Key facts
- Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is seeking a new term and aims to include the Sweden Democrats in his government.
- If elected, this would be the first time the Sweden Democrats join a Swedish cabinet.
- Kristersson's government has already enacted tougher immigration and crime policies.
- Asylum numbers have fallen to a 40-year low, and shooting deaths have decreased by 75%.
- Polls indicate a close race between the left and right blocs in the upcoming election.
STOCKHOLM, Sept 11 (Reuters) - Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is seeking a new term and has stated his intention to include the Sweden Democrats in his government if his bloc wins Sunday's election. This move would mark the first time the far-right party, previously treated as a political outcast, joins a cabinet.
Four years after Kristersson promised Holocaust survivor Hedi Fried that his Moderates would not cooperate with the Sweden Democrats, the party's support was instrumental in carrying Kristersson into office in 2022. His three-party right-wing minority government has since focused on tougher policies regarding immigration and crime.
Under Kristersson's leadership, the government has abolished permanent residency for asylum seekers and increased expulsions. While a bill to prosecute 13-year-old offenders was dropped, sentencing has been stiffened and police powers expanded. Asylum numbers have fallen to a 40-year low, and shooting deaths are down 75%.
Kristersson, 62, a father of three, stated in August that "There were fundamental things that just weren't working in Sweden." He took over as party leader in 2017 when the center-right was divided on engaging with the Sweden Democrats. Prioritizing pragmatism, Kristersson broke the political taboo, paving the way for a center-right victory in 2022 and what has been described as stable government.
Political scientist Jenny Madestam noted Kristersson's "unflappable leadership and managerial style" have helped smooth coalition frictions and address questions about his judgment in picking advisers. She added, "He talks about being the adult in the room, and, by and large, he has succeeded in being that."
Critics, however, view Kristersson's pursuit of power as cementing the far-right's anti-immigration agenda at the core of Swedish politics. Birgitta Ohlsson of the opposition Centre Party warned, "I've lived in Donald Trump's USA the last few years and I've seen how fast it can go in the wrong direction."
Polls show the left and right blocs are running neck and neck. If the right bloc wins, analysts expect Kristersson would likely remain prime minister, but his authority could be weakened if the Sweden Democrats receive more votes than the Moderates. Professor Marie Demker of Gothenburg University suggested, "The Sweden Democrats would be in control, in practice."