In a significant political development in Habo, Sweden, the local Liberalerna (Liberals) branch has reportedly left the national party to form an independent local political entity called Lokala Liberaler Habo. According to Jönköpings-Posten, the decision was made during a member meeting held on Sunday evening, March 29, 2026.
The report states that all active members present at the meeting chose to leave Liberalerna and join the newly formed local party. The approximately ten individuals who currently hold political positions in Habo municipality will remain in their roles but will now serve as political independents rather than party representatives.
Anders Rickman, the former chairman of the local Liberalerna association who has now left the party after 44 years of membership, explained the reasoning behind the move. "As a local party without connection to any national parliamentary party, we want to be an alternative for everyone with liberal values regardless of how they vote in parliamentary elections," Rickman was quoted as saying.
As a local party without connection to any national parliamentary party, we want to be an alternative for everyone with liberal values regardless of how they vote in parliamentary elections
Rickman cited long-standing tensions within the national party as contributing factors to the decision, mentioning disagreements over policies including cooperation with the Sweden Democrats, the imprisonment of 13-year-olds, and the deportation of teenagers from Sweden without their parents. He emphasized that for social liberal members, recent national party developments had become untenable.
The new Lokala Liberaler Habo will run as an independent local party in the upcoming municipal elections, with no connection to the national Liberalerna party. According to the report, the local liberals have until April 9 to prepare new candidate lists for the municipal election. They currently hold two seats in the municipal council, and Rickman believes they could gain more seats in the upcoming election.
Similar local liberal formations have reportedly emerged in other municipalities, including Ulricehamn, suggesting this may be part of a broader trend of local liberal groups distancing themselves from the national party's direction.