Swedish referendum to go ahead
Swedish Prime Minister Göran Persson has confirmed that the referendum on the euro will take place on 14 September, despite the death from stab wounds of Foreign Secretary, Anna Lindh.
Mr Persson was speaking after a meeting of party leaders in Stockholm. He told reporters that there were three alternatives open to them. They could postpone the referendum for an unspecified amount of time, they could recall Parliament or they could go ahead as planned.
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None of these alternatives was pleasant, said Mr Persson, but the decision to go ahead was taken out of respect for the democratic process.
"We have agreed that the euro referendum will go ahead as planned", said the Prime Minister.
Mr Persson announced that there would be no more political debate on the euro, nor would there be any campaigning. He would be taking part in a rally organised by the Social Democrats against violence for the next few days.
People have enough information on the euro already, maintained Mr Persson.