the party congress, we had several representatives with trade union backgrounds stepping forward and pursuing issues that make a big difference to the Swedish labour market. Since I myself have been a trade union worker all my life and have represented our members, the backbone of the Swedish welfare state, it is obviously something that I will take into my work. And that is where control of health care, schools and social care, of course, plays an important role.
What are the most important issues for the Social Democrats to focus their energy on during the next term?
– Without a doubt, taking control of health care, schools and social care. Working conditions must be better, and there must be more workers so we can remove patient queues caused by Covid, make elderly care safer and improve knowledge outcomes and equality in schools. We will also create new, secure jobs throughout the country. We will drive Sweden to become the world leader in the green industrial transition. We will also do everything we can and then some to break down segregation and defeat gangs. I cannot make this any clearer. Gang criminality will be defeated using all the means at our disposal. We will leave no stone unturned.
Tobias Baudin was interviewed by Cecilia Eklund, Senior Consultant at New Republic. ‘Three Quick Questions…’ is a series of interviews conducted by New Republic.