List of Political Catch Phrases - Sweden

Sweden

• "Vår beredskap är god" (Our readiness is good), said by Prime Minister Per Albin Hansson on 27 August 1939 on national Swedish radio about the readiness state of the Swedish armed forces. In hindsight, Sweden could not have defended itself against a German invasion, partly because Hansson had led a major disarmament campaign since the 1920s. Nowadays, it is used as a derogatory term describing a statement which is obviously false but intended to keep people calmed down.
• "Gärna medalj, men först en rejäl pension" (A medal is fine, but proper retirement pay is first priority), slogan for the Social Democrats in the 1958 general election. The medal referred to is the "För nit och redlighet i rikets tjänst" which is usually given as a retirement award, military and civil service alike, for more the 30 years of long and faithful government employment.
• "Nån jävla ordning får det vara i ett parti" (There must be some damn order in a party), uttered by C.-H. Hermansson, leader of the Communist Party (present-day Left Party) at a party convention 1969.
• "Att vara liberal är att vara kluven" (Being liberal is being torn), uttered by Gunnar Helén, leader of the Liberal Party.
• "Nja till EU" (Both yes and no to the EU), catch phrase for the Centre Party in the mid-90's
• "Vård, skola och omsorg" (Healthcare, schools and care ) The focus areas for the Social Democrats during the 2002 general election.
• "Att ställa krav är att bry sig" (Demanding is caring ), catch phrase for the Liberal Party during the 2002 general election.
• "Alla ska med" (Everyone must be on board) The Social Democrats' catchphrase during the 2006 general election.
• "Det måste löna sig att arbeta" (It must pay to work) The core message of Alliance for Sweden's labour market policy during and after the 2006 general election.
• "Om man är socialdemokrat, då tycker man att det är häftigt att betala skatt. För mig är skatt det finaste uttrycket för vad politik är." (If you're a Social Democrat, you think it's cool to pay taxes. To me, taxes are the most beautiful expression of what politics is about.", said by Mona Sahlin in an interview on SVT, in 1994. Often shortened to "Det är häftigt att betala skatt." The phrase was quoted by Anders Borg, in 2011.