Fascinating Houses of Parliament makes Swedish Riksdag look bleak

Compared to the Swedish, modern (some might even say boring) Riksdag, the British Parliament comes across as a truly fascinating institution. 

The Brits are very proud of their history and traditions (and rightly so), and this is symbolised in many ways in their parliament traditions.

On the annual opening of the parliament, for example, I was amazed to learn that the Queen is wearing a crown and full decorations as she reads the legislature written by the Prime Minister.

Another example of century old traditions is that the red lines on the floor that run in front of the seats of the MPs are meant to be exactly two sword lengths apart. The MPs are still not allowed to cross these lines.

There is a tradition of openness and directness and the daily debates are loud and lively.

When members of the House of Commons don’t agree with the opponants, they simply shout “rubbish” off the top of their lungs.  

Spicing up the Riksdag

Maybe we Swedes could learn from the Brits to spice up and make our own parliament more interesting and show off our history.

Just imagine King Carl XVI Gustav swap his dark suit for a crown and a mink trimmed cloak at the next opening of the Riksdag.