Social Democrat leader Magdalena Andersson announced on Sunday that she does not want the Left Party (V) in a government. At the same time, she appealed to V to reconsider its demand to be part of the government.
I hope the Left Party takes time to reflect on this and what is at stake for people in our country, Andersson said.
V has a congress decision stating that it will join a government if its mandate is needed, and so far it has refused to budge.
Standing their ground
Several of the party’s district chairmen are sticking to the position, even after the Social Democrat leader’s statement.
It is not possible to move on. It is quite obvious that our mandates are just as valuable as the mandates of others, says Eva Arvidsson in Västerbotten.
Similar views are heard from the Left Party districts in Stockholm, Gothenburg, Kalmar, Jönköping and Östergötland.
“There is strong support for the party line in Greater Stockholm. Our members expect the congress decision to be followed,” says August Flensburg, chairman in Stockholm, in a written comment.
Jonatan Wassberg, chairman of the Left Party in Kalmar, says members have contacted him and said the party must stand its ground on the government issue.
I have not heard a single person who is a member in our district who thinks that we should go a different way. There is pressure to maintain this line, he says.
According to Julia Löf, chairwoman in Jönköping, the Left Party is prepared for what is now happening.
We have foreseen that this pressure would come upon us to give up our mandates, without gaining the influence in government that we believe is needed, she says.
She says that in the past it has cost V dearly to stay outside the government.
We have seen that this is the path we need to take in order for our voters’ votes to be respected and counted. I don't meet anyone who wavers or doubts this; we stand united, she says.
Could change
Tommy Möller, a professor of political science at Stockholm University, says it is currently difficult to assess whether V might change its position.
It would be surprising if they really did.
Outwardly, they say that they don't need to reflect on this. "Take it or leave it" - that's their line, he says.
Formally, however, the congress decision would not prevent V from dropping its demand to be in government.
It would be possible for the party board to decide on it, says Möller.
At the same time, he notes that time is running short.
The pace of this process has picked up considerably in a very short time. That could make it harder to build support for the decision when time is so tight.
What do you think?