The theme “We are building the country” for the S congress in Gothenburg this fall

Prime Minister Stefan Löfven (S) recently announced on Facebook that he wants to lead the party in the next elections in 2022. This means that he is standing for re-election at the party’s 41st congress, which is scheduled to take place on March 3. November 7 in Gothenburg.

Rådström Baastad also wants to continue

And now her horse partner at the top of the party, Lena Rådström Baastad, also announces that she is doing the same.

The party secretary, who was assigned the task after being a city councilor in Örebro, has at times been questioned within S. Among other things, she has been criticized for not being sufficiently visible with S’s priorities outside of the government cooperation, where they have sometimes been forced to compromise on important issues.

– It is no secret that when I stepped on this commission, with enormous confidence, it took a short time to find her role. I had not been to the national level before. But I absolutely feel that I have the energy and the will to try to run for re-election, says Rådström Baastad.

The criticism, he says, has been justified.

– There is still the expectation that it will be the Social Democrats who make their voice heard in this cooperation and that we, as a party, must clarify our position in government cooperation with others. But I think we have improved a bit, although we have more to do.

Well-being in focus

At the party board meeting on Friday, the congressional focus – welfare – was hammered. The party leadership on the executive committee is also behind the decision.

That the theme of the congress fell on “We are building the country”, Lena Rådström Baastad explains that Sweden needs a fresh start after the pandemic, but also that she remembers S’s efforts historically. Then as now, for example, it is about creating jobs and growth throughout the country.

– And we also need to build a greener, more egalitarian and safer country.

Solidarity and climate

Some of the issues that the 350 representatives will address are S’s policy to strengthen well-being and solidarity in society. But also how climate change should be implemented without people being afraid of the future.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, the S Congress is being planned according to three different scenarios: To be held physically with just over 1,000 delegates, listeners, guests and the media. With only agents and party leaders present. Or as a completely digital event.

Starting point before the elections

The Social Democrats are currently slightly below their 2018 election result of 28.3 percent in opinion polls. In the last GP / Sifo, the match was at 27.2 percent. In addition, the government receives criticism from the opposition for everything, from dealing with the crisis of the crown to crime and the bourgeoisie, which in the 2022 elections will also be made up of the liberals, a challenge for power opening up to the support of the SD.

The political discussions in the congress will therefore also be a starting point for the social democratic electoral movement next year.

– It will really be a starting point. We have a great job to do and will start our organization early, says Rådström Baastad.

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