Sweden’s election could bring far right into government for the first time
Sweden will hold elections on September 13, the outcome of which could bring the far-right Sweden Democrats party into government for the first time. According to Cyprus Mail, the latest polls give the party about 19% of the vote.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson seeks to form a majority government with the Moderate Party, the Christian Democrats, the Liberals, and the Sweden Democrats. Since 2022, the latter have supported the government in parliament, but after the election they are demanding ministerial posts. The party has roots in neo-Nazi circles.
Migration and security
The participation of the Sweden Democrats in the executive branch has become one of the central themes of the campaign. Kristersson believes that including the party in the coalition is necessary to create a stable majority and address national security issues and the fight against gang crime.
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Over the past four years, the government has abolished permanent residence permits for refugees, tightened social welfare rules, and stepped up the expulsion of people who have no right to remain in the country. Kristersson said that the number of asylum applications had fallen to a 40-year low. The Sweden Democrats insist on further tightening migration policy, including encouraging immigrants to leave the country and preserving the Swedish language, values, and traditions.
Opposition negotiations
The centre-left bloc is led by Social Democratic leader Magdalena Andersson. The Social Democrats, the Greens, the Left Party, and the Centre Party generally support increased spending on welfare and public services, but differ over a tax on billionaires, the construction of new nuclear reactors, and the format of a future coalition.
The Centre Party refuses to cooperate with either the Left Party or the Sweden Democrats. Andersson said that voters would effectively decide whether the Sweden Democrats would influence policy in the areas of defence, education, culture, and finance. If the right-wing bloc wins a majority, all four parties have promised to form an alliance; an opposition victory may require difficult coalition negotiations.
