The Liberal leadership's negotiations with the Sweden Democrats in recent weeks have only been known to a very small circle. So when Simona Mohamsson announced her U-turn at a press conference with SD leader Jimmie Åkesson on Friday afternoon, many in the party were taken by surprise.
The issue will be decided at an extraordinary national meeting next Sunday. However, there will be no vote on the party's new stance on SD, but rather delegates will vote on their confidence in Simona Mohamsson.
I would like to vote on the substantive issue, who we should collaborate with, but now I am forced to vote on whether I want Simona or not, says Karolina Wallström (L), municipal councilor in Örebro.
Find a rival candidate
The critics now have a week to find a counter-candidate. Discussions are ongoing; many people are involved, says Ina Lindström Skandevall, a party board member and group leader for L in Sundsvall.
There are several high-ranking politicians who have left their positions long ago, who are reaching out and wondering whom they can support and who they can call, she says.
Several names are in the air. Some are more wishful thinking, such as former EU Commissioner Cecilia Malmström or former MP Birgitta Ohlsson.
Of the names I hear, Cecilia Rönn is the most realistic, says Lindström Skandevall.
Cecilia Rönn is L's economic policy spokesperson, and she also sits on the party board. Another name mentioned is Stockholm politician Jan Jönsson, but he is considered by some to be too divisive in the already divided party.
Don't give up.
In Uppsala, several hard-line liberals have announced that they will withdraw their candidacies if the party leadership's line wins at the national convention. One of them is municipal councilor Jennie Claesson, who however hopes that the meeting will put an end to further SD collaboration.
"I'm not willing to give up yet," she tells P4 Uppland.
Claesson and others TT spoke to indicated that the party board was not in agreement. The vote was 13-8.
- In such an existential issue, where Simona is putting her party leadership on the line, it is quite weak to have eight members of her party board against her, says Rasmus Jonlund, a municipal politician in Stockholm.
He is upset that the party has been given an ultimatum and given such a short time. In fact, he is opposed to sitting in government with the SD.
It makes me very angry that people are manipulating in this way, he says.
Cecilia Rönn, economic policy spokesperson for L, sits on the party board and is a member of parliament.
Jan Jönsson, opposition councilor in Stockholm, intends to leave the party board.
Malin Sjöberg Högrell is chairwoman of Liberal Women, a regional councilor in Uppsala and a party board member.
Ina Lindström Skandevall sits on the party board and is group leader for L in Sundsvall.
Jennie Claesson is a municipal councilor in Uppsala.
