Prime Minister attends Pride – never happened before – Aftonbladet

Prime Minister attends Pride – never happened before – Aftonbladet

Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt (M) has been at the Pride train.
It is the first time that a sitting Swedish prime minister does.
– This is extremely important and a symbol of the progress we have seen in LGBTQ issues in recent years. There have been significant positive changes in terms that everyone should be allowed to live openly with anyone, he tells Aftonbladet.

This year’s Pride train in Stockholm greater than ever.

153 rigs have registered and over 60 000 people attend Pride train.

One of them is Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt. His participation is historically – never before has a Swedish incumbent prime minister joined the bandwagon.

Aftonbladet reaches Fredrik Reinfeldt as he stands at the start of Hornsgatan and waiting to Moderates rigs will begin to roll. With him are, among others, Finance Minister Anders Borg, Minister of Justice Beatrice Ask, Minister Billström and Anna Kinberg Batra, Moderates group leader in parliament.

– It has begun to move. This is a great festival and I hope to meet many nice people, he says.

More than 600 000 people are in the audience and participate in the festival.

“Possibly one more step”

Fredrik Reinfeldt sees its participation in the parade as a symbol of the increasing openness of Sweden.

– It is important in a time when we see how the LGBT movement crowding around Europe and in the world of more homophobic politician who opposes them. Then it’s important to me personally, but the whole of this Pridetåg, stands as a symbol of greater transparency and also symbolizes over 20-25 years of increased openness here in Sweden, he says.

Why it took until now?

– As I see it, there has been an evolution over time. I himself was the opening speaker at Pride 11 years ago, in 2003., We’ve got LGBT ministers in a Swedish government, we have enabled the marriage in 2009., It has always been a gradual evolution, and let’s say then this is possibly another step.

What do you think this makes the election results

– Haha, I do not know. Today is the festival.