The Liberals said yes to the party leadership’s SD line.
But now comes internal criticism of how the process was carried out, with lawyers feeling pressured not to protest the decision.
– I am disappointed and sad, says an agent.
The article in brief
The Liberals’ national meeting followed the party leadership’s line in the infected questions about red lines against SD and gains in school.
But now comes criticism from representatives who believe that they have been stopped from pursuing their proposals.
“Sad to hear,” replies party secretary Fredrik Brange (L).
The party leadership presented its line earlier this fall. The Liberals want to see a new Tidö government after the election – without SD ministers.
There were also several other proposals on the table before this weekend’s national meeting.
Some want to see a harder line, completely without cooperation with the Sweden Democrats. Others want to scrap red lines entirely and let the party leadership decide the matter after the election.
At the national meeting, the issues are first discussed in committee, and then brought up for debate and decision by all representatives.
And on Friday, the Liberals beat the big unity drum.
In the committee work, no demands had come into several infected issues such as the interest in profit in the school and the party board’s general policy proposals which, among other things, dealt with the red line against the SD in government, stated the committee chairmen Gulan Avci and Pär Gustafsson.
“Forced to withdraw”
Thus, the Liberals seemed to avoid major disputes and Simona Mohamsson’s line went through.
But it is a facade, according to several agents that Expressen spoke to.
– Several people made demands in both the school committee and the general political committee. But people were forced to withdraw them, says a representative.
How has it been done?
– One person submitted a claim. Then the secretary has said that you don’t leave until everyone is completely in agreement about the party board’s position. It’s too sick, the whole thing. You were not allowed to think differently, says the representative.
Several confirm the same picture.
“Culture of silence”
Another person with insight tells us that reservations submitted were not registered.
– The Liberals have a culture of silence that you notice very clearly. The party leadership has told all county associations to sit still in the boat and not “create drama”. You must not be too critical and they want to see total agreement. But that is false, says the source.
A representative states that he himself was told by a representative not to take the podium in the matter of red lines against the Sweden Democrats.
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– I was silenced. Then I felt that I really want to leave the party. This is not the party I joined, I feel. Everything has changed. It has become more authoritarian. Some are scolded for having different opinions or speaking out critically, says the representative and continues:
– I am sad and disappointed. Disappointed.
The party secretary: “Sad”
Fredrik Brange (L) says that the time at the national meeting is limited, and that they jointly decided on the forms for the meeting. He regrets that representatives felt silenced.
– It is sad to hear that there are those who have experienced it that way.
Among other things, the speaking time has been shortened to ensure that as many people as possible will be able to speak on sessions that have many registered speakers.
– My impression is that we have a high ceiling and that many people have been up in the podium to share their views on various proposals, says Fredrik Brange.
