News from Swedish gay/lesbian politics Published by the Swedish Federation for Gay and Lesbian Rights (RFSL) No. 15/94 (April 11th-17th, 1994) 1 The Liberals discuss the forms for the registration "We know that this issue is currently considered within the Standing Committee on Civil-Law Legislation." So write the Liberals Lars Leijonborg and Lennart Olsson in an article in the christian daily Dagen on April 15th and refer to the issue on whether partnership in the future is to be entered through a public registration or not. The article is written by Lars Leijonborg, leader of the Parliamentary Group of the Liberal Party, and Lennart Olsson, representative of the Network of Christian Liberals, and is a reaction to the reports in Dagen that Leijonborg and Olsson would have different opinions in the partnership issue (see News from Swedish gay/lesbian politics 14/94): "Dagen's articles last Friday on the position of the Liberal Party contained - primarily in headlines and preambles - some errors that we want to correct. Since the undersigned are said to have different opinions, we would like to write this reply jointly since there is no difference in opinion between us." "Already on the front page the headline is 'We have never decided to support a partnership act', with reference to something that the undersigned Lennart Olsson would have said. It is of course completely absurd that a person who was present at the Party Congress of the Liberal Party in 1990 should have claimed that it did not decide to work for an introduction of partnership (and of course this must be done through legislation). What the undersigned Olsson has said, however, is that the Party Congress - for obvious reasons - did not take a stand in favour of precisely the draft legislation later to be presented by the Partnership Commission. Some of the criticism against the proposal in question has to do with such issues that not automatically are consequences of the decision at the Party Congress. It is discussed within our Parliamentary Group how these issues are to be handled. An issue that has been discussed after the submission of the report of the Partnership Commission is the form for the entering of partnership. What the undersigned Olsson referred to, both in the interview last Friday and in an earlier interview in Dagen in the same topic, is the Commission proposal about a 'ceremony' in connection with the entering of the partnership, which cannot be said to have been included in the Party Congress decision. Critics have claimed that if the form for registration becomes very 'ceremonial', an impression is created that the partnership is equal to marriage. We know that this issue currently is considered within the Standing Committee on Civil-Law Legislation." "Partnership does not mean that the homosexuals get 'marital status' - if that would have been the ambition it would have been easier simply to give homosexuals the right to marry. What is done now is that a new form of cohabitation, sanctioned by the society, is introduced" write Lars Leijonborg and Lennart Olsson. Dagen responds on the same page: "Has the leader of the Liberal Parliamentary Group, Lars Leijonborg, succeeded in making Lennart Olsson, chairperson of the Network of Christian Liberals, retire one step? That is a clear impression when the above article is read. Not one word is said here about the proposed household community law that Lennart Olsson clearly promoted in the talk with Dagen's reporter. In that talk, he claimed that the common position of the Swedish Church and the non-conformist churches was the only reaso- nable position. It is positive that Lennart Olsson expresses hesitation concerning a marriage ceremony in connection with the partnership. But still remains that it is the sexual relationship that is to determine whether one may enter into a partnership, as opposed to the proposed household community law." 2 Alf Svensson about the partnership act Rolf ¸bj”rnsson, Christian Democrat nominated for MP, criticizes the Liberal Party for its position in the partnership issue in the latest issue of the periodical Kristdemokraten (14/94): "- I find it extraordinary. One just may not negotiate with the opposition about such an issue in the middle of a term of office. If the Liberal Party forces through a law in the Parliament, against the wishes of the other Coalition Parties, a code of honour between the parties is violated." Alf Svensson answers in the same article: "Alf Svensson, leader of the Christian Democratic Party, agrees with Rolf ¸bj”rnsson that it is a 'very extraordinary measure' when a Coalition Party igonores its Coalition colleagues'. - However, one can never get away from the fact that it is legitimate. There are motions about partnership in the Standing Committee on Civil-Law Legislation. And there is a majority in favour in the Parliament. On June 7th the Parliament will consider whether homosexual couples shall be able to 'marry'. What will it mean for the Christian Democrats in the Government and the Parliament if the proposal is passed? - Well, it only means that we can show that we were against the issue. We use the parliamentary possibilities that are available. We cannot do more. Alf Svensson does not expect Bengt Westerberg, leader of the Liberals, to do anything in order to influence the Liberal MP's to say no to partnership (the Liberal Party Congress has said yes to partnership). Don't you have the feeling that Bengt Westerberg is so prepared to govern together with the Social Democrats that he does not care about the Christian Democrats now? - No, I do not think that you should connect this particular issue with the coalition issue. If the Liberal Party forces through a partnership act togehter with the Social Democrats and the Leftists, is it then possible for you to cooperate with the Liberal Party in a new coalition next autumn? - I count on doing that anyway - yes. The conditions of politics is that you cannot block your own possibilities of influencing in a great number of issues, just because you dislike the positions in one issue."