Social Democrats use anti-fascist anthem in new campaign video

Sweden’s Social Democrats have included the anti-fascist hymn Bella ciao in their latest election campaign, with party leader Magdalena Andersson calling such messages “always good,” Swedish public broadcaster SVT reports.

The song, historically linked to resistance against fascist forces in World War II Italy, features in the party’s new “Sosselinjen” (Social Democrat Line) campaign films. The videos humorously depict people discovering they hold social democratic values, framing support for the party as “completely normal.”

Asked whether the anti-fascist theme targets any specific party in Sweden’s 2026 election campaign, Andersson declined to specify. “You’ll have to ask those who made the film,” she told SVT, adding only that Bella ciao is “a good song” frequently played in social democratic circles.

Andersson emphasised the broader relevance of the message: “In principle, anti-fascist messages are always good. I hope very many in Sweden oppose fascism. That’s also why it’s a song often sung by the labour movement—we’ve always been fascism’s main opponents, historically and internationally.”

The campaign launch comes as Sweden prepares for its 2026 general election, with the Social Democrats positioning themselves as the primary defence against far-right ideology.