(18 Sep 2006) SHOTLIST
1. Wide of Swedish parliament building
2. Election posters
3. Statue in front of Foreign Ministry building
4. Various of news conference with Karl Magnus Johansson, political scientist at S�dert�rns University College
5. Wide of Johansson
6. Reporter writing in notebook
7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Karl Magnus Johansson, political scientist, S�dert�rns University College
"Two years ago this alliance was formed between these four non-socialist parties and they have very successfully been able to portray themselves as a credible, cohesive alliance and challenge the government."
8. Cutaway of Johansson's hands
9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Karl Magnus Johansson, political scientist, S�dert�rns University College
"Overall there will be quite a cautious policy of this government because obviously they want to be re-elected in four years time when there will be again an election in September 2010. And obviously they have not challenged the basics of the Swedish social, welfare model. Instead rather accepting, at least at a rhetorical level, accepting what has been for many years the state of Swedish society, the welfare model."
9. Media
10. SOUNDBITE: (English) Karl Magnus Johansson, political scientist, S�dert�rns University College
"Many would argue that this is actually in a way a success of the Swedish basic society, of the Swedish model, that actually, in that sense, the non-socialists have accepted many of the cornerstones of the Social Democratic party."
11. Wide of Johansson reading notes
12. Wide of Swedish Parliament
STORYLINE:
Prime Minister Goran Persson is to hand in his resignation Monday following the defeat of his Social Democrats in weekend elections, ending a 12-year era that showed the world that Sweden's fabled social model could be an engine of dazzling economic growth.
The victorious centre-right alliance led by Fredrik Reinfeldt is promising only to tinker with the welfare state introduced in the 1970s.
But some believe its first baby-steps toward lower taxes and more flexible labour rules could herald a deeper shift toward market liberalisation.
Political analyst Karl Magnus at S�dert�rns University College said Monday it was unlikely the alliance would push through any drastic reforms since it had accepted the 'Swedish model' of social welfare.
He said the fact that "so many non-socialists had accepted the cornerstones of the Social Democratic Party" was an indication of the social model's success in Sweden.
Voters on Sunday had dealt the Social Democratic Party its worst election blow since 1914, despite booming economic growth - 5 per cent in the second quarter compared with the EU average of 2.8 per cent.
Analysts said his biggest pitfall was not translating the growth into more jobs.
The big winner was prime minister-designate Reinfeldt, whose Moderate Party rebounded strongly from a weak result in 2002 and scored its best parliamentary election since 1928.
While official statistics showed 5.7 per cent unemployment, Reinfeldt noted that one in five Swedes is not working if you count people on sickness or disability leave or government job-training programs.
The opposition won the election by presenting a clear alternative to the Social Democratic minority government that has depended on the support of the small Left and Green parties since 1994.
Shunning their traditional image of a party for the wealthy, the Moderate Party even portrayed itself as Sweden's new workers' party, pledging to fine-tune the country's cherished welfare state instead of dismantling it.
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