They are young people who work in Swedish customer service in Malta, digital nomads in Thailand and sun worshiping pensioners on the Riviera. Others are civil servants, diplomats and engineers in top international jobs in the world. The Swedish citizens who live outside the country's borders are a motley bunch. And there are more and more of them all the time.
The Association of Swedes in the World estimates the number of Swedes abroad at 700,000. Among them, roughly 370,000 people have the right to vote in the parliamentary elections in September. But few of them go and vote: in the last parliamentary election in 2022, only 32 percent voted, compared to 84 percent in Sweden
Historically, two parties have had the greatest interest in attracting expatriates to the ballot box: M and L. In the past, they had stronger support in the expatriate group than in Sweden in general, according to the SOM institute in Gothenburg, which in 2014 investigated voter sympathies among Swedes living abroad.
Both S and SD, on the other hand, received less support than they usually receive at home.
"There are very clear differences in party choice between expatriates and permanent Swedes," reads the SOM report, and continues: "The Social Democrats are greatly underrepresented and the Moderates are greatly overrepresented among those living abroad."
Before this year's election, the Moderates have sent letters to all Swedes abroad. It says, among other things: "For those of you who live abroad, the election also plays a concrete role. We have lowered the SINK tax for Swedes abroad - first to 22.5 percent and from 2027 to 20 percent".
The sink tax, or "special income tax for residents living abroad", is a fixed tax on income from work or pension in Sweden for people who live in another country.
In this year's election, other parties are also adapting their communication to Swedes abroad: Liberal party leader Simona Mohamsson highlights the old election promise to introduce the euro for Swedes abroad:
- We need to anchor Sweden more deeply in Europe, not least introducing the euro. It simplifies everyday life for many (Swedes abroad), she said in a hearing with Swedes in the World.
One concern for Swedes abroad is the obstacles that arise with digitization. Some Swedish banks deny bank ID and Swish to their customers who are not registered in Sweden. Some problems may disappear when state e-identification is introduced later this year, a reform that has broad party political support.
In the Swedes in the World party hearing, Magdalena Andersson (S) opened up about using the state bank SBAB to put pressure on other banks in the banking system, and thus access the banks that regularly deny Swedes abroad access to digital services.
The government and SD have recently raised the wage floor for labor immigrants to Sweden and raised the requirements to be able to apply for citizenship - two reforms that were disliked by the opposition.
The new rules hit especially hard Swedes abroad who move home with partners.
- We see great concerns that young people who want to return home risk choosing other countries instead. It's about justice and about Sweden making use of competence, said the Green Party's Amanda Lind, and delivered an election promise specifically aimed at Swedes abroad:
- We want a unified return service when it comes to Swedes from abroad who come back. Now you are sent around between different systems, it is a waste of time and resources.
