Despite the Left Party's executive committee urging Lorena Delgado Varas to leave her parliamentary seat, she turned up for the vote in parliament on Thursday.
After the vote, she says:
I'm carrying on and processing, and I've announced via social media what I'm going to do going forward.
Earlier in the day, she posted a video on Facebook and Instagram, where she stands firm on not leaving her parliamentary seat.
I will continue to work for what I believe in. I will continue to be a member of parliament and am grateful for all colleagues, members, and voters who show their support, she says in the video.
"A betrayal"
Delgado Varas also directs criticism at her own party:
It pains me to say that my own party, which I love, have fought for and defended, has not protected either me or the movements I am part of. It is a betrayal at a time when we should stand together in solidarity, she says.
She says that parties must stand firm in their values and "not be controlled by the media's frenzy".
The issues I stand up for have become too uncomfortable.
"Need to rethink"
Maria Forsberg, party secretary, regrets the decision in a comment to TT.
"It's sad that we've ended up here. Lorena needs to rethink and follow democratic decisions. The executive committee decides on such issues and those who are voted in on The Left Party's mandate are expected to follow our democratic decisions."
On April 7, Member of Parliament Delgado Varas shared a post on social media claiming that "Zionist Jews" control the world through control over politics and banks.
The party leadership believes that Delgado Varas has shown poor judgment on repeated occasions and therefore cannot represent The Left Party in parliament. However, she can remain a party member.
