The Sweden Democrats became the largest party in this year's EU school election, according to the preliminary result.
A result that can be explained by the parties' impact on social media.
Obviously, it is clear that some parties are more skilled than others at communicating with young people, says Lena Nyberg, Director-General of the Agency for Youth and Civil Society Issues.
She is supported by Erik Lundberg, Associate Professor of Political Science at Dalarna University, who has researched young people's voting participation in school elections. An explanation for the Sweden Democrats' success in schools is likely their presence on social media.
Yes, young people use social media more. We know that the Sweden Democrats are the party that has been most successful and first to drive opinion in new ways.
Far from all students voted in this year's EU school election. Over 157,000 had the opportunity – just over half chose to do so. The group corresponds to approximately 12 per cent of the country's students in the relevant year groups, distributed across 369 schools that participated.
The interest in voting among students is relatively high, with 87,000 voting, says Lena Nyberg.
M largest in upper secondary school
Most voted in upper secondary school – just over 81 per cent. It was also in these year groups that the Sweden Democrats became the largest. If one only looks at the result in upper secondary school, the Moderates did best. However, for example, the Green Party, which made progress among eligible voters, does not resonate as strongly among school students.
It is difficult to know why, emphasizes political scientist Erik Lundberg, who believes that another possible explanation may be that some parties deliver simpler solutions to complex problems to a greater extent.
Especially in the European Parliament election, politics is complex, and it is easy to fall into simple solutions.
Young people more malleable
Some of the students will get to vote in the upcoming general election – can any conclusions be drawn about how young people will vote then?
Young voters are more malleable than older voters, emphasizes Erik Lundberg.
Young people try out and express different preferences, it is part of their socialization.
Director-General Lena Nyberg believes that more parties need to engage in communicating with young people.
Then we see that first-time voters voted slightly differently in the real election than those who voted in the school election.
Political swings among adults happen quickly. And it does among young people as well.
Anna Karolina Eriksson/TT
Facts: The preliminary national result for the EU school election
Social Democrats 18.5 %
Centre Party 6.2 %
Christian Democrats 3.4 %
Liberals 3.6 %
Green Party 9.4 %
Moderates 24.0 %
Sweden Democrats 24.5 %
Left Party 6.2 %
Worthy Life 0.7 %
Pirate Party 3.0 %
Others 0.4 %
The total voter turnout at the 369 schools that conducted the election was over 55 per cent. This is an increase of 8.2 percentage points compared to the EU school election in 2019.
