The referendum in Haparanda on the new nursing home Hemstranden ended with almost 80 percent for municipal operations and only 18.5 percent for a contract solution.

"Not the voters' most important issue"

But turnout was only 28.7 percent.

Almost three out of four Haparanda residents did not vote at all.

Municipal councilor Sven Tornberg (C) was negatively surprised by it.

- There was an alarmingly low proportion of voters who participated in the referendum.

This is not the voters' most important issue in the local elections, he says.

It can be a matter of choice ”

The operating form for Hemstranden's nursing home has been referred back by the council for a risk and impact assessment to be carried out, and the municipal management has forwarded the matter to the social welfare committee for a staffing and organizational plan to be made.

- We do not have time for that before the election.

It can be a question of choice about freedom of care or municipal operation.

If we were to raise the issue to the council now and the parties vote as they said they should do, it would be an operating contract, but we want to do a good job of the re-referral as well and then we have to wait, says Sven Tornberg.

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In the clip, you hear Sven Tornberg (C), municipal councilor in the city of Haparanda, about the "surprisingly" low turnout about the operation of the nursing home.

Photo: Linus Nilsson / SVT