In Forshaga, Sweden, Christer Magnusson was elected to the municipal council for the Sweden Democrats in the last election but has since switched to the Social Democrats, remaining as a political independent. He is among many local politicians who have left their parties, with 117 politicians in Värmland county's municipal councils having dropped out of politics, according to figures from the Swedish Election Authority compiled by SVT Värmland. There is also an unreported number, as politicians in several municipalities have left their parties but remain in the councils as political independents.
The Sweden Democrats have the most departures with 27, followed by the Moderates with 26. In Forshaga, the Sweden Democrats won eight seats in the last election, but only three politicians remain, leading to empty seats at council meetings. Freddy Kjellström, a political science lecturer at Karlstad University and a municipal politician for the Centre Party in Sunne, says there are democratic problems when politicians leave or become independents, which is not good for the legitimacy of politics.
He notes that it is normal for almost every fifth elected official in municipalities or regions to leave their posts, with this term seeing slightly fewer departures at about 16 percent.
He notes that it is normal for almost every fifth elected official in municipalities or regions to leave their posts, with this term seeing slightly fewer departures at about 16 percent. Christer Magnusson stated he did not feel at home in the Sweden Democrats, calling it a cold party, and while acknowledging it is not legally right to represent another party after being elected, he found politics increasingly interesting.
Christer Magnusson stated he did not feel at home in the Sweden Democrats, calling it a cold party, and while acknowledging it is not legally right to represent another party after being elected, he found politics increasingly interesting.