Alas, Swedish regional self-governing is upon us...

Finally, the long 10-year regional trial period of Skåne and Västra Götaland is over. Both regions are said to be permanent in its present state regarding its power-sharing functions and responsibilities toward the Swedish state.

In addition Halland and Gotland are to be converted into so called "regionkommuner". Why they have chosen such a strange term is beyond my understanding. But in essence, it is the same thing as more self-governing, or at least I hope so, and that is a good thing.

The times are hopefully forever gone of the One State-, One Capital- and One King syndrome of Swedish nationalism-centralism. The times are here to understand that a region outside Stockholm have no problem of governing itself. It is slightly late for Skåne sake considering the 350-year commemoration of the Roskilde treaty and the self-rule promises of paragraph 9 though but perhaps that is intentional?

In the end a small but powerful clique, mostly in the conservative party Moderaterna, could not hold their centralistic ground. The broad majority of the Swedish counties outside the Swedish capital have been seeing what benefits a decentralization would have for a long time. That is also the conclusion that Ansvarskommittén came up with last year.

Finally, the center obviously caved in, but for how long before the centralistic retort?

Some additional links about the event can be found below:

http://www.kvp.se/nyheter/2.1260/1.1447926/peter-j-olsson-region-skane-att-gratulera

http://sydsvenskan.se/sverige/article408884/Besked-om-nya-regioner-drojer.html

http://www.dagenssamhalle.se/zino.aspx?articleID=14402

http://www.skd.se/article/20090128/OPINION/851838283/1061/OPINION/*/@stabilare-sverige

http://www.rod.se/politikomraden/demokrati/Regioner-infors-i-Sverige/

http://www.bt.se/ledare/rimliga-regioner(1116306).gm

http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=573&a=878238

http://sydsvenskan.se/opinion/huvudledare/article409136/Skanska-modellen-.html

http://www.svd.se/nyheter/inrikes/artikel_2389261.svd http://www.sr.se/cgi-bin/kalmar/nyheter/artikel.asp?artikel=2597770

http://www.vlt.se/artikelmall.asp?version=861704

http://www.nt.se/tidningsledare/artikel.aspx?articleid=4769241

http://www.helagotland.se/nyheter/artikel.aspx?articleid=4769206

http://www.kuriren.nu/ledare/artikel.aspx?articleid=4559177