When groups of masked youths burnt down about 80 vehicles around Gothenburg about three weeks ago, the major politicians of Sweden came running. After the politicians have left the parking lot in Västra Frölunda people still have questions.
Lidija Stefanovska and her sister Elizabeta Ivanovska in Frölunda
The fires in Gothenburg casted light on the area’s social problems: segregation, unemployment and drugs. Politicians reacted strongly, demanding actions. The biggest car fire was at Frölunda torg where more than 30 cars were set on fire. One of the cars belonged to Elizabeta Ivanovska:
“Do you think Stefan Löfven would come here, if there wasn’t an election?” she asks and laughs at her own question.
”It was a nice car. I had it for twelve years, but I took good care of it. Finally, I only got 30.000 crowns from the insurance. But what car can you buy for that?” she says.
The days following the fires the political parties showed up in Frölunda and held press conferences at the parking lot.
Robin Synnergren also lives in the area: “When I was looking for a parking space at that time, I couldn’t find one because Jimmie Åkesson (the leader of the Sweden Democrats) was here. The day before it was Stefan Löfven. My point of view is that they only come here for the votes,” he says.
A parking space in Västra Frölunda in Gothenburg where numerous cars were set on fire in August
This behavior of the politicians was a typical ritual in times of elections, says Peter Esaiasson, professor in Political Science at the University of Gothenburg. According to his opinion the political parties which went to Frölunda benefitted.
”They want to create a gathering under the flag-effect,” he adds.
According to Esaiasson, the major consequence of the fires was a change in the political agenda. The whole summer global warming was in the center of attention but now questions on criminality, segregation and more police power took over the debate.
People in Frölunda have different answers on the question why the incidents happened – drugs, segregation and unemployment. But, all agree in one point: they want more police and tougher punishments.
“Crime rates are growing, but the number of people in prison is not growing,” says Robin Synnergren.
The owner of a local falafel restaurant nearby shares a similar opinion: ”Sweden is a paradise for criminals!”
He prefers to be anonymous and he is not comfortable to voice his political opinion in the street:
”The politicians came, but only because there is an election, they didn’t come for us.”
Has this affected your vote?
”Sometimes I vote for Socialdemokraterna sometimes for Moderaterna, it really doesn’t matter,” concludes the restaurant owner.
Elias Arvidsson
Nina Mueller
Jan Lamhauge
