Deutsche Welle reported today (September 9): "Sweden was once known for its welcoming attitude toward immigrants, but over the past decade it has not only closed its borders, but its right-wing government is now offering cash payments to some residents born abroad to encourage them to leave. This is part of Sweden’s tough immigration policy, aimed at helping the current government secure re-election this month. The incoming coalition government, which took office in 2022, offered up to 350,000 Swedish kronor (approximately $37,000) per person to those holding residence permits outside the EU earlier this year, incentivizing them to depart Sweden. The ruling far-right party, the Sweden Democrats, ran advertisements on buses: 'Miss Mogadishu (the capital of Somalia)? Relocation grants will help you go home.' However, so far this year, only 171 people have accepted the cash resettlement offer. The Sweden Democrats now aim to expand this proposal to include immigrants who have already obtained Swedish citizenship, provided they agree to renounce their Swedish nationality. A new general election will be held in Sweden on September 13. With a population of 10.6 million, Sweden has 2 million residents born abroad."
Commentary: Sweden’s introduction of cash incentives to encourage voluntary departure among foreign-born immigrants is largely a political maneuver ahead of the upcoming election, designed to appeal to domestic voters dissatisfied with immigration. Despite offering substantial return bonuses, very few are actually willing to take the money and leave. The blunt advertising question—'Do you miss your homeland?'—seems more like a vote-grabbing campaign tactic than an effective policy, yielding minimal practical results. The far-right party further plans to extend the policy to naturalized Swedish citizens, amplifying its exclusionary message. This shift reflects a broader transformation in European societal attitudes: large-scale immigration has created real pressures on welfare systems and public safety, fueling increasingly hardline calls for stricter immigration controls.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1875900485239818/
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