Sweden's political landscape and the euro vote

A deep split dividing Swedes on the question of whether to adopt the euro, to be decided in a referendum on Sunday, is mirrored in the country's political establishment where it runs through party lines and the ranks of government.

Five of 23 ministers in the cabinet of Prime Minister Goeran Persson, himself an ardent supporter of eurozone membership, are hostile to the single currency.

They include his deputy, Margareta Winberg, and Leif Pagrotsky, who is in charge of the economy portfolio.

The leadership of Persson's own political party, the Social Democrats, has thrown its weight behind the euro campaign and party delegates also backed the single currency in a vote in March 2000.

But dissent is rife among the party's rank and file.

"Social Democrats against the EMU", one of the grassroots movements, is among the liveliest voices against Economic and Monetary union, and often campaigns alongside fellow party members who defend the official line.

The Green party and the formerly communist Left Party, who informally support Persson's minority government in parliament, refuse to back him as far as euro membership is concerned.

Both parties have even in the past campaigned for Sweden's withdrawal from the European Union, but are now less vociferous on the subject.

A few members of the Left Party have come out in favour of the euro, hoping to enlist it in their efforts to "globalise resistance".

Some of Persson's staunchest allies in his pro-euro campaign are to be found among the parliamentary opposition parties.

The Liberals, Conservatives and Christian Democrats are all in favour of joining the eurozone, and have the full backing of Sweden's business leaders.

The opposition Centre Party is against the euro, but the party leadership tolerates a minority that has come out in favour of the single currency.

Trade unions are divided on the issue.

The biggest among them, LO with its two million members, is officially neutral on the euro question, although some of its leaders have taken an openly pro-euro stance.