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Sweden euro poll clash after lindhs death { September 10 2003 }

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Sweden's euro polls clash after Lindh's death
By Christopher Brown-Humes in Stockholm and FT staff
Published: September 10 2003 19:20 | Last Updated: September 12 2003 9:59

The impact the murder of Anna Lindh, Sweden's foreign minister, will have on the country's euro referendum this weekend remained unclear after opinion polls gave a conflicting picture of voters' intentions.

Research institute SKOP's survey, carried out after Ms Lindh's death, showed support for the euro growing , with the "Yes"and "No" sides neck and neck on 50 per cent each.

However, a poll of just over 1,00 people by Sifo, also carried on Thursday evening, showed the "No" side leading with 50 per cent with the "Yes" side trailing on 38 per cent. Yet another polling institute, Gallup, said 91 per cent of those questioned said they did not think Ms Lindh's death would influence their voting decision while 5 per cent said that it would.

Sweden decided to press ahead with Sunday's euro referendum, despite the murder a decision agreed by the leaders of all the country's political parties, including euro opponents.

Göran Persson, prime minister, said: "We want to stick to parliamentary decisions. We don't want to end up in a situation where violence puts an end to the democratic process."

Tributes to Ms Lindh poured in from all around the world. Kofi Annan, UN secretary general, said Sweden had lost "a great foreign minister, a great Swede and a great European".

Jack Straw, UK foreign minister, said: "She had this extraordinary ability to balance the demands of one of the most active of Europes' foreign ministers in her role as one of Sweden's leading politicians and that of someone who was completely committed to her family."

Mr Persson said he and other party leaders had discussed postponing the September 14 referendum, either for a month or until next year. "Both those alternatives are bad alternatives. We cannot rule out that if you take such a measure, something new will happen that again puts us in the same situation, " he said.

He added that all parties had agreed to respect the outcome of the vote. Ms Lindh's death is thought likely to favour Yes campaigners, as she was a strong supporter of the single currency, although the No side retains a strong lead in opinion polls.

Mr Persson said there would be no more active campaigning before the referendum, but politicians would be urging Swedes to use their vote and would answer questions put to them about the euro. The format of a TV debate on Friday night has still to be decided. The prime minister said he would take part in a demonstration for democracy and against violence tomorrow.

Björn von Sydow, parliamentary speaker, said Ms Lindh herself, as a strong supporter of democracy, would have wanted the referendum to go ahead.

Jan O. Karlsson, the overseas aid minister, was appointed as acting foreign minister.

Ms Lindh died at 5.29am local time, after suffering a massive loss of blood and severe liver damage. Doctors had battled for 10 hours to save her.

A shocked Göran Persson, prime minister, paid tribute to her skills, her knowledge, and her commitment to international issues. "She was engaged, quick-thinking and straight to the point. She was our face to the outside world," he said.

Popular, admired, and respected, she was widely seen as Mr Persson's most likely successor. "It's unreal. It's hard to fully understand," he added.

He added: "[Anna Lindh] gave Swedish foreign policy a modern expression. She managed to bring our message not only to Europe but also to the rest of the world, by focusing on human rights, democracy and the fight for freedom."

Ms Lindh, 46, leaves a husband and two children. Her attacker has not been caught.

For many Swedes, her death is a painful reminder of the still unsolved assassination of Olof Palme, Sweden's then prime minister, 17 years ago. He was murdered in the streets of Stockholm while returning home with his wife from a cinema visit.

Like Mr Palme, Ms Lindh did not have a bodyguard at the time of the attack, which took place in an exclusive department store in central Stockholm. Anger at the lack of security arrangements for such a high profile politician, days before a crucial vote, was growing in Sweden on Wednesday.





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