The Liberals were outnumbered. Support was stuck at around 2 percent in poll after poll until just days ago. When L leader Simona Mohamsson walks out on stage to Håkan Hellström's "Din tid kommer" just before midnight on election night, the majority of the votes have been counted. The Liberals are stable above 5 percent.
Mohamsson silences the audience's cheers and thanks her party colleagues.
"This is a historic recovery. It's thanks to your hard work. Thank you for knocking on those doors," she says.
Vote down Andersson
She also thanks all voters who voted for the party, and especially mentions those who have not voted for L before. When she speaks, the opposition has one more mandate than the Tidö parties - 175 against 174. According to SVT, 20,000 votes can decide the election.
"I feel that I have a strong mandate to secure four more years with the blue-yellow team. We will vote no to Magdalena Andersson as prime minister," Mohamsson continues.
It's not decided yet, concludes the L leader.
Four more years!
“Delivered”
Every Liberal that TT spoke to during the evening highlights party leader Simona Mohamsson's efforts as crucial to the fact that the party now looks set to move forward.
It is Simona Mohamsson who has delivered time and time again. In every hearing. In every debate, says Minister for Gender Equality Nina Larsson.
We were counted out a few weeks ago, but then we rose together with our party leader Simona, says Gulan Avci, opposition mayor in Stockholm.
Liberal MP Martin Melin believed before election night that L would make it into parliament, but not that it would be above 5 percent and not that it would be so even between the Tidö parties and the opposition.
"I feel so damn good in my body," says Melin.
