Swedish P.M. to testify

Press, 5 August 1988, Page 6

Swedish P.M. to testify

NZPA-Reuter Stockholm The Swedish Prime Minister, Ingvar Carlsson, will be questioned today about a secret investigation into the murder in 1985 of his predecessor, Olof Palme, as scandal threatens to damage his Social Democratic Party six weeks before a General Election.

Mr Carlsson will be asked by an all-party parliamentary committee to tell what he knew of the privately-financed, covert operation which in June forced the resignation of his Justice Min-

ister, Anna-Greta Leijon. Ms Leijon quit after a member of the undercover investigation, headed by a Left-wing publisher, was caught trying to smuggle illegal surveillance equipment into Sweden. In the latest revelations two secret police officers told the committee in an open session on Wednesday that the country’s top policeman, Nils Erik Ahmansson, approved the illegal surveillance operation. “Ahmansson said the surveillance was all right but the form it

should take had to be discussed further,” said one of the officers, Valter Kego. Sweden’s top-selling newspaper, “Expressen,” said the Prime Minister’s appearance was the most important political challenge of his career and said he would be asked classic questions — what did he know and when did he know it

“The Opposition is not counting on a knockout blow. It will be content with an unclear result,” the newspaper said. Ms Leijon also faces questioning today. She

has retained her key position in the Social Democratic campaign organisation for the September 18 General Election and has already been promised a senior Cabinet post if the party wins.

The secret police officers, however, alleged that she was involved in the covert operation to a far greater degree than she has so far acknowledged. “She gave it her warm support and promised us the resources we required,” said the other officer Jan-Henrik Barr-

Mr Palme was shot while walking home from a cinema with his wife. The assassin escaped. The Social Democrats, who have ruled Sweden for all but six of the last 54 years, face a tough electoral challenge from an alliance of three Centre-Right parties. No opinion poll has been published in Sweden since Ms Leijon’s resignation. The most recent surveys, taken before the scandal broke, showed the ruling party narrowly in the lead.