Published: Just now
The Center Party’s finances are strained and the party is forced to lay off staff.
Several sources within the party believe that the previous leadership has mismanaged the economy, but party leader Muharrem Demirok defends the billion withdrawals.
– It is possible to follow all the decisions back as they were made. I can only say that the conditions we have today are different today compared to a year ago, he says.
The Center Party has more difficult economic times ahead of it. As Aftonbladet previously reported, the party’s austerity package has created frustration and sources in the party believe that it goes beyond the Centre’s ability to conduct opposition politics.
In addition, the large withdrawals that the former party leadership has made over several years from the party’s company Randello Invest are being questioned. The generosity is considered to be a strong contributing factor to the party now implementing the austerity package.
The Center Party’s party leader Muharrem Demirok confirms that colleagues are now facing tougher times.
– It is always tough to have to cut back on the business we are now doing and I feel for all those who right now have to leave work. It is a tough situation, he says.
1.1 billion gone
But Muharrem Demirok does not want to know that the withdrawals, around SEK 1.1 billion over the past ten years, are the triggering factor for the austerity package. He claims instead that it is the party’s loss of seven seats in the Riksdag, combined with broad stock market declines, that has led to his party now having to lay off civil servants.
– We will not be able to make the same large withdrawals in the future. The changes on the stock market also affect our capital, just as it affects the individual’s stock market savings or the large financial institutions, says Muharrem Demirok.
“Not mismanaged by previous management”
Several sources in the party tell Aftonbladet that they believe that Randello Invest has been milked too hard, a number of center party members talk about the company being mismanaged by previous party leadership. The center leader does not agree with that.
– I cannot say that Randello Invest has been mismanaged. It is possible to follow all decisions back as they are taken. I can only say that the conditions we have today are different today compared to a year ago.
Is your assessment that the withdrawals were too large?
– We cannot make the withdrawal today that we did just a few years ago, those conditions do not exist. That is what I have to deal with as party chairman. I need to have a sustainable outlet going forward and I need to have an outlet on which to build a functioning business.