Independence for Northern Sweden?

[Mazik]

Despite the fact that Sweden, unlike Spain, the UK or France, is not commonly associated with isles of separatism, it appears that the clandestine yearning for self-rule is manifest even in its remote northern regions.




Recently, Swedish journalist Lotta Gröning caused a hullaballoo with her opinion piece, demanding that Sweden's historic region of Norrland (ironically, also the country's largest) should aspire to achieve self-rule and strive after a Scotland-style referendum on independence from Sweden.

Despite the fact that Norrland, which consists of nine provinces, occupies 54 percent of Sweden's surface, the country's sparsely populated northernmost region has a population of only over 1 million (out of Sweden's total population of roughly 10 million)

Earlier this week, Gröning's aptly titled article "Norrland Should Take Cue From Scotland and Demand Independence," published by Sweden's tabloid newspaper Expressen, made a splash in Swedish media. In no time, the article was shared thousands of times on Facebook, sparking a heated debate on Twitter and even provoking a negative response from a local Socialist Democrat politician, who dismissed the demand for independence as "what northerners say when drunk."

However, Gröning's initiative appeared to have raised a keen response among fellow Swedes, as a poll on the public service broadcaster SVT's website revealed that no less than 90 percent of respondents actually supported Norrland's quest for independence.

Gröning's ire is based on the state-owned electricity company Vattenfall's plans to cut back thousands of jobs, the majority of them in Norrland.

"What they fail to comprehend is that pressing only three buttons [in Norrland] may switch off the lights in large parts of Sweden," Gröning said, venturing that this would remind Stockholm of Norrland's very existence.

According to Gröning, the northerners' confidence in the Swedish state is at rock bottom could be boosted by a referendum. By Gröning's admission, Norrland is rich in timber, water power and mining, yet remains Sweden's poorest areas.

In the European scheme of things, northerners' distaste for the EU is well-known. Rural and EU-skeptical Norrland notoriously voted against the EU membership in Sweden's decisive referendum in 1994, only to become run over by the rest of the country. Unsurprisingly, 60 percent of northerners still are against the EU, which clearly contradicts Stockholmers' wishes, who traditionally remain Sweden's most EU-loyal citizens, Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet reported earlier this year. Remarkably, this trend is mirrored in Sweden's neighbor country Norway, which in a similar referendum in 1994 decided to stay out of the EU. EU-skepticism still peaks in northern Norway, where only 14 percent are in favor of EU membership.

Read more: https://sputniknews.com/politics/201...eparatism.html

[Mazik]

A fresh survey of people in Northern Sweden showed that 41% of the asked people was for independence, 39% against and 19% uncertain.



http://www.svt.se/nyheter/inrikes/ma...ndigt-norrland

[Mazik]

Norrland

[Neon Knight]

Is Norrland the same as Norrbotten?

[crazyladybutterfly]

well good luck to north swedes, are they primary samis?..

[Mazik]

Is Norrland the same as Norrbotten?

Norrbotten is the most northern province of Norrland. Painted in red on the picture of the first post. Also one of the places where the wish for independence is the largest. They have had numerous battles against the Swedish state that have made them very local patriotic.

[Mazik]

well good luck to north swedes, are they primary samis?..

The vast majority are descendants of central Swedes who went to the north during different times in history. Samis and Sami admixture exists mostly in the inland and among descendants of people from the inland.

[Jehan]

Is there a serious possibility that this region gain independance? Does this region can become a sami state or it will stay a swedish cultural state?

Some time ago I also heard about another region of sweden in the same situation. I think it is Jamtland?

[Mazik]

Is there a serious possibility that this region gain independance? Does this region can become a sami state or it will stay a swedish cultural state?

I wouldn't say no. It seems like the politicians don't take the people who wish that serious. If they continue like that while we have a serious national debate about it, where the independence side would deliver a good plan on how we can break off from Sweden. I think it could be a chance that it would happen.

Either that or the politicians start to realize that something is wrong in the northern parts, and change the current system. People feel that the state take the resources from them, but don't give enough back. Some people feel that Norrland is a colony of Sweden, at the same time as hospitals and jobs move to other places in a higher rate than ever before. Making people feel "Why is the Swedish state treating us like this, when they are dependant on our resources?".

Does this region can become a sami state or it will stay a swedish cultural state?

A Swedish cultural state. Or rather north Swedish cultural state. Samis would probably get more rights and it would be easier for them to live on with their lifestyle. Right now many of them have to leave their birthplace and look for other jobs because the reindeer herding has become unprofitable with the current system. But that is also a problem for farmers and such, all over Sweden.

Some time ago I also heard about another region of sweden in the same situation. I think it is Jamtland?

Jämtland is also a part of Norrland.

[gundyr]

No! Sweden must be bigger even. Take from Denmark and Norway too!