Already before Johan Pehrson's resignation, there has been turmoil in The Liberals. Recently, two heavyweights, Minister for Gender Equality Paulina Brandberg and party secretary Jakob Olofsgård, hastily left their posts at the end of March.
When you stand outside, you don't see everything that happens within the party, but what we can see is enough to draw the conclusion that it's very troublesome in The Liberals, with questions about how to act internally and how to relate to the Sweden Democrats and thereby also to The Moderate Party and the Christian Democrats, says political scientist Jonas Hinnfors.
Maybe doesn't have the energy
Marja Lemne, also a political scientist, is on the same line. But she says she is surprised by Pehrson's sudden decision.
It can't be easy to lead a divided party.
It's a strategic choice to leave now, with a year and a half left until the election. It's at the last minute if you want to change party leaders. I didn't think he would resign, but I've thought about some other party leaders.
The Liberals have steadily been below the four percent threshold in opinion polls for a longer period.
The only good thing for The Liberals now is that they're in government, they got that platform. Otherwise, it's gone very, very badly, says Jonas Hinnfors.
Pehrson saved them in parliament in the last election, he may not have the energy to do it again, adds Lemne.
No clear successor
Marja Lemne has difficulty pointing out a clear successor to Pehrson.
It's usually considered important before an election to have a party leader who sits in parliament. But the parliamentary group for L is not that large, I don't see a clear party leader. But it's certainly possible to take an old, safe card, says she and mentions Erik Ullenhag's name. The 52-year-old has sat in parliament several times, been Minister for Integration and is currently Sweden's Consul General in New York.
According to a press release, The Liberals' party board will make a decision on an extraordinary national meeting on June 24, where a new party leader will be elected.
