PERSPECTIVE DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS REINVENTING SWEDISH SOCIAL DEMOCRACY Vital Challenges and Major Policy Choices ahead Mats Engström October 2023 Sweden’s Social Democrats are reviewing policies after losing power in the 2022 elec­tions. Economic reform, social security, combatting crime and segregation, and climate policy are four priority areas. Leading Social Democrats want to address growing in­equality, improve social wel­fare, reduce crime and thus undermine right-wing popu­lists. However, there are no signs of a fundamental rethink regarding frugal economic policy. Without such a shift, necessary to improve welfare and counter segregation, the party might win the 2026 elections on voters’ mistrust in the right-wing government but find it difficult to convince voters in 2030 and beyond.