2. Åsa Eliasson

I’m an optimistic pessimist who enjoys finding solutions to problems and learning new things, and who finds it very hard not to get involved in various issues or stay silent when I witness injustice. According to my kids, I’m “smart and funny, but a little cringey.”

In chronological order: my parents, my upbringing (the inland region of southern Norrland, working class, the 1990s economic crisis), the rise of neo-Nazism, third-wave feminism, the labor union, and the fact that my first years in the workforce were as a nursing assistant in elder care.

I grew up believing in helping one another and looking out for those in need, yet I’ve also seen how the failures of neoliberalism have eroded much of this foundation of solidarity in society, and those who have lost the most as a result are the ones who had the least to begin with. It’s deeply unfair and makes me absolutely furious.

I joined the Young Left in the 1990s because I needed to feel that I was doing something to resist right-wing extremism; I became active in the Left Party because we have socialist policies aimed at bridging the gaps in society.

I want to make it easier for everyone to enjoy a life rich in cultural and recreational activities, regardless of their background or financial situation. This requires better accessibility and lower costs. I also want to see better working conditions for care workers, even more accessible public transportation, and continued efforts to make the various neighborhoods safe through activities and collaboration.

We have a wonderful city that we take care of together, and an important part of that is voting in this fall’s election.