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Jonas Sjöstedt moves to Asia and is in quarantine.
Then the new life as a freelancer begins.
– I have created a small company, says the leader in V.
Jonas Sjöstedt has slowly said goodbye to politics. The Corona pandemic ended the planned change of party leader in May. The other party leaders thanked him in the Riksdag a month and a half ago.
This weekend is the time. The resigning leader of the left is giving a farewell speech at the party congress. On Tuesday, he takes the flight to Hanoi where his wife Ann Måwe and their teenage twins await him.
The V-leader receives in a remote corner of the Riksdag library in Stockholm’s Old Town. It is the fall holidays and the Riksdag is almost completely deserted. Sjöstedt sits relaxed in an armchair and has some sadness in his eyes when he talks about quitting smoking.
– He feels sad. I really wanted to say hello to all the good friends at the party, but the crown does.
He continues:
– But I really want to meet my family. We speak face to face, often several times a day, but it is not the same.
Photo: Björn Lindahl
Jonas Sjöstedt resigns as party leader and leaves the Riksdag.
Quarantine in an isolated room
His wife Ann Måwe is the Swedish ambassador to Vietnam and the family, with a few exceptions, have lived apart for the past year. When Jonas Sjöstedt lands in Hanoi on Tuesday, a two-week crown quarantine awaits in a separate room in the ambassador’s residence.
There he intends to start his new life.
– I will dedicate myself mainly to writing, both books and articles. I have a few different hooks that have been grabbed.
Sjöstedt does not want to reveal where he will publish his articles, except that he has signed a contract with a newspaper. What happens with books also arises in the dark. Better not to count too much and risk writing cramps, he reasons.
The V-leader has created a company and has become self-employed with writing as his main occupation.
Will you be able to drop politics entirely?
– I will always be politically engaged and politically active. I am leaving national politics but I am still a member of the Left Party. I hope they will save me a pass at the electoral college in the next election campaign.
Photo: Björn Lindahl
Jonas Sjöstedt resigns as party leader and leaves the Riksdag.
Longing for beer in the pub
Is there anything that you feel you have not been able to do as party leader that is now possible?
– I’m not a big party price, but it’s fun to be able to go out and have a beer on a Friday night. It’s a bit difficult as the leader of a party, you are so recognized.
When you released, Stefan Löfven wrote you are a secret note, a memo. Where do you have it now?
– It is in safe custody in a folder and will remain in safe custody with the party. I choose not to show it.
Meet Löfven with two hands
How often have you met with Löfven since the January agreement was signed?
– Very rarely. My impression is that Löfven is very careful to stick with the article from the January agreement about trying to exclude us from influence. Their goal is a right-wing collaboration.
Have you met in two hands?
– Absolutely, we have. We have seen and discussed the political situation, also this fall.
What has been said then?
– We deeply disagree on this with job security. We cannot accept him going in with teams and bypassing the unions, but Löfven has committed himself to the writing of the January agreement. But I think I would rather have a solution where you respect LO and can negotiate something good.
He is criticized for causing political chaos by threatening to topple the government. How do you deal with it?
– It’s a mistake. It is Löfven’s fault if there is a new election.
Advice for Dadgostar
But the decision is in your hands, can you arouse mistrust?
– All you have to do is not destroy the labor law. How difficult should it be for a social democrat?
You have great confidence in various opinion polls, how difficult will it be for Nooshi Dadgostar to take over?
– It takes a few years in the beginning before people recognize one in which you have to make your way. So it was for me too, I wasn’t very famous when I was chosen. You have to take that into account. But you are many other strong representatives.
What advice can you give your successor?
– I only have one tip. That he should not give advice to his successor.
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