In Sweden, blue means right.
In USA, blue means left.
In Sweden, red means left.
In USA, red means right.
In Sweden, a republikan tends to be left/middle/liberal and less often right (Republikan means you want Sweden become a republic, currently a monarchy.)
In USA, a republican is right.
If I understand it correctly... and I know I simplify descriptions.
@hehemrin Entirely correct. Our party colors were picked arbitrarily every election (always blue and red because America) and the ones picked in 2000 just happened to stick. Also the US Democrats are much more like S than SD.
@hehemrin I don't know what 'liberal' or the equivalent means in Sweden. In the US, it means left. Not in Europe, in my experience, where "liberal" refers to free-market, low tax ideology.
@Ker_Goz It's difficult to compare the two context. And I am no expert in US-politics, at least better knowledge in Swedish. In addition to left-right, another dimension is often added here; "GAL-TAN" (will not explain noe). If one place, I would define liberals to be in between left-right in Sw context, leaning to the right side. Even the Conservative party ("Moderaterna") defines themselves as "liberal-conservative". I think many from US-perspective sees all Swedish parties as left. Complex!
Republicans were originally commies here too. Traditionally we flagged the commies as Reds and tried to kill as many of them as possible (this is probably a good idea). In the 2000s, the colors got flipped because the Left realized they were going to have to hide their Communist inner nature.
@hehemrin and in Denmark Left means Right lol.