Former PM calls for new government
Sweden's former Centre Party prime minister has stepped forward to boost his party ahead of Sunday's election.
Thorbjörn Fälldin, who led the country between 1976 and 1978 and again from 1979-1982, said it was time for power in Sweden to change hands.
"It's time for a power shift. That's why I'm turning up to support Maud Olofsson during her campaign tour of the Norrland coast," said 80-year old Fälldin.
When Fälldin became prime minister thirty years ago it was the first time in 40 years that the Social Democrats had been turfed out of office.
Fälldin's years in charge were marred by disunity in the centre-right ruling bloc over nuclear power and taxes. But the former PM said things would be different this time.
"The four parties have been very sensible and have united in a large range of political question. In my day a similar centre-right alliance was a political impossibility," the 80-year old Fälldin told news agency TT.
He said he understood why current leader Maud Olofsson had compromised on the question of nuclear power, to which the party has traditionally been opposed.
He denied that the party had betrayed its ideals.
"I understand this development. My understanding is that the Centre Party hasn't gained a single new member with this traditional argument in the nuclear question. There is now a clear line that we should provide energy that can replace nuclear power."
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Thorbjörn Fälldin, who led the country between 1976 and 1978 and again from 1979-1982, said it was time for power in Sweden to change hands.
"It's time for a power shift. That's why I'm turning up to support Maud Olofsson during her campaign tour of the Norrland coast," said 80-year old Fälldin.
When Fälldin became prime minister thirty years ago it was the first time in 40 years that the Social Democrats had been turfed out of office.
Fälldin's years in charge were marred by disunity in the centre-right ruling bloc over nuclear power and taxes. But the former PM said things would be different this time.
"The four parties have been very sensible and have united in a large range of political question. In my day a similar centre-right alliance was a political impossibility," the 80-year old Fälldin told news agency TT.
He said he understood why current leader Maud Olofsson had compromised on the question of nuclear power, to which the party has traditionally been opposed.
He denied that the party had betrayed its ideals.
"I understand this development. My understanding is that the Centre Party hasn't gained a single new member with this traditional argument in the nuclear question. There is now a clear line that we should provide energy that can replace nuclear power."
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