Swedish Social Democrats Criticize Kristersson’s ‘Centrist Government’ Plan as Talks Extended

Swedish government formation talks, Digi Mart USA News (Sweden): Moderate Party leader Ulf Kristersson has been given one more week to explore whether he can form a government. His deadline is set for next Tuesday, when he must inform the speaker of the Riksdag whether he has succeeded.

Social Democrat leader Anders Ygeman said he considers the extension reasonable. “I think it is a good decision by the speaker.

Pressure on the parties is important, but it is also important that it can take time so that we can get a good government in place,” he said after the party’s group meeting in the Riksdag.

Kristersson has himself described his government alternative as “a bourgeois centrist government.” Ygeman does not find that label convincing. “It is strange when Kristersson wants to call what he is trying to form a centrist government.

It is like Iceland declaring itself a centrist country.”

Ygeman instead prefers to call the alternative “a fringe government.” “The Sweden Democrats would have influence over every single proposition put forward. In fact, Jimmie Åkesson says he has difficulty understanding how one could take office on those premises,” Ygeman said.

When the speaker announced the decision, Kristersson launched a sharp attack on the Social Democrats, saying the party “acts in emotion and desperation.” Party secretary Tobias Baudin (S) dismissed the remark. “I do not take that very seriously.

It is typical of Kristersson’s way of being as a leader,” he said.

Baudin nevertheless criticized the Moderate leader’s government proposal. “If Kristersson’s solution succeeds, it would depend on the Sweden Democrats on every single issue.

Jimmie Åkesson was very clear today when he said they expect the budget to be negotiated with them. It would be a government dependent on the Sweden Democrats, a Tidö 2 government.”

Asked what has changed following Magdalena Andersson’s encouraging statements earlier in the day, Baudin said: “The process is moving forward, and many conversations are underway. We are discussing politics more and more, which is good.

It has taken some time, and now things are moving. So there are great hopes that this will succeed, and I really believe it will.”