Date: Thu, 05 May 1994 08:58:03 MET From: "Tobias Wikstr|m" My answer is that an international lobbying effort cannot possibly harm the process. However, I have some comments. You cannot say really that the partnership reform is in danger. But, as always, the reform will not be carried out without a lot of grass-roots pressure. But the right politicians should be lobbied. This is the status of the partnerhsip reform. The partnership that is poposed is the same kind of legislation that is in force in Danmark and Norway. Today (May 5th, 1994) the Swedish Legislation Council, consisting of judges from the Supreme Court and the Supreme Administrative Court will present its view on the proposed Act. On June 7th, 1994, the Parliament will vote on the proposed Partnership Act. The majority is very weak. The Leftist Party (14 votes), the Social Democratic Party (138 votes) and the Liberal Party (33 votes) and two independent MP's are in favour. The Swedish Parliament (Riksdagen) consists of 349 members. Therefore, these 187 votes in favour should be enough. However, a number of Liberal MP's have declared that they will vote AGAINST the proposed Partnership Act. Therefore we have to get as many votes as possible from the "negative" parties, i.e. the Conservative Party, the Centre Party and the New Democracy Party. Accordingly, lobbying is necessary. But since the Government (a Centre-Right Coalition) is not involved in this legislation process there is no point in lobbying our Prime Minister, Mr Carl Bildt. Instead, lobbying should be directed at the negative parties IN PARLIAMENT. Thus, please direct any lobby addresses to: Lars Tobisson, leader of the Parliamentary Group of the Conservative Party Riksdagen S-100 12 STOCKHOLM Sweden Fax +46-8-786 47 54 Gunnar Hoekmark party secretary of the Conservative Party Moderata Samlingspartiet Box 1243 S-111 82 STOCKHOLM Sweden Fax +46-8-21 61 23 Per-Ola Eriksson leader of the Parliamentary Group of the Centre Party Riksdagen S-100 12 STOCKHOLM Sweden Fax +46-8-10 84 69 ke Pettersson party secretary of the Centre Party Centerpartiets riksorganisation Box 22107 S-104 22 STOCKHOLM Sweden Fax +46-8-652 64 40 Mrs Harriet Colliander leader of the New Democracy Party Riksdagen S-100 12 STOCKHOLM Sweden Fax +46-8-786 57 00 Important information before lobbying: There is another proposal that has been put forward in the parliamentary process. This other proposed legislation, which yet has to be elaborated, is called Hushallsgemenskap (Household Community). This is a "compromise proposal" aimed at distroying the current majority in favour of the partnership act. Hushallsgemenskap is not even worth being called a compromise. It is completely unworthy incomparison with the Partnership Act. Please do not accept an answer from Swedish political actors that they want to work for Hushallsgemenskap. This is the wording of the proposed Partnerhip Act as amended by the Standing Committee on Civil-Law Legislation. Any responses from the Swedish politicians should be sent to me for the knowledge of the RFSL. In lesbian and gay solidarity, Tobias Wikstrm RFSL P.O.Box 350 S-101 26 STOCKHOLM Sweden Phone +46-8-736 02 13 Fax +46-8-30 47 30 e-mail tobias@rfsl.se -- Tobias Wikstrm RFSL, Box 350, S-101 26 Stockholm, Sweden Telephone +46-8-7360213 Telefax +46-8-304730