Last weekend, ALDE Party member Centerpartiet held a party Congress in Örebro, Sweden, welcoming new members to the party’s board and adopting three new major programmes on climate, school and rural policy. 

Over 1,000 participants attended the meeting, which lasted from 29 September-1 October and was the first as party leader for Muharrem Demirok after his election in March. 

“We will always be a green, down-to-earth, liberal party. We know we can lower taxes while reducing emissions. We know we can get the migration policy in order while protecting every human being’s equal rights and value. We know we can stop gang violence while building stronger welfare for all. We know we must take both the big cities and the rural areas forward if we are to grow as a country. So we intend to do both,” said Demirok in his opening speech. 

During the Congress, members elected five new additions to the party’s board. These include Abir Al-Sahlani MEP, Emma Wiesner MEP, Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist MP, former MP Sofia Nilsson and Mattias Johansson, Centerpartiet councillor in Uppsala, Sweden. 

First deputy leader Daniel Bäckström unveiled the party’s new policy to invest in Sweden’s rural areas, including proposals for fairer taxes, investments in vocational schools, upgrades in road and transport infrastructure and strengthened food supply. 

Second deputy leader Martin Ådahl said Centerpartiet’s newly-adopted climate policy programme aims to increase green ambitions, reduce CO2 emissions, increase the competitiveness and use of Swedish biofuels, and implement aggressive reforms to make Sweden a green example in the world and reach a 100 per cent fossil-free energy system by 2040. 

The party also presented its new education policy programme, entitled "A school for life journeys", containing eight priority areas for a reform of primary and secondary schools. The plan includes several proposals to improve school financing, change the grading system and include language requirements.  

Wrapping up the event, Centerkvinnorna, the women’s wing of the party, presented their annual Center Feminist of the Year award to Al-Sahlani MEP for her distinguished work on promoting women’s rights in Europe and beyond. Congratulations!

ÅRETS CENTERFEMINIST!

Centerkvinnorna, mitt politiska kvinnoförbund, har utsett mig till årets centerfeminist. Från djupet av mitt hjärta: TACK! Det är en enorm ära. pic.twitter.com/EtJtenSRnk

— AbirAlsahlani (@AbirAlsahlani) October 1, 2023

Photo: Centerpartiet