Zweedse eurosceptici richten nieuwe politieke partij op (en)

Eurosceptics in Sweden are to form a new political party and to present it within two weeks, according to Swedish press.

The new party will be politically in the middle of Swedish party politics and headed by the Social Democrat and former chief economist at Nordbanken, Nils Lundgren.

Former Swedish national bank governor Lars Wohlin will also be on the list.

The new party hopes to build on Swedish scepticism towards European integration. In a referendum on the euro on 14 September 2003, 56 percent of Swedes voted against the European currency.

According to the latest opinion poll, opposition to the euro has grown since the referendum with 61 percent of Swedes now opposed, according to a Skop-poll published by Dagens Industri.

Mr Lundgren has high hopes for the party, saying, "40 percent of the electorate want to have what we are to offer. This should give us a potential of ... possibly four seats in the European Parliament", says Mr Lundgren.

There is, so far, no name for the new party.

Three main political points have however, been established: A referendum should be held in Sweden on a new EU constitution, the referendum on the euro should be respected and the so-called subsidiarity principle - that decisions are made as close to the citizens as possible - should be better respected.