Sahlin enjoys support of majority within party

Mona Sahlin enjoys the support of enough Social Democrat party districts to ensure that she will be named the new party leader at a congress in March.

Published: 15 January 2007 13:07 CET

Ten districts have pledged their absolute support for Sahlin, while three others have put her name forward among others.

The ten districts in favour of Sahlin’s candidacy supply 156 of the 350 congress delegates.

The three other districts, Skaraborg, Uppsala and Gotland, have a total of 24 delegates.

The other names these districts have suggested are Ulrica Messing and Sven-Erik Österberg.

Messing confirmed at the weekend that she will not be running for party leader. And since Österberg is only proposed by one district, Gotland, his candidacy is not considered realistic.

As the delegates vote along district lines, Sahlin has effectively already accumulated a majority of 180 votes.

The party nominating committee is expected to make a formal request for Sahlin to lead the party later this week.