Mohamed Ali from Borlänge unexpectedly entered the Riksdag (the Swedish parliament) via a personal vote but has not been present in parliament since the election.
He initially requested two weeks' leave for personal reasons, citing "a personal matter related to ongoing government matters."
The background is that the police are investigating suspected election fraud linked to his personal election campaign. However, Ali himself has not been informed that he is suspected of a crime.
Application rejected
Speaker Andreas Norlén announced after a meeting with the leaders of the parliamentary party groups that Ali's application was invalid.
"I understood that we were in agreement. When it comes to leave for personal matters, the practice is very restrictive," Norlén told TT.
It is based in principle on the fact that one must be notified of a suspected crime in order to be granted leave, and in this case the member is not a suspect.
The two weeks of leave Ali requested have already passed. It is regrettable that he was not notified earlier, but the issue has been important in principle and therefore took some time, according to Norlén.
Our conclusion after today's meeting was not to extend the agreement, which means that if any more leave applications are received on similar grounds, they will not be granted.
Ali has been on sick leave since Monday. From the eighth day, he needs to submit a doctor's note.
The Speaker's decision means that the Left Party member will not have his salary docked. He has been on duty the entire time and is expected to return to work when he is well again.
He has received a fee for this time, Norlén said.
Ali is also not allowed to bring in a replacement, as that requires sick leave or a leave of absence lasting more than 30 days.
Deputy party leader Ida Gabrielsson said on Tuesday that Ali was expected to return to parliament shortly, according to SVT.
He will come as soon as possible and then he will be included in the work of the Riksdag, she said.
Then he becomes a substitute or regular member of a committee.
Misses voting
TT has contacted the Left Party to find out whether this means Ali's "timeout" is officially over.
Ida Gabrielsson has previously said that Ali will remain in parliament if the investigation is closed and he is not convicted of a crime.
According to the Left Party's press service, Ali will miss Thursday's vote on Social Democratic Party leader Magdalena Andersson as prime minister because he is still on sick leave.
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