More Porn For Swedes?

Ten days ahead of national elections, a member of the Christian Democratic women's federation shocked her conservative party colleagues by calling for more pornography on television.

Teres Kirpikli, a 35-year-old mother of three, said she wanted to help boost the Swedish economy by encouraging people to have more children.

"I want erotica and porn on television every Saturday and all day. Then people would feel like having more sex," Teres Kirpikli told the Associated Press on Thursday. "I think most people like porn, even though they don't want to admit it."

Kirpikli, an immigrant from Turkey, is a member of the board of the party's women's federation and a municipal councilor in the city of Skoevde, 170 miles southwest of the capital, Stockholm.

Her move upset the party leadership, which is actively fighting pornography and has called for a complete ban in all media.

"This has nothing to do with our official platform. This is totally against our policy," said Ulla-Britta Hagstroem, head of the party's women's federation.

The Christian Democratic Party is one of four parties in a non-socialist bloc challenging the governing Social Democratic Party in Sept. 15 elections.

Hagstroem said she would meet Kirpikli later and that Kirpikli probably wouldn't be re-elected to the board of the women's federation. Kirpikli said she had no plans to withdraw her candidacy for her seat on the board.

"I wanted to start a debate on how to get more children," she said. "I know the party is mad at me because I go against the party platform."

Sweden, a Scandinavian nation of 8.9 million, has been facing a negative natural growth rate, meaning there are more deaths than births.