No one controls Bromölla after SD’s departure

– What seventeen – they don’t agree! What nonsense is that?

Anita Pylvänen shakes her head and leans over to pick up shiny chestnuts that are beginning to fall from the trees in an empty square in the center of Bromölla.

During his 59 years as a municipal resident, he had never experienced anything like it.

– Never! I’m so tired of them that they don’t agree! They can put politics aside and become friends. This is not possible.

At the Town Hall, a stone’s throw from the square, there has been a great drama. Until now, SD has ruled in the minority with the support of M and KD. Today, suddenly, more than 12,000 inhabitants find themselves without political control.

“Taken by surprise”

After the last elections in 2018, the northeastern municipality of Skåne will be in the spotlight together with Hörby and Sölvesborg. SD will participate in government for the first time. Bromölla City Councilor Eric Berntsson tells how he becomes a councilor “overnight.”

It’s just as fast in mid-August this year. The same councilor suddenly announces his resignation, for personal reasons. Shortly thereafter, more resignations by various SD municipal politicians follow.

– I can say that they put me to bed as much as everyone else, says Magnus Persson (SD), president of the municipal council and the Swedish Democrat who has the longest experience of local politics in Bromölla.

“Majority against us”

Swedish Democrats no longer want to lead a minority government. It has not been possible to follow the party’s policy, according to Magnus Persson.

– On many issues, we had a majority against us.

But SD has still taken responsibility for the situation that has arisen, he emphasizes.

– I do not buy the reasoning that we throw in the towel. We left quite early and we approached both to the right and to the left. We want to form a government with a large majority in the municipality of Bromölla.

But a comprehensive solution has yet to emerge alongside the other major parties in the small municipality, which is also struggling with a deficit of more than 25 million.

“Where do we stand?”

The situation is tough, at the same time that political limbo grows. On Monday, the moderates also announced that they would leave their posts and go into opposition.

– We are still standing, says the vice president of the municipal council, Jenny Önnevik (S), who temporarily assumed command of the municipality.

She certifies that conversations to find a solution are ongoing between the parties. At the same time, however, the Social Democrats, Bromölla’s largest party, have already given the SD a cold hand.

– Because ideologically we are very separated. It is politics that we pursue and a municipality for which we are responsible and we have different foundations to support ourselves. And that should be just as unreasonable for the Swedish Democrats actually.

TT: But as the biggest party, don’t you have a responsibility to bring it together in the end?

– It is clear that we have a great responsibility, just as those who left the board have a responsibility.

“We don’t know who is in control”

However, Magnus Persson (SD) has not given up on the idea of ​​majority rule.

– We have not yet closed the door, we are open to sit.

TT: What can the rest of the country learn from this?

– I think it is important to learn, and it is especially for the Swedish democrats who sit in many municipalities after the next elections, that here it can really be pointed out how difficult it is to govern in the minority. I must honestly admit that and maybe we were a bit naive.

Without a doubt, the turbulence has put Bromölla on the map. Bromölla residents that TT meets on city streets have a hard time keeping up with all the tours. Who really controls?

– Good question, that was a good question! We don’t know who is in control of Bromölla, says Denok Ahola as he collides with TT on the sidewalk.

– I don’t know what’s going on, completes Martin Ahola.

– But it is important that we have a government. They get acquainted with it.