Left leader makes on-air wedding proposal

Left Party leader Lars Ohly took the opportunity of a televised party leader debate to propose to his long-term girlfriend, Åsa, who accepted the offer.

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Many television viewers missed out on the romantic proposal as Ohly was cut off by a TV4 commercial break.

Ohly confirmed after the adverts that as he had been together with his Åsa for eight years it was time for her to make him an honest man. She replied yes.

The debate was otherwise noteable for the lack of clarity from the Red-Green coalition on a number of outstanding issues.

Green Party leader Peter Eriksson forecast that Swedish nuclear power stations would be decommissioned within 10-15 years. Social Democrat leader Mona Sahlin was not however asked for her opinion on the issue.

TV4's presenters sought confirmation on the details of wealth taxes, which the Red-Greens plan to reintroduce, and why the parties had been unable to reach agreement on parental leave, but were unable to get a clear answer.

Lars Ohly pointed out that wealth tax is set to be the subject of an inquiry and would be presented before 2012. It remains unclear, for example, if properties are to be included in the new tax.

A further issue discussed in the debate was whether billionaires, such as H&M founder Stefan Persson, would once again be exempted from the levy. Eriksson at this point said that this is an issue that few voters seek clarity on.

"For most people this is not all important," he said.

The party leaders were able to agree on their disdain for education minister Jan Björklund's use of the term "flumskola" applied to less traditional school education.

The trio also agreed that the teaching profession needs a boost in status and promised to spend 12 billion kronor ($1.7 billion) on the sector in the first year of a Red-Green mandate period.

The issue of Muslim headdress in schools also came up with the three leaders agreed that they were against a ban, arguing that the issue is not really a problem and has been exaggerated as an issue.

On the issue of labour migration Mona Sahlin replied that she would work for an open European and Swedish society.

The party leaders all agreed that the monarchy should be abolished in favour of a republic, although Mona Sahlin argued that there were higher priorities on the agenda.