April 28, 2022- 9:31 p.m.
Swedish PM Rejects Holding a Referendum on Potential NATO Membership
Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson rejected the idea of holding a referendum on the country’s potential NATO membership, calling it a “bad idea.”
Andersson’s comments were made in response to a call for a referendum from Sweden’s opposition Left Party.
“This … has to go back to the voters, there has to be very strong democratic support in this question,” Left Party leader Nooshi Dadgostar said earlier this week.
Andersson argued that Swedes shouldn’t vote on the issue since it’s a matter of national security. “I don’t think it is an issue that is suitable for a referendum,” she said.
Finland is also considering joining the military alliance, and according to media reports from both countries, they are expected to apply together sometime in mid-May.
