- Title: SWEDEN: PM Fredrik Reinfeldt cautiously optimistic ahead of general election
- Date: 19th September 2010
- Summary: STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN (SEPTEMBER 18, 2010) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CAMPAIGN POSTERS IN STREET CENTRE PARTY ACTIVISTS CENTRE PARTY ACTIVISTS HANDING OUT ELECTION MATERIAL TO PASSERS-BY ALLIANCE PARTY LEADERS ON STAGE (LEFT TO RIGHT) CHRISTIAN DEMOCRAT LEADER AND MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS, GORAN HAGGLUND, LIBERAL PARTY LEADER AND EDUCATION MINISTER JAN BJORKLUND, CENTRE PARTY LEADER AND VICE-PRIME MINISTER MAUD OLOFSSON AND SWEDISH PRIME MINISTER AND LEADER OF MODERATE PARTY FREDRIK REINFELDT HAGGLUND TALKING OLOFSSON AND REINFELDT LISTENING REINFELDT LISTENING AUDIENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) SWEDISH PRIME MINISTER AND LEADER OF MODERATE PARTY FREDRIK REINFELDT, SAYING: "We actually have the best managed public finances in Europe -- where others have doubled and increased their public debt, we've made sure to pay-off our loans. We have lower debts now than when we came into power in 2006. We know how to take care of the tax payers' money." HAGGLUND TALKING ON STAGE REINFELDT LEAVING REINFELDT BEING INTERVIEWED (SOUNDBITE) (English) SWEDISH PRIME MINISTER AND LEADER OF MODERATE PARTY FREDRIK REINFELDT, SAYING: "We could also end up with a result, with an unsecure situation in parliament and therefore we are asking Swedish people to be very care taking in their decision. Reflecting that it's for four years we are talking about and that we need to get back a majority support for this alliance government." MORE OF REINFELDT BEING INTERVIEWED (SOUNDBITE) (English) SWEDISH PRIME MINISTER AND LEADER OF MODERATE PARTY FREDRIK REINFELDT, SAYING: "Well I'm worried because these kinds of populist parties never take any responsibility. They are short sighted, they think of themselves, they seek media coverage and do not engage in taking care of structural changes and problematic situations. So of course, we are asking the Swedish people to reflect on this and hoping to get majority support when we come on election day." BJORKLUND BEING INTERVIEWED OLOFSSON BEING INTERVIEWED (SOUNDBITE) (English) SWEDISH PRIME MINISTER AND LEADER OF MODERATE PARTY FREDRIK REINFELDT, SAYING: "That comes with a high price on security, high risk but we'll of course deal with any kind of result we have tomorrow night. But let's get the results first and then we will see how to deal with it." VARIOUS OF HAGGLUND BEING INTERVIEWED (SOUNDBITE) (Swedish) LARS-ERIK KLOCKARE, VOTER, SAYING: "Freedom of choice, health care, school, welfare and work so that we can afford the welfare." (SOUNDBITE) (Swedish) ULRIKA SJOBLAD, VOTER, SAYING: "I want everyone to have the opportunity to work in the future and not the same politics we used to have with sick benefits, people being at home off sick." VARIOUS OF ELECTION CAMPAIGN POSTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Swedish) LARS-ERIK KLOCKARE, VOTER, SAYING: "That would be very unfortunate indeed. The main thing is we get a majority government so that we get a stable government for the next four years." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING ON STREET
- Embargoed: 4th October 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Sweden
- Country: Sweden
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA2IAZ00C9ZZ92BKK8Y0LFMIGD9
- Story Text: Sweden's Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt and his alliance partners spent Saturday (September 18) campaigning ahead of Sunday's general election. After addressing a rally in southern Sweden, they arrived in the capital to try to convince undecided voters.
"We actually have the best managed public finances in Europe -- where others have doubled and increased their public debt, we've made sure to pay-off our loans," he told a crowd gathered to hear him and his alliance partners speak.
The centre-right government, helped by one of the strongest economic recoveries in the European Union (EU), has taken a lead in opinion polls over the last months.
Although the government is expected to win re-election, a strong showing by the far-right might leave the Alliance short of a majority.
"We could also end up with a result, with an unsecure situation in parliament and therefore we are asking Swedish people to be very care taking in their decision," Reinfeldt said after the rally.
Reinfeldt has called on Swedes to vote tactically to keep out the far right. He said he did not want to speculate on the result and how to deal with the Sweden Democrats should they get the four percent needed to get into parliament.
"Let's get the results first and then we will see how to deal with it," he said.
Voters face a choice between a centre-right offering a leaner welfare model and more cuts in income taxes and a centre-left that wants the rich to pay more to fund schools, hospitals and care for the elderly. The Sweden Democrats' main policy platform is to drastically cut immigration.
Standing outside a café to catch a glimpse of the prime minister who was inside giving interviews, voters considered several issues.
"Freedom of choice, health care, school, welfare and work so that we can afford the welfare," said Lars-Erik Klockare.
"I want everyone to have the opportunity to work in the future," said Ulrika Sjoblom, who said she would vote for one of the Alliance parties.
Both main blocs have ruled out co-operating with the Sweden Democrats.
Polling stations open at 0600 GMT on Sunday (September 19) and the first exit poll results are expected minutes after the polling stations close at 1800 GMT. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
