Sweden Democrats lose Malmö seat
The Sweden Democrats have lost a seat on Malmö municipal council following a decision by one of their councillors to sit as an independent, refusing to accede to the party's wishes for him to resign.
The party recently lost a Riksdag seat after a similar decision by William Petzäll, and Malmö councillor Cay Elané has now joined the growing list of party rebels.
According to Magnus Olsson of the Sweden Democrats, Elané has been guilty of a slew of "offences", and the party finally tired of their representative on Friday, the local Sydsvenskan daily reported.
"Among other things, he has neglected his duties as a lay assessor in the district court. It was serious stuff," Olsson told the paper.
But Elané told the paper that he was shocked at the party's decision to demand his resignation.
"I have not neglected my duties. The things he brought up with me concern my personal life. You could say that I went partying one Saturday and it was brought to his attention," he told Sydsvenskan.
"If one is 52 years-old, then you have the right to party on a Saturday."
Elané will now join his former Sweden Democrat colleague Christer Voigt as independents sitting on the Malmö council. Voigt left the party in the spring.
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The party recently lost a Riksdag seat after a similar decision by William Petzäll, and Malmö councillor Cay Elané has now joined the growing list of party rebels.
According to Magnus Olsson of the Sweden Democrats, Elané has been guilty of a slew of "offences", and the party finally tired of their representative on Friday, the local Sydsvenskan daily reported.
"Among other things, he has neglected his duties as a lay assessor in the district court. It was serious stuff," Olsson told the paper.
But Elané told the paper that he was shocked at the party's decision to demand his resignation.
"I have not neglected my duties. The things he brought up with me concern my personal life. You could say that I went partying one Saturday and it was brought to his attention," he told Sydsvenskan.
"If one is 52 years-old, then you have the right to party on a Saturday."
Elané will now join his former Sweden Democrat colleague Christer Voigt as independents sitting on the Malmö council. Voigt left the party in the spring.
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