Swedish media, Expressen and Nyheter 24, have reported that several top Swedish lawmakers want to abolish the monarchy and turn the castles into museums.
Politicians from the Centre Party, Social Democrats, Left Party, Green Party, and Liberal Party have filed a joint motion in the Swedish Parliament, the Riksdag. The reason given by the members of these parties is that they want Sweden to be a country where success is “based on individual merit rather than on the privileges and kinship”, according to Expressen.
The motion was co-written by Yasmine Larsson, a Social Democrat, who thinks Sweden needs to “leave the Middle Ages”. She told Expressen, “It is obviously not compatible with democracy because the role of head of state is inherited within the same family. It is time that our head of state added in a democratic manner by competence and capability.” She believes the royal family serves no purpose, and their property can be used for other things – namely as museums. She stated that the castles would make “fantastic museums”.
The Swedish Royal Family is given roughly 130 million Swedish kroner (SEK) each year to operate. The Swedish Prime Minister, Stephen Löfvens reported that the Bernadotte’s would receive 136.996 million SEK for 2017, which is an increase of 4.336 million. By 2020, it is estimated that the family would cost the Swedish taxpayer close to 145 million SEK.
The current monarch, King Carl XVI Gustaf has been on the throne since 15 September 1973. He’s married to German-born Queen Silvia, with whom he has three children: Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Carl Philip, and Princess Madeleine. They have five grandchildren: Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar – the children of Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel; Prince Alexander – the son of Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia; and Princess Leonore and Prince Nicolas – the children of Princess Madeleine and Christopher O’Neill. If Crown Princess Victoria ascends to the throne, she will be the first queen regnant since 1720 and of the Bernadotte dynasty.
This discussion in high places of the Swedish government is very troubling. The members of this family have contributed so much to the image and values of Sweden. Yes, some of the family may go astray in some opinions, but they represent a history that goes back to one of Napoleon Bonaparte’s Generals, Marshall Bernadotte. The family has provided a rallying point and a focus of unity and pride for a very long time. As far as the “superior quality” of elected leaders, I have great doubts. They represent special interests, their motivations derive from personal ambition and rivalries and they are too often corrupt and venal. My country, the US, is currently dealing with a presidential election in which doubts about BOTH candidates’ fitness to lead our nation run rampant. I often think I’d prefer a symbolic constitutional monarchy who rise above party politics and partisanship!!
Indeed in fact can see many troubles (…).
ohhh so many troubles !!!! Like they won’t have anyone bowing to them anymore ! Ohhh the troubles !!!!
And it’s 2016 so who needs it ???????
I write as a citizen of Australia – a British commonwealth country – which has a foreign Head of State – Queen Elizabeth. The idea that a constitutional monarchy is apolitical is a fallacy. In 1975, Australia was thrown into turmoil when, on the advice of our Govenor-General (the Queen’s representative), the Queen dissolved the Australian parliament. The lead-up to these events is long and complicated, however, it came to light some years later that our then Governor-General had been heavily influenced by U.S. political interests and the then opposition leader of our parliament. The anger directed at the main players in the farce, most particularly the Queen was risible. Australians suddenly understood the implications of having a foreign head of state, who as a constitutional monarch cannot possibly be aware of the complex machinations of parliament. No system of governance is perfect, however, a democratically elected parliament, based on the merit of the individual representatives, is the closest form available.
Yes !
True. True. Also Citizen (passport holder at any rate) as well. But have you bothered to notice our two party lower house is not a real democracy. ? Removing political parties is the true way forward….
Excellent. I’ve copped so much crap and hostility, particularly from Americans who are so in awe of the British royals, they appear to want to become a Dominion of the Commonweath, I’m well and truly over this topic.
I also prefer a monarchy for Germany – but only if I am the king. 🙂
to abolish the monarchy would be to ensure the imminent death of the country
Ridiculous fear-monger. I doubt many people would actually fall for what you are trying to state.
Ridiculous fear-monger. I doubt many people would actually fall for what you are trying to state.
Ridiculous fear-monger. I doubt many people would actually fall for what you are trying to state.
oh look everyone Sigi wants to re introduce the guillotine
oh look everyone Sigi wants to re introduce the guillotine
With you, perhaps, first in line for the chop – looney-tunes…
the more you harrass me the more I have to provide the FCC with my foprmal complaint against DISQUS hopefully they will shut you down bitch.
Good luck with the FCC. They’ll need a translator for your crap. You can’t even construct a simple sentence. Yes, sure they’ll be all over your case assehole
have fun in jail bitch
and you are apparently an asshole SIGI
Trying so hard for attention there, aren’t you Jackie ? Now that I’ve noticed your hysteria maybe you could save yourself a THIRD response to the one statement I made ? LOL !!!!
you are still an asshole
No you are. Peewee. You, Peewee are an a-hole. THere.
just blocked you harrass of threaten and ill file a formal complaint with the FCC
Sorry, again I’m Australian. Would you mind telling what the FCC is? We have a ‘Media Complaints Council’ (MCC) that regulates media standards and deals with breaches. Am I right/wrong in assuming the FCC is a similar body?
I hope you get an @ss cramp from all the exertion there, Jackie. LOL.
I requested to be unsubscribe and still I get nuisance and harrasing emails this is now enough to send to the FCC
Is that even argument? I am sure all people would go immediately into suicide mode.
Possibly not, but I’m quite sure you have the ability to turn it into one.
What ?
Dear oh dear… and the Oscar for best dramatic performance goes to…
LOL ! Exactly, I thought she shot herself down so badly I didn’t need to reply so I didn’t !
Forgot the time difference. Sorry – go to bed – I’ll catch you later
🙂
Well we’re not sure about the exact time difference,
🙂
You know what slightly creeps me out? You may actually be an Australian, living in Sydney.
Do I remind you that much of someone you know ?! Now you’re creeping ME out ! What sort of intrigue is this. My nerves are rather delicate so I hope it’s not too whacked out ! {?}.
{lol} You’ve just “pinged” me awake, so I may not be terribly coherent.
Just relax. You’ve always been very guarded re location (completely understand – I tend to be blabby). Then when you signed off, you commented about not being completely sure about the time zone. I tend to go off on tangents to the most ridiculous scenarios. I wasn’t being serious when I said it creeped me out – just silly. All the subterfuge (which I completely respect) and you could be living in my own “backyard” so to speak. The thought struck me as funny. That’s all. 🙂
OK, good. It sounded like a specific concern from the way you worded it and I felt bad – I assumed I reminded you of someone you might worry about. I though “oh no” !
🙂
Whoa! The above chick is nuts. Read a few posts on her profile and she had a racist rant using the “n” word, which I believe is highly offensive to a large sector of the American population.
Right. It’s not known as nice anywhere.
P.S. —I like to not announce what part of the world I’m really in. Most people don’t come online telling everyone where they’re located anyway. That’s just my own version of common sense {no offense, I know you’re more open}, but it has nothing sinister. I just prefer to be more private.
Yes, totally understand. Tend to be blabby – all that Mercury – rarely take offense.
LOL
I’m Portuguese, I live in a republic, don’t do it…
Good idea. Look at that photo full of stuffed shirts. Who needs them ?! Maybe England will follow suit and get rid of their own parasites.Their RF seems much worse, full of lazy clowns and butt flashing bimbos. Roll on the Republic.
Yes, totally agree. The British Royal family is a monolithic dinosaur, lumbering along, unable to catch up to the present. The shining light that may have been able to save that ridiculous family was extinguished after sixteen years and many of us wait expectantly till the flickering flame of the Royal family finally burns itself out.
Right and it’s an embarrassment to see any so-called “royal” family these days.
Republics cost just as much and in the example of the French, it costs more than the three scandinavian ones combined. Operation of palaces will not cost any less, it might even cost more. The values of a monarchy lie far beyond what what could be sumed up here, and far outweight those of a republic. Look at the American, the Russian and the German. And the French. You know little of politics if you seriously think a democracy is better served with a republic, and history has taught us this over and over again.
And millions have died in the name of democracy – history has taught us this as well.
??????? You don’t think citizens should have a say ?
Whoa ! I worded that badly (thanks for the catch)! Reworded. Lordy! My old Sociology professors would be turning in their (metaphorical) graves.
LOL ! I was astounded… glad you didn’t really mean what it seemed to say.
🙂
Really not doing well at all, am I? Just found that Pennie has posted on one of these threads. Told her that we’d refer to this as “the other place”; now, if we can get RW on, that would be a plan. Catch you later.
OPERATION OF PALACES A PROBLEM ? LOL ! With all the tourist revenue ? B.S.
Hey don’t be scared of Democracies or Republics.
An eminently sensible idea from the progressive Swedes. A constitutional monarchy is a very expensive institution whose only effective power is the ability to dissolve parliament. It’s main purpose has constricted to a tourist attraction and fodder for the gossip rags.
I don’t believe it will signal the death of Sweden, or any other country with a constitutional monarchy, should it decide to abolish an archaic system based on unentitled arrogance and ignorance. France has managed quite nicely with a democratically elected parliament, as opposed to its former absolute monarchy. It’s 2016 not 1620 – constitutional monarchies are well and truly past their use-by dates.
Excellent. I’d post that on every relevant article and repeat it every week or so. It would be a public service.
Excellent. I’d post that on every relevant article and repeat it every week or so. It would be a public service.
Excellent. I’d post that on every relevant article and repeat it every week or so. It would be a public service.
Excellent. I’d post that on every relevant article and repeat it every week or so. It would be a public service.
Hey Sigster, pop on down when you have a moment – but of fun here.
OK, maybe later I’ll be back –
The Swedish king cannot dissolve parliament. Check the facts before posting.
I do apologise and thank you for replying so pleasantly – perhaps niceties are tossed out the window as a result of cultural differences. I’m Australian and the British Monarchy is uppermost in my mind and it does have the power to dissolve parliament. I must read up on the powers of the Swedish Monarchy – perhaps it is even more redundant than the British. Ja?
I do appreciate you politely telling me where to go yesterday. So I went and I read, and discovered that the Swedish Monarch has even less substantive powers than the British. Good to know.
Ok, I sense the irony about me being polite. English is not my mother-tongue, and I might have difficulty conveying the message correctly. I did not intend to be impolite, but wanted to keep it short.
I understand, and I did learn a few things about the Swedish Monarchy of which I was ignorant. Thanks. 🙂
France they beheaded is this going there? anger rage kill the rich mentality or you could go live in North Korea they have one party
??????? LOL !!!! you’re a nutcase.
This makes no blasted sense – are you semi-literate?
Take a good look at the turmoil in regard to the american presidential election thank God you have monarchy and not democracy. God save the Republic
The monarchy is not a Republic. Turmoil against the f-ing globalists, babycakes.Bet your @ss.
Hi! I’m Australian and we have both a democracy and a constitutional monarchy. The British Monarch is Queen of Australia and also our Head of State. Don’t know which side of the pond you’re on, but the U.S. is both a republic and a democracy. Cheers!
Presidents are no more than illegitimate kings….where is the democracy? In a vote? Dont think so…
Hmm…so much B.S. in so few words.
Astounding.
I glanced at that huge paragraph on politics and I’d rather not, LOL. I’m not entirely uninterested in politics but I can’t help with that one {probably because I’m preoccupied with a lot lately too}.
Oh no I didn’t think you were intentionally doing anything. I just meant I felt bad that you might be worried about anyone, because I’d assumed from what you read there might be someone you thought I might be. Oh hell yes, horror films will shoot your nerves !
Good. I liked the little zinger you gave her. I’ll have a little Google to see what the difference between a democracy and a republic is – I always assumed one went with the other. Pity we can’t get P. and R.W. down here – not much chance of bumping into a “Gina” on these boards.
OK – I’m going to delete quite a bit of what I’ve written here – these people seem to take themselves very seriously. You might want to do the same? Catch you soon.
🙂