There is an important development in Swedish politics: a new political force called “The People’s List”, or Folklistan in Swedish, is advocating to renegotiate Sweden’s membership terms with the European Union. This emerging political group is made up of individual candidates, including Jan Emanuel, a former MP from the Social Democratic Party, and Sara Skyttedal, a current MEP who was initially elected in 2019 representing the Christian Democrats. Both individuals have become key figures in this new political effort as they prepare to participate in the 2024 European Parliament elections with Folklistan.
Sara Skyttedal left the Christian Democrats in February 2024 and continued serving as an independent in the European Parliament. In early April 2024, it was revealed that she had registered a new political party called Folklistan, which she co-leads with Jan Emanuel. This alliance marks a new strategic direction in Swedish and possibly European politics, as their main aim is negotiating Sweden’s EU membership. The number of eurosceptic voters in Sweden is growing, and they may consider Folklistan a viable option. The party has suggested that amending the foundational treaties of the EU could be straightforward.
The Folklistan party believes that Sweden’s EU membership can be more beneficial if it can opt out of certain aspects of the union. They also suggest that Sweden should be ready to leave the cooperation if it is unable to secure such opt-outs. However, Jan Emanuel, a former Social Democrat lawmaker and co-founder of Folklistan, emphasises that their party’s immediate goal is not to exit the EU. Instead, they advocate renegotiating the terms to better suit Sweden’s interests.
Sweden has a strong economic relationship with the EU, particularly regarding trade and investment. If Sweden decides to renegotiate its EU membership terms, it could cause significant disruption to the economic integration. This could affect various industries, employment rates, and economic stability in Sweden. Renegotiation could pose economic risks that might make it unattractive to business interests. The case of the United Kingdom’s Brexit process is an excellent example of the potential challenges of renegotiating the terms of EU membership. Once a population is convinced of the necessity of leaving the European Union, it is hard to reign back public opinion. This is especially true if a politician’s career is based on leaving or renegotiating the EU membership, such as Jan Emanuel and Sara Skyttedal.
Folklistan is a political party in Sweden that aims to convince Swedish voters who are sceptical about the European Union that Sweden can fundamentally revise the EU’s constitutional charter and transform its membership into an à la carte selection. However, this proposal is unlikely to be feasible. Even if Folklistan gains seats, established parliamentary groups are unlikely to take a new party seriously if its sole unifying goal is to overhaul the EU’s foundational treaties.
Skyttedal’s situation is noteworthy, as she left the Christian Democrats in February after the party dismissed her as its lead candidate for the EU elections. This decision came after it was revealed that she had applied for a job with the far-right Sweden Democrats (ECR). The Christian Democrats do not expect Skyttedal’s new party to join their ranks in the upcoming legislative session. “Should she be reelected, she will not be part of the EPP group, and her admission as a member would require a vote since she is running with a party that is not affiliated with the EPP,” explained an EPP spokesperson to Euractiv. The leadership of the Swedish Social Democrats insisted that Jan Emanuel resign from the party, which he did on Tuesday morning. Considering the reasons behind their resignations, it seems improbable that Emanuel and Skyttedal would gain any support from their former parties if they were elected. Their actions have created a rift between them and their previous political affiliations, which will likely decrease their political power. Without the endorsement of established parties, their capacity to renegotiate is diminished.
As the European Union elections approach, the party faces a challenging landscape. Its ambitious agenda could appeal to Eurosceptic voters but also invites intense scrutiny from critics. If elected, Sara Skyttedal and Jan Emanuel could potentially influence a shift towards more right-wing, Eurosceptic policies. However, the party’s narrow focus on rewriting the EU charter may limit its ability to be taken seriously by other parliamentary groups, an obstacle that could hinder its political influence.
By The European Institute for International Relations
