Swedish PM talks up euro vote

Sceptical Swedes distrust politicians and the EU, says one commentator

Sweden's Prime Minister has predicted a strong surge by the "yes" camp ahead of Sunday's vote on joining the European single currency - as polls continue to show a strong lead for the anti-euro camp.

Goeran Persson told financial newspaper Dagens Industri that rejecting the currency could pitch Sweden into an uncertain future and reduce its influence.

"We must not become isolated. If we vote 'no,' we will take a whole new path," he said.

"It is my opinion that the 'yes' side will win the last week of campaigning. Whether that will be enough remains to be seen."

Only Sweden, Denmark and the UK are outside the single currency.

Swedish opinion surveys have consistently shown the "no" camp well ahead of the pro-euro campaigners.

It looks undeniably dark for the 'yes' camp as the final surge before the referendum begins Political analyst Henrik Brors

On Tuesday, a poll by research institute Temo put the euro opponents at 50%, supporters at 39% and undecided voters at 12%. A total of 1,105 were questioned.

A similar Temo poll a week ago put the "no" vote at 51% and "yes" supporters at 37%.

A second survey of 1,000 people published on Tuesday, carried out by a Danish bank, found those opposed or broadly opposed on 54%, with those in favour or broadly in favour on 43%.

The yes camp is fighting to the finish

Both polls had a margin of error of 3%.

The referendum was called last November, and the "no" camp has been ahead ever since.

Some polls have recently suggested euro supporters are closing the gap on their opponents, but never looking like overtaking them.

"It looks undeniably dark for the 'yes' camp as the final surge before the referendum begins," analyst Henrik Brors wrote in Tuesday's Dagens Nyheter newspaper.

He said growing distrust in politicians and "scepticism against the whole EU project" were to blame.