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full screen The Liberals’ party leader Johan Pehrson is campaigning in Gothenburg ahead of the EU elections. Photo: Adam Ihse/TT
Pressured by low public opinion figures, the Liberals are presenting three new proposals that they hope will sway hesitant voters.
– It is important, now it is the absolute final sprint, says party leader Johan Pehrson.
At Kungsportsplatsen in Gothenburg, Johan Pehrson offers some young men sweets with the call to be kind to their parents. He also offers three new points, or liberal proposals, in a so-called final sprint manifesto.
It is about reduced taxes for “green entrepreneurs” and on electric cars, a European swish to easily transfer money to everyone in the EU, as well as banning membership of criminal gangs throughout Europe.
According to the latest survey from Demoskop, the Liberals end up at 3.1 percent, and thus risk not reaching the 4 percent barrier.
Near the barrier
When asked if he is worried that the party that presents itself as Sweden’s most EU-friendly party is leaving the EU, he refers to other surveys and figures. Then he adds that there is always a certain anxiety in election times.
– A party leader who is not worried about how things will go two days before the election is not a party leader.
He also uses the low number to get more people to vote for the party.
– You have to think a lot about that number, because it decides, he says and adds that a voter then votes for a party that is forward-leaning in European issues and that wants to deepen cooperation for a stronger Sweden through a stronger Europe.
Cooperation is emphasized
Pehrson mentions the joint climate work and the work to jointly increase security against Russia, China and Iran.
– To me, it is so obvious that we cannot do it ourselves, he says.
Internationally, there is a warning against misinformation and misconceptions about how the elections to the EU Parliament take place. While it’s nothing new, misinformation has escalated in recent years, according to Pehrson.
– The interest from Russia, not least, in influencing the democratically elected European Parliament is great, he says.