Our core beliefs - English (pdf)

Christian Democrats A value-oriented concept party - English (pdf)

Christian Democrats A value-oriented concept party2 - English (pdf) 

Our core beliefs

Right to choose for families with children
The family is the most important social unit. It is within the family that we are seen and loved for the unique individual that we are. We need the family in order to be able to grow and develop. A family that functions well creates confident children and confident adults. That is why parents are also so important and need all the support they can get in their important roles. We are the only party that wants to preserve the sanctity of marriage as it is today.

Christian Democrats want to support – not govern – families. Everything is based on our children and their needs. Therefore, we are seeking your support in giving parents more power in deciding how they want to live their own lives.

The majority of today’s parents wish that they could spend more time with their children. That is why the Christian Democrats would like to introduce a child-care allowance, which will mean that the municipalities will be responsible for economically compensating parents who choose to care for their own small children.

We are against all attempts to forcibly divide parents’ insurance. On the other hand, after the parents’ insurance, we would like to introduce 300 child days at a value of SEK 60,000. This would make it possible for parents to reduce their work times when the children are small. We also want to improve the finances of families with children through a doubled child allowance that is taxable. Consequently, those that have lower taxes will get to keep more and this will be a more equal and fair allocation.

Safety and a positive learning atmosphere in schools
Unfortunately, bullying, disruptive students, and offensive language are everyday events in many schools. The Christian Democrats want to change that. Schools shall provide every student with knowledge, and together with parents, foster responsible citizens. In addition, schools shall have zero tolerance policy with regard to bullying.

Each child is unique and every student has the right to be viewed and evaluated based on his or her own conditions. It is the responsibility of the schools to recognise students with special learning problems as well as those students with above average learning abilities. Each student must be given assignments that stimulate their development, both intellectually and socially. All students who leave elementary school must be able to speak the Swedish language fluently. Major efforts must be made in order to improve Swedish language skills.

We also aim for a closer cooperation between schools and the home since this is a prerequisite for the success of students. For example, students and parents shall have the right to choose the school and type of pedagogy that is best suited to them.

Adequate medical treatment and healthcare
The Christian Democrats have always fought for, and always will fight, for every person’s right to secure and adequate geriatric care, and we are seeking your trust in a policy that focuses on human value.

We want to preserve a secure, humanitarian and mutually financed care system for the individual patient and relatives. Every person’s absolute, equal and unique value must always be the guiding principle. This means that all people shall have the right to care and treatment regardless of age or other conditions. The patient shall be the focal point and be guaranteed adequate care.

Older immigrants must be able to live close to or together with people who have the same native language. In recruiting personnel, an advantage should be given to those who can speak the native language of elderly persons.

We would like to introduce a sufficiency guarantee, which among other things, will require that there is sufficient personnel so that no one is forgotten, that everyone will be visible and properly cared for. No one should have to die alone.

A flourishing economy provides welfare
Our country is filled with innovative and hardworking people. Now, a policy is being developed that can take advantage of these possibilities. New jobs are being created when individuals find the courage to start or develop their own companies. The obstacles that hinder the entrepreneurial spirit must be removed, and the Christian Democrats want to free enterprising entrepreneurs from complicated regulations and piles of forms by doing away with needless rules.

Today, employers must pay a portion of the salaries for those who are on long-term disability. This means that those people with poorer health have a harder time finding a job. Companies must be encouraged to hire, not the opposite. Therefore, joint financing of sick pay must be abolished, and the sick pay period that employers are now forced to pay must be cut in half to one week. Special efforts to facilitate business enterprises in the suburbs of our larger cities must be made, for example, with the help of venture capital.

With more new jobs we will also have more resources for necessary investments in healthcare and welfare, etc.

The Swedish language and a job is the key to integration
A society that welcomes the fact that we are all different becomes a richer society. It is when differences complement each other that a better whole is created. However, all too often we forget this and then the fear of what is different leads to discrimination. We see this in the workplace, in the justice system and in lines of people waiting to get into restaurants and nightclubs. This must be combated on every front.

To accept diversity is not to turn a blind eye to the fact that conflicts may arise. These conflicts must be handled with respect for each other based on the mutual cultural and democratic values that our society is founded upon, what we Christian Democrats refer to as "an ethical minimum".

The Swedish language opens possibilities for social fellowship and is the way into the Swedish labour market. Swedish education should be combined with practical training, internships or a job.

There are a deplorably small number of refugees who are able to support themselves even after living in a municipality for five years. Early contact with the Swedish workplace is vital in order to increase their chances of finding a job. Therefore, this effort must be initiated as early as the asylum-seeking stage, regardless of whether the person in question receives a residence permit or not.

The most powerful measure to counteract segregation is to ensure that all housing areas have a mixed type of buildings. To achieve this, more housing is required, but there also have to be more possibilities for people to own their own housing.

Safety in the streets
Many people are worried about being subjected to increasing violence. Police stations are being shut down and elderly people run the risk of being isolated because they are afraid to go out after nightfall. No one should have to be afraid of violence or of being robbed.

That is why the Christian Democrats want to provide the police with sufficient resources to also fight crimes such as theft, burglary and assault so that we can restore a safe environment in residential areas, in our streets and squares, and in our own homes. More police with immigrant backgrounds must be recruited and the police presence must be increased in our suburbs.

Society as a whole must also show, in a clear way, that it will not accept apathy or passiveness towards a person in need. Therefore, the Christian Democrats would like to introduce a law regarding the courage to stand up for one’s beliefs, a law which requires each person to help another person in need, based on the situation and their own conditions. Such a law would strengthen the feelings of compassion and reduce crime.

YES! Vote for us on September 17

For me, the election on September 17 is about changing society, about the family’s ability to stick together and to have time for each other; about the environment that children grow up in, about the rights of the elderly to feel the wind in their hair and to hear a kind word, about a society without discrimination, about the joy of seeing an enterprising idea succeed, and how someone’s eyes shine when they are given the news – you have a job!

You have an important choice to make. With your vote you can choose to support these changes, or you can vote for the social conditions that we see today.

If you, as I do, want to work towards one society for everyone, where there is both security and freedom of choice – then you should vote for the Christian Democrats.

Göran Hägglund
Party leader

A value-oriented concept party

The Christian Democrats was not founded to safeguard the interests of a particular social group, but to promote concepts based on the Christian ethic. Our party name explains that we stand for democracy based on a Christian outlook on people and fundamental values. Everyone who shares our concept is welcome in the party.

Value-oriented concept party
Christian Democrats is a value-oriented concept party. The value-oriented social vision can be described in the following way: a realistic and sustainable outlook on people comprised of the concept that citizens create the best conditions for a good society.

Human dignity is the comprehensive principle
The right to life is the fundamental condition for other human rights. Human dignity must be applied as a comprehensive principle throughout the entire field of politics. Human life is inviolable and all persons are of equal value.

Personal outlook on people
Personalism is the Christian Democrats’ alternative to individualism and collectivism, and is an outlook on people that is in accordance with reality. For us, the individual is not a separate entity and is not independent of others, but neither is the individual just an anonymous cog in the social machinery. Every person is unique, but needs intellectual fellowship with others in order to develop. Each person is born within a context of other people with a mutual dependence. Humans have physical and emotional needs as well as spiritual needs. The Christian Democratic social work is therefore based on humanity as a whole and focuses on people’s need for intellectual fellowship.

The most important spirit of community is with the family. In this small group, family members have the opportunity to receive love, nurturing and understanding, but also have demands placed on them and have to take responsibility for their actions.

Humanity’s imperfections
Our outlook on people is based on them being rational and being able to choose between good and bad actions, and that people are responsible for their own actions. People can do good, but a quick look at the history of the 20th century shows that people can also be extremely evil. Humanity is imperfect. Insight into its imperfections means that we can, for example, strive for a division of power so that individual people or groups do not attain too much power, which makes us humble in regard to our own political efforts. The Christian Democrats also do not believe that it is possible to build the perfect utopia here on earth. Our view on human imperfection also means that we realise that everyone can make mistakes and that everyone deserves a second chance.

Trusteeship
Trusteeship means that people have a responsibility to utilise and preserve instead of wearing-out, throwing away and consuming. Everything that we do affects both our own age and our descendants. This applies to all areas of society, but perhaps primarily to the view on social economics and the environment. The Christian Democrats are against the unpleasant sides of a consumer society, which has led to a materialistic inspired “wear-out and throw away” philosophy. Up to now, this has led to irresponsible actions that have resulted in pollution of the air, water and land.

Subsidiary principle
This principle is a work tool that means that decisions shall be made at the lowest, best possible, most well adapted level. What the family can decide on its own, municipalities shall not interfere with. What municipalities can take care of on their own shall not be a matter for the parliament and government. In the same way, EU shall not interfere in what Sweden, in the most suitable and best-adapted way, can handle itself. Often, the subsidiary principle involves decentralization, but sometimes this can result in decisions being taken at a higher level. For example, the major environmental problems can best be resolved at the European and international level.

Solidarity principle
Solidarity can be defined as human feeling and love, which is based on the golden rule – do unto others as you would have them do unto you. We want to defend all human life, freedom and dignity, regardless of geographic distance. We want solidarity with the weak and oppressed, to strive for social justice, to counterbalance structural injustices and create a just division of the good in society. Everyone counts and is included in the societal structure. This is what we call the solidarity principle.

Christian Democrats A value-oriented concept party

Brief history
The Swedish party, Christian Democratic Unity (KDS) was founded in 1964. The party’s first party leader was Birger Ekstedt. After Ekstedt’s death, Alf Svensson became party leader in 1973, a post he retained until 2004 when Göran Hägglund was elected as new party leader. In 1996, the party changed its name to the Christian Democrats (kd)

Election results
The party’s election figures were relatively modest during a long series of elections. They fluctuated between 1.4 percent and 1.9 percent during the years 1964-1982. In the election of 1985, the party was part of a joint election campaign with the Centre Party. Voting results were 2.6 percent within the election cartel and the party received a mandate in the parliament. Alf Svensson was elected. Prior to the election of 1988, the joint election campaign was terminated and the party received 2.9 percent and was not granted a parliamentary mandate.

In the election of 1991, the party got its breakthrough with 7.1 percent. 26 members of parliament were elected and the party also got governmental responsibility together with the Centre Party, Liberal Party and the Swedish Conservative Party. The Christian Democrats occupied three minister posts in the government; party leader Alf Svensson became Minister of Foreign Aid and Vice Foreign Minister, Inger Davidson became Minister of Civilian Infrastructure and Mats Odell became Minister of Communications.

In the election of 1994, the party got 4.1 percent of the votes with 15 mandates in the parliament and the party once again became the opposition party.

In the election of 1998, the party received 11.8 % of the votes and 42 Christian Democratic members in parliament.

In the most recent parliamentary elections in 2002, the Christian Democrats got 9.1 % of the votes and 33 members in parliament.

From the time when the party was founded, it received a mandate from municipal councils in different parts of the country. This representation has steadily increased and has been gradually expanded over the years also at the county council level. In that way, the party has created elected representative political competence and parliamentary experience.

In addition, today, the Christian Democrats are represented in the EU parliament with one mandate.

1987 – new program and new name

In 1987, the party totally revised its program and changed its name to the Christian Democratic Social Party (KdS). In 1993, a new revision of the program was made and in 1996 another change of the party name was carried out. The new name is Christian Democrats. The party symbol is a wood anemone against a dark blue background. Today’s principle program was adopted by the national congress in Piteå in June 2001.

Since 1984, the party has been a member of Christian Democrat International, CDI. In 1995, the party became a full-fledged member of EPP, an association of Christian Democratic parties in Europe.

The most important issues
The party’s profile has been focused on the importance of ethics/morals for a good society, on the fundamental importance of family and schools, healthcare and welfare issues and international solidarity

How we are organised
The Christian Democratic Party (Kristdemokraterna) is a political party, which together with its associated leagues, Christian Democratic Youth

League (KDU), Christian Democratic Women’s League and the Christian Democratic Senior League, works towards a democratic society based on a Christian outlook on people and Christian fundamental values.

Today, the Christian Democrats have more than 24,000 members and the party’s organisation consists primarily of three levels; the local level (normally corresponding to a municipality), district (corresponding to a county) and a national organisation (the entire country). Power is based with the members. Member influence is exercised directly by members at the local departmental level and by those representatives that members appoint to the district and national level.

Every member has the right to present proposals as to what position the Christian Democrats shall take in regard to different political issues. This is done by writing a motion to the Christian Democrat’s national congress. All motions are reviewed by the national congress even if the local and regional party does not support the proposal.

Local departments
Every member belongs to a local department, normally in the district where the member resides. The local department’s highest decision-making authority is the annual meeting. All members have the right to be present at the annual meeting, to present proposals and to vote. At the annual meeting a local department board is elected, which has the task of leading the work in the local department between the annual meetings. Representatives who shall represent the local department at the district annual meeting are also elected at the annual meeting.

The local department is responsible for carrying out municipal policies, recruiting members, creating opinions for Christian Democratic politics, organising education and activities as well as carrying out election activities. The local department board determines who shall represent the party in the municipal commissions. In addition, the local board is responsible for ensuring that those decisions made by the annual meeting are implemented.

District
All local departments are included in a district. The district meeting, the district’s annual meeting, is the district’s highest decision-making authority. All members have the right to be present at the meeting and to present proposals. However, voting rights are only granted to those that the local departments have appointed as their representatives. At the district level, a district board that has responsibility for county council/regional policies is elected to appoint those who will represent the party on the various the county council and regional commissions and boards. A representative who will represent the district at the party’s national congress is also elected at the district meeting.

The district board has the task of leading the district work between meetings and implementing those decisions that are made by the district meeting. The district supports the local departments in their work with recruiting members, organising education and activities and carrying out municipal policies, etc. They also have responsibility for solving tasks that are too comprehensive for an individual local department and which can be better solved by several local departments jointly. When it is time for elections, the district leads the regional election activities and coordinates the election work within the district.

Every district has its own secretariat and the majority of districts have also employed a so-called ombudsman

National organisation
The party’s highest decision-making authority is the national congress, which is held annually the week after midsummer. The national congress, with approximately 300 representatives with voting rights, makes decisions regarding the party’s policies and elects a party board. The party board leads the party between the national congresses and the chairman of the party board is party leader, Göran Hägglund. The party board leads and is responsible for the party’s national policies. The party’s organisational development is led through support to the work of the district and local departments. To assist the party board, it has a secretariat (the party’s main office), which is located in Gamla Stan (Old Town) in Stockholm.

In October each year, party delegates are elected. As with the national congress, the party delegates consist of representatives from the district and party boards. The party delegates’ tasks are determining the party’s budget and operational plans as well as planning for elections. In addition, the party delegates review motions that affect the party’s organisation.