“There are many uncertainties in the ongoing pandemic that make the work on the 400th anniversary challenging. There is great uncertainty about how the celebration could be carried out ", writes all parties in the municipal board except SD in a joint request.

It was on June 4, 1621 that Gothenburg received its city privileges and the idea is now that a smaller "formal historical" celebration will be held next year to mark that it is 400 years since the city was founded. The larger celebration takes place two years later.

- Yes, there is a large and broad consensus on this issue, says Klas Eriksson, communicator and political secretary (MP). The Moderates, Liberals, Center Party, Social Democrats, Left Party, Green Party and Christian Democrats have written a joint proposal to postpone the celebration.

The chairman of the municipal board, Axel Josefson (M), says that after talks with various actors in Gothenburg, it has been decided that it is far too uncertain to carry out an anniversary next year due to the corona pandemic.

- Everyone recommends that we gather strength by 2023 and have a proper folk festival without any obstacles, he says.

Will the anniversary be celebrated in any way next year?

- We will have some activities next year but we will return to the issue.

Daniel Bernmar, the Left Party's group leader in Gothenburg, confirms for SVT Nyheter Väst that the party will vote to postpone the celebration.

- For us, it is important that it becomes a folk festival for the people of Gothenburg and if it can not be, it is better that it is moved. So we get a new tradition with postponed celebrations just like 1923.

The Democrats are not included in the demand, but the party will vote in favor of the proposal.

- The reason why we are not included in the claim is that we think it will be crazy too expensive, says the party's chairman Martin Wannholt.

The final decision will be made on Wednesday and the Sweden Democrats will not vote on the issue on Wednesday.

- This proposal has come far too quickly and we think it is important to sit down and think about how we can best use taxpayers' money. For example, we are completely against a celebration spread throughout 2023, but would rather see a short, concentrated celebration, says municipal councilor Jörgen Fogelklou (SD).

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