London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 03, 2025

Sweden’s incoming prime minister shifts right

Sweden’s incoming prime minister shifts right

Ulf Kristersson will head a three-party government with additional support from the far-right Sweden Democrats.

Sweden’s incoming prime minister, Ulf Kristersson, on Friday presented his plan for a three-party government with a clear underlying message: Sweden first.

The number of asylum seekers allowed to enter Sweden will be reduced, the amount of international aid the country will provide will be cut and its aspirations to be a trailblazer in the global shift to renewable energy will be tempered, Kristersson told reporters in parliament.

Kristersson, the narrow victor at a general election on September 11, said his new government will be made up of his Moderate Party and two other center-right parties, the Christian Democrats and the Liberals.

The far-right Sweden Democrats (SD) were shut out of the government, but will provide the parliamentary support Kristersson will need to become prime minister and to make his policy and spending plans a reality.

The cost of shutting out SD, which has roots in 1990s neo-Nazi groups, while securing its parliamentary support was high in policy terms.

The new government’s plan — dubbed “An agreement for Sweden” — was heavily influenced by SD’s election promises in areas from welfare to law and order to energy.

Punishments for serious and organized crime are to be increased, more nuclear power stations are to be built and social security payments to those made redundant will not be cut.

But it was arguably when it comes to Sweden’s role on the international stage that the views of SD can be most keenly felt: The number of asylum seekers the Nordic country will accept is to be cut to the EU minimum and a previous goal to allot 1 percent of gross national income to international aid is set to be scrapped.

In essence, Sweden’s days of aspiring to be a “humanitarian superpower” are over.

Kristersson said that compromise with SD and his other allies had been necessary in order to create the new government he believed Sweden needed.

“We have done what we said during the election campaign,” Kristersson said. “We have reached an agreement which we believe is good for Sweden.”

Parliament will vote on Kristersson’s candidacy to be prime minister on Monday, with Friday’s deal paving the way for him to win that vote 176 to 173. He is expected to announce his ministerial team on Tuesday and his budget for 2023 within the following weeks.


Challenges ahead


Once installed, the new government will face a series of domestic challenges from spiking energy prices to rising gang crime.

On the international stage, Sweden takes over the presidency of the Council of the EU in January from the Czech Republic and the government will need to reconcile the anti-EU tendencies of SD with the pro-Europe leanings of the wider government before then.

Sweden is also in the late stages of negotiating its entry into NATO alongside Finland. Kristersson has left the outgoing Social Democratic government’s key negotiator Oscar Stenström in place to smooth that process.

Critics were quick to suggest that the inbuilt tensions within the new government and its support party SD will make maintaining government stability difficult over the course of a four-year mandate.

Analysts note that, at any point, SD can team up with the Social Democrats and create a majority on any policy in parliament, giving SD powerful leverage over the new coalition.

However, if SD pushes too hard, the government may fold, allowing the Social Democrats back into power and robbing SD of its current influence.

On Friday, Kristersson, a former minister of social affairs who became Moderate Party leader in 2017, was positive about the task ahead and the agreement the new government had struck.

“I am not saying this is going to be easy, but the shared values we have in important questions is a strong foundation to stand on,” he said.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for Espionage Activities Against U.S. Navy
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
Trump Administration Considers Withdrawal of Funding for Hospitals Providing Gender Treatment to Minors
Texas Enacts Law Allowing Gold and Silver Transactions
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
OpenAI Secures Multimillion-Dollar AI Contracts with Pentagon, India, and Grab
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Elon Musk Critiques Senate Budget Proposal Over Job Losses and Strategic Risks
Los Angeles Riots ended with Federal Investigations into Funding
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Education Secretary Announces Overhaul of Complaints System Amid Rising Parental Grievances
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Trump Ends Trade Talks with Canada Over Digital Services Tax
UK Government Softens Welfare Reform Plans Amid Labour Party Rebellion
Labour Faces Rebellion Over Disability Benefit Reforms Ahead of Key Vote
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Host Lavish Wedding in Venice Amid Protests
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
North Korea to Open New Beach Resort to Boost Tourism Economy
UK Labour Party Faces Internal Tensions Over Welfare Reforms
Andrew Cuomo Hints at Potential November Comeback Amid Democratic Primary Results
Curtis Sliwa Champions His Vision for New York City Amid Rising Crime Concerns
Federal Reserve Proposes Changes to Capital Rule Affecting Major Banks
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Trump Escalates Criticism of Media Over Iran Strike Coverage
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
Big Four Accounting Firms Fined in Exam Cheating Scandal
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
Australia's Star Casino Secures $195 Million Rescue Package Amid Challenges
UK to Enhance Nuclear Capabilities with Acquisition of F-35A Fighter Jets
×