Jonas Sjöstedt (V): Not relevant to leave the EU in the near future

At the Left Party congress held earlier in May, the party dropped the demand for an exit from the EU. Although the party does not rule out an exit as an option, Sjöstedt says that he does not see it as likely in the foreseeable future.

– At present, there is no reason whatsoever to talk about a withdrawal, he says.

EU elections 2024: The hearing

Despite the more open stance towards the EU, the union is still described in the new party program as undemocratic and as an “obstacle” to progressive change. Sometimes in some cases it looks like that today, says Sjöstedt. In other cases, not.

According to him, the EU should not, for example, get involved in rent-setting in Sweden, allow strike-breaking or advocate privatization of the railway.

– We make politics out of the EU criticism and formulate proposals that mean we get better European cooperation, he says.

“not all that different from SD”

SVT’s domestic policy commentator Elisabeth Marmorstein notes that the Left Party’s voters have become more positive about the EU over the years. One explanation behind the turnaround is the climate issue.

– At the same time, they want to keep the door ajar for an exit if the EU develops in the wrong direction, and here they reason in a way that is not entirely different from the Sweden Democrats, she says in Aktuellt.

Focus on electricity prices

During the hearing of Sjöstedt, there was a lot of focus on the party’s proposal on Swedish prices for electricity. Experts such as SVT have spoken with flags that it could lead to higher emissions in other parts of Europe.

According to Sjöstedt, it must be remedied by phasing out fossil fuels and expanding electricity production through, among other things, more offshore wind power.

– We want to use more electricity in Swedish society, but then it is not good if it is so expensive that it holds back electrification, he says.