Irish Examiner view: Stifling debate benefits the extremists

The rise of a far-right party in Sweden has been linked to the narrow 'opinion corridor' deemed acceptable in that democracy

Jimmie Åkesson's Sweden Democrats achieved a breakthrough this week, entering the new coalition, driven in part by its pledge to curb immigration. Picture: Per Pettersson/Flickr

As indicated earlier this week on this website, a change of government beckons in Sweden, with a coalition of right-wing parties to form the country’s next administration. 

Prime minister Magdalena Andersson stepped down at a press conference on Wednesday when she pointed out that her Social Democrats were still the country’s largest party and that the incoming coalition had a very slim majority.