Marmorstein: "She has simply not succeeded in getting the party's policy out"

With only five months left until the election, the Liberal party leader Nyamko Sabuni announced on Friday that she is resigning as party chairman.

- It was absolutely surprising.

It has previously been speculated that the Liberals have been in such a bad position in public opinion.

But most people still did not think that a change of party leader so close to the election was relevant, says SVT's domestic policy commentator Elisabeth Marmorstein.

The message comes after the Liberals have been drawn with low opinion figures for a long time.

- She herself refers to the fact that the discussion about her whole being hinders a change of power.

She believes that the discussion about both her merits and shortcomings takes up so much space that it contributes to the Liberals' position in public opinion, Marmorstein continues.

"Made the cup overflow"

Nyamko Sabuni was recently noticed for a statement that she would go to Norway in the event of war in Sweden.

- It is obvious that you make that connection, but of course there is something else behind it as well.

It was the last thing that made the cup overflow in order to still land in this decision, says Elisabeth Marmorstein.

Johan Persson, today deputy party chairman, will now be the one to take over the chairmanship of the Liberals.

Politically, he is on the same side as Sabuni.

He is also a familiar name in the party leadership circle, according to Marmorstein.

That a change of party leader takes place so close to an election is not the norm, however, she says.

- That is why you choose a party leader who is well known to the voters.

"Has simply not succeeded"

According to Elisabeth Marmorstein, the term of office has been difficult for the Liberals.

Although Nyamko Sabuni has had a clear profile on the issue of integration, her presidency has been marked by an infected struggle to open up for cooperation with the Sweden Democrats, something that has divided the party internally.

They have also lost important issues, and not least the parade issue about the school, according to Marmorstein.

-She has simply not succeeded in getting the party's policy out in a way that has succeeded in gaining an impact.

So it has been a big weakness, she says.

- The Liberals have difficulty explaining clearly to voters why they are needed in Swedish politics.

There are many concerns for this small party and it remains to be seen how Johan Persson can influence this, says Elisabeth Marmorstein.