Just over half of Swedes went to the polls to vote in the EU elections this year. But in Södertälje the figure was significantly lower, 37 percent, which is a decrease of four percentage points compared to last time.
This despite the fact that the municipality invested over one million kroner to increase voter turnout with various initiatives such as election informants. The chairman of the municipal board, Boel Godner (S), says that the municipality is working long-term on the issue – something that has also been said after previous elections.
How has it gone with the long-term work?
– I don’t want to answer that, now we will analyze it, she says.
Banned from visiting high schools
Tomas Karlsson at Länstidningen, believes that an important issue to resolve is that political parties should be allowed to visit the high schools in Södertälje – something that is not allowed today.
– It is pointless if you want to arouse commitment and get people to understand politics, he says.
Hear more about the criticism in the clip above.
Footnote: The county newspaper that was previously owned by the Center Party is today independent, but still shares the party’s core values, according to the newspaper itself.