Imaginary magnitude

No substantial news from the police yet this morning, although they claim to be optimistic. After all, they do have what appears to be the weapon, clothes, description from many witnesses.

The killing came at a time with intense political campaigning in Sweden. This is the last week before the euro referendum on Sunday. Both campaigns appears to have saved much energy to be spent during the last days before the election. The public space - both the symbolic and actual agora - was filled with people debating, handing out information material &c. It was a feast for democracy. Now, everything is quiet. No one debates. No one hands out flyers. No one - almost - wears badges showing which camp of the referendum one belongs to. A number of stabs with a knife in a Stockholm store turned intense political activity to political silence, energy to trauma and sorrow.

That the political activities stops is understandable. The Swedish society tries to heal the wounds. Who would want to discuss politics at a time like this? Our thoughts go out to Anna Lindh’s family and others close to her. They have lost a mother, a wife, a friend.

Since political campaigning has ground to a halt (for these obvious reasons), it feels like the attack was an attack on the democratic society, even though the referendum will take place on Sunday. I suspect many voters will turn up on Sunday.

Already, there are critical voices raised about the police. Such a discussion, inevitable that it is, must wait some time. Anna Lindh still has not been buried. The nation is in chock. The police are searching for suspects.

But when all these things clears, in the coming months and years, the political system in Sweden is open to changes. A debate about fundamental political values, as well as the political practices in Sweden, will probably take place.

Yesterday, PM Persson said that he envisioned a future with more collaboration between the political blocs (traditionally sorted in two camps, left and right). That is one possibility. But some will also argue about the need for a profound discussion about the political institutions and the political culture in our country. A period of soul searching; who are we, what do we want with our politics, how do we best combine the great tradition of openness with the obvious needs of personal basic safety for all citizens, including top politicians?

Another possible development is that as the shock and terror withers away, as the nation’s present feeling of unnormality disappears and people adapt and realign with the new situation, Swedish pragmatism takes over in full force.

Who knows what will happen? I don’t. At the moment I try to cope with daily life. It is not that easy.