**One Year into His Term, Jonas Attenius Faces Political Challenges**
It has been a year since Jonas Attenius took the reins as the leader of the red-green government in Gothenburg, albeit in a minority. Despite securing control over the budget and a majority in important committees and companies through an agreement with the Center Party, Attenius finds himself under pressure from both the left and the right.
Attenius, a former UN soldier and ocean racer, has had a non-traditional political career, entering politics full-time as a municipal councilor in 2016 and becoming chairman of the municipal board on January 1 of this year. His tenure has been marked by difficult political battles, with pressure from the left to raise taxes and warnings from the right about a lax economy. Municipal employees are also demanding more.
The recent withdrawal of the board has been significant for the S National party. This shift has given Attenius a voice on the boards of the Social Democrats and Sweden’s municipalities and regions, SKR, despite having to leave Rosenbad after the election.
Attenius has faced criticism from past terms, with representatives of V in Gothenburg accusing S of “brown-colored desert walking.” However, Attenius remains focused on finding compromises and balancing different inputs from various political parties. Under his leadership, the red-green government in Gothenburg has been working on tackling issues of security and segregation, with a focus on taking concrete actions rather than engaging in academic discussions.
The government has also been faced with unexpected challenges, such as an increased PO surcharge and the need for budget cuts despite increased welfare allocations. Attenius and the government are now working on implementing a special employment review to address this issue.
One of the key initiatives that Attenius has been pushing for is breaking down economic, ethnic, and linguistic segregation in the city. Inspired by his background as a building carpenter, Attenius emphasizes the need for concrete actions and practical solutions to the city’s challenges.
As he reflects on his first year in office, Attenius acknowledges the difficulties in balancing different inputs from various political parties. However, he remains committed to finding compromises and practical solutions to the city’s most pressing issues.