More Centre Party offices vandalised

The Centre Party's office in central Gothenburg was damaged last night by paint bombs thrown at the facade, doors and signs. The attack appears to have been part of an ongoing campaign against the party, which has suggested radical reforms to employment laws in a bid to cut youth unemployment.

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On Wednesday morning layer of black paint covered the windows, doorway and an electric sign bearing the party's name. Witnesses reported seeing four men running from the scene, reported Swedish Radio.

The attack also affected private apartments in the building - after the building's property association had asked the party to remove the sign, which extended over a number of residents' windows.

"It is absolutely not our intention that any private person should be affected," said Mats Brännström, chairman of the Centre Party's Gothenburg branch, to TT.

He said that he could not promise that the sign would be taken down during the day, but said it would not be lit.

In the last fortnight, Centre Party offices around Sweden have been vandalised. Party representatives believe the attacks are linked to the controversial proposal for a special labour contract for new employees under the age of 26.

The party wants to give employers the right to fire a young person with immediate effect during the first two years of employment.

At the same time, a statutory redundancy payment of 8% of the salary should be introduced. The idea is to encourage employers to take on more young people.

"We must have a system in which young people can get a foothold in the job market," said the Centre Party leader, Maud Olofsson in February.

Olofsson said the contract would give young people "the chance to prove themselves".

The French government last week backed down from a similar proposal after massive street demonstrations across the country.

Louis Roper