The Social Democrats, Left Party and Greens are open to excluding the Sweden Democrats from the Riksdag’s voting balance system after the party broke the agreement last week. A new meeting of party group leaders is expected on Thursday. Full attendance was required from all MPs during Wednesday’s vote on nuclear power legislation.
The Sweden Democrats called in two paired-off MPs during a vote on tightened citizenship rules last week. That move rendered the voting balance system inoperative. All parties then ordered their MPs to attend votes in person.
Social Democrat MP Marianne Fundahn travelled from Trelleborg to Stockholm despite having had a lung removed two weeks earlier. She said she had thought “What the hell” when told she had to attend but felt she could not risk losing votes.
On Wednesday the Riksdag voted on new legislation for approving nuclear facilities. The government’s proposal passed 175 to 173. Only one Moderate MP was absent. Jimmie Åkesson defended the party’s action and said it regretted nothing.
Left Party group leader Samuel Gonzalez Westling and Social Democrat Lena Hallengren both opened the door to a new system without the Sweden Democrats. The Moderates are expected to present a proposal at Thursday’s meeting.
