Vox Populi: Magnus Nordstrand from Stockholm, Sweden

1. What are your expectations/hopes from these elections?

We now live in a globalized society, where we need to cooperate and compromise to find solutions. And the EU is the best option we have to counteract nationalism, populism, and other retrogressive forces. However, Brexit and other populist movements has shown that the EU has some issues it needs to address such as improving transparency and making its members to feel involved in the decision making. I hope that the EU can even better act as a united front in both trade and foreign policy.

2. Do you/people in your member state still have faith in the EU to deliver?

Swede’s generally believe it is much better being a being a member of the EU than not. However, we feel that the EU is quite distant and difficult to influence. On the other hand, since the EU’s motto is a form of liberal cooperation and consensus, which is the pride and joy of the Swedish bureaucrazy, we usually have no problem with the decisions made in Brussels. Also, Brexit has even further strengthened Swede’s support of the EU.

3. Will you be voting? If so, who for (if you are willing to say)?

I will vote for someone who stands up for a more inclusive and humane EU, who takes the effects of global warming seriously, and opposes the legislation of article 11 and 13. Most likely the Swedish Green Party (MP).

4. Tell us some very brief persona/biographical details about yourself?

I’ve lived and worked my entire life in Sweden, although I now partly try to live in Spain. My friends and relatives are spread out all over Europe and its neighbouring countries, such as UK, Finland, Spain, Italy, Ukraine, and Egypt. So we all travel a lot to keep up with each other.