The Left Party Prepares for the Upcoming EU Elections with Familiar and New Faces
With the upcoming EU elections on the horizon, the Left Party has put forth a selection committee’s proposal for its candidates. The committee suggests that former party leader Jonas Sjöstedt tops the party’s ballot for next year’s EU elections, marking his return to politics after a brief hiatus.
Sjöstedt, who served as the Left Party’s party leader from 2012 to 2020, has been an EU parliamentarian for a total of eleven years. Despite his recent move to Vietnam, where his wife Ann Måwe is the ambassador, Sjöstedt has remained engaged in political affairs.
“My involvement in politics has never waned. I have followed politics every day,” Sjöstedt mentioned in an interview with the Altinget, a Danish news website.
The former party leader plans to return to Sweden in June or July, but will leave Vietnam a few months earlier to focus on the election campaign. Sjöstedt’s return to politics stems from his commitment to addressing climate change, advocating for continued EU support for Ukraine, and building a hopeful left-wing alternative in Sweden.
Joining Sjöstedt on the list of candidates is Hanna Gedin, a former deputy party secretary for the Left Party who currently serves as a political advisor for both the Danish and Swedish Left Party in the EU. Gedin hopes to address issues related to public procurement and improve working conditions and environmental standards.
The selection committee’s proposal also includes familiar and new faces such as Carolina Gustafsson, Marta Aguirre, Umihama Rasovic Kasumovic, Joel Grimborg, Gertrud Ingelman, Christina Hedin, Felicia Granath, Lotta Lagnander, and others.
When asked about the upcoming election, Sjöstedt expressed a desire to see fewer representatives from right-wing parties in Brussels, emphasizing the need for increased support for climate change initiatives and improvements in living conditions.
Gedin highlighted Sjöstedt’s determination and humility as key qualities, while Sjöstedt commended Gedin’s political acumen and legal background as valuable assets for the EU Parliament.
The Left Party aims to garner more support in the upcoming EU elections by focusing on climate change, fair working conditions, and affordable housing, and they plan to achieve this through a collaborative effort among its members and candidates.