Idrak Abbasov, Azerbaijani journalist. Photo: AMC

The composition of the Swedish election commission does not concern the Swedish people because everyone knows that the election results are not dependent on the make-up of the commission. Azerbaijani journalist Idrak Abbasov shares his views on the Swedish elections following a study trip to Stockholm prior to the November elections in Azerbaijan

By Idrak Abbasov, Baku 

Ten years ago the head of the government resigned from his position after information about his buying pampers and chocolate for his child using a work bank card was released to media. Of course we are not talking about the government of any Eastern country, but the Swedish government. Several days ago I could witness the paradise that can be imagined on the earth, within the framework of the project arranged by the Azerbaijan Media Centre supported by IMS.

Sweden, which is governed by Parliament, is a Constitutional Monarchy. The king and royal family is of purely symbolic character in the country. The king appears in the parliament of the country - Riksdag twice in 4 years. He gives his blessings to the deputies once the parliament launches its work, and wishes success to everybody when the term of the parliament expires. The king does not even display his sympathy to any politician and has no legal authority for this. We should mention shortly that the power of the standing public official is not more, but rather less than that of simple Swedish men in this country.

Considering that we are on the eve of the parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan, I became interested in the elections in Sweden. Parliamentary elections were conducted here on September 19. Sweden with its 10 million population, has elected 249 deputies to its Riksdag. Besides, everyone who is over 18 years old, can be elected, and currently there is an 18-year old deputy in Swedish parliament.

Unlike Azerbaijan, the parliamentary and municipal elections are held simultaneously in Sweden. And the campaigning period is not just 23 days like in Azerbaijan, but 180 days. Voting starts 15 days prior to the day of counting the votes. If anybody works or is on travel, he/she may come and vote for any candidate or party he wants within these 15 days. But the main voting is carried out on the last day.

When we talked with Joashim Kerpner, the editor of the politics department of the biggest newspaper of Sweden "Autonbladet" about how they observe the elections during meeting in its 4-storey, stunning editorial office, he was very surprised and asked why we needed to know it.