Stockholm: Sweden appointed a new ambassador to Switzerland today, a day after a media report that the current envoy lobbied Swiss parliamentarians to promote the sale of Swedish fighter jets.
The Swedish government denied any links between the replacement of Per Thoeresson and the planned sale of 22 Gripen aircraft -- approved by the Swiss parliament last year, but still pending a May 18 referendum on financing.
"Everyone working at the (Swedish) foreign ministry is part of a rotation system," foreign ministry spokeswoman Catalina Axelsson told AFP.
"This is a rotation that has been planned since last year."
In February Swedish public radio revealed plans by Sweden`s embassy in Bern to influence the outcome of the referendum, with financial backing from the Gripen maker Saab.
The news sparked outrage among groups opposed to the deal in Switzerland, that criticised what they saw as outside interference, and led to Saab withdrawing its finances from the campaign.
