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Cyrille:
But EVERYONE else was pushing the other way.

Looking from a smaller member state, and one without euro, I would say that for the Swedish political elite (red or blue) the EU have three major benefits:

  • A way to push special interests
  • Career possibilities
  • Photo-ops with major leaders

Austerity is neither here nor there. It fits with the common wisdom, but so would expansive financial policy (the common wisdom is not unified). All the three bullet points are however dependent on keeping on the good side of the powers that be in the union. So as long as everybody is pro austerity they will be (at least abroad).

Sweden's finest (and perhaps only) collaborative, leftist e-newspaper Synapze.se
by A swedish kind of death on Mon Jan 5th, 2015 at 08:18:35 AM EST
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The Euro as an opportunity for polite corruption via suborned political elites!

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."
by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Mon Jan 5th, 2015 at 11:40:53 AM EST
[ Parent ]
The previous Swedish government was very much at the forefront of EU-level moves to pressurize Southern European states on debt and deregulation in general.

*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.
by DoDo on Mon Jan 5th, 2015 at 01:54:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Yes, but it is a loss for the Swedish export sector when the euro is depressed versus the krona. And Sweden is export surplus mini-Germany sans the currency union. So the gain from being attack dogs for the powers that be is political capital in the EU, better career opportunities in the EU and time in Swedish media grand-standing next to Merkel while playing on stereotypes of lazy Southerners.

Had the policy been different in the EU, the previous governments actions would have reflected that. Or at least that is my take on it.

Sweden's finest (and perhaps only) collaborative, leftist e-newspaper Synapze.se

by A swedish kind of death on Mon Jan 5th, 2015 at 02:56:03 PM EST
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