Greens get tough!

On february 20:th prestigious daily Dagens Nyheter published an article by 15 leading members of the Green Party demanding a referendum on the EU-constitution. The undersigned were parliamentarians, members of the NEC and both Speakers of the Green Youth.

The Green Party is in a co-operation agreement with the Socialdemocratic government and the eurosceptic Left Party. The minor parties do not have any ministers but are a necessary part of the government´s majority.

There is a lot of talk, mainly in the Green Party, about the Greens either becoming a full member of the government or leaving the co-operation after the next election. Prime Minister Göran Persson has agreed that he might form a coalition with the Greens, although not with the Left Party.

Left party MEP Jonas Sjöstedt have recently demanded a vote of no confidence should the government attempt to ratify the Constitution without a referendum.

The reason the article by the Greens merit a mention on this Blog is the last line:

We are convinced that if the Riksdag on initiative of the Socialdemocratic government would ratify the EU-constitution before the 2006 elections, it would make a future closer co-operation between the Socialdemocrats and the Green Party next to impossible.

This is not really an ultimatum. But it's as close as it can get.