SWEDEN: Swedish prime minister votes ahead of weekend polls in general election

At a library in the heart of Stockholm, Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson cast an early election vote on Friday (September 15) ahead of Sunday's general election (September 17). Neither Persson's minority Social Democrat government, backed by the Left and Green parties, or the opposition Conservative bloc have a clear lead in opinion polls ahead of the election. After the Prime Minister posted his ballot, he told the gathered media he believed that his sitting Social Democratic minority government would win on Sunday. "If we win and I think we will have a victory for the Social Democratic government and movement, we will continue a very successful policy not only in Sweden but also together with our European partners. We have created a model that not only gives a good economic growth but also at the same time can give those who are in the margins in the society, a good security. We think that is productive. We have been attacked by the Conservatives and their support parties, the so-called "Alliance". They want to shift system, they want to have something else, more in line with what we can see in the rest of continental Europe. I am not impressed when I look upon the development in those countries. I want to stick to the Swedish model and the only guarantee for that is a Social Democratic victory on Sunday." A daily poll by market research firm, Sifo, showed the government parties just ahead for the second day in a row with 47.9 percent support. The opposition bloc of the Moderates, Centre, Christian Democrats and Folk Liberals had 47.3 percent. Persson also commented on the "hacking scandal" that broke earlier this week when it was clear that the press and party secretaries of the opposition Liberal party had been aware of a young Liberal party member hacking into the Social Democrats' internal network gaining sensitive campaigning and planning information for the last six months. "It might be a reason and just to have that risk that this scandal have an impact on the election result, that is something we have never experienced before in Sweden. So therefore it is necessary for the Liberal party to come out and give every evidence that they have that can clear this whole affair before the election day, otherwise it might be a scandal that will live together with an election result that was not fair," he said. The three are now formally charged with computer espionage. The election pits the traditional message of high taxes, expanded healthcare and social solidarity of the centre-left against a resurgent opposition led by the Moderate Party of Fredrik Reinfeldt. He has brought his traditionally more radical tax-cutting party closer to the centre, saying that modest reductions in welfare benefits and taxes will create more jobs. He has tried to re-christen his party the "new workers' party". Persson, however, can boast an economy that grew at its fastest in 6 years in the second quarter, while interest rates and inflation are low. With the polls so close, political analysts said the level of turnout, 80 percent in the last election, could be crucial. The Social Democrats would benefit from a high turnout, as it is often their voters who stay at home.

ITN Source | September 17, 2006

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