There are two teams, then the red-green side pretends that it's not that way, says Prime Minister and Moderate Party leader Ulf Kristersson.
He and the other party leaders arrived for the live debate broadcast by Expressen and Dagens Industri in Stockholm.
Kristersson intends to point out in the debate both what the red-greens disagree about and what they agree on.
They agree on raising taxes, for example, but then they disagree on fundamental things like the entire Swedish security policy, says the Moderate Party leader.
Christian Democrats leader Ebba Busch brought playing cards - four aces - to illustrate her government alternative.
"I've brought the ace up my sleeve," she says.
Busch sees the Christian Democrats as the ace of hearts.
"We are showing that it is possible to have four more years of order and order, but with much more heart going forward. It is possible to have more focus on welfare and a warmer and friendlier Sweden," she says.
Want to find collaborations
The candidate for prime minister, Social Democratic Party leader Magdalena Andersson, does not want to portray the image that there are only two teams in Swedish politics.
It is Ulf Kristersson who wants to divide Swedish politics into this deeply polarized, almost Americanised politics, she says.
That is not my ambition. I want to lead Sweden in a new spirit of cooperation, where we can find collaborations.
Her only message on the government issue has been that she can cooperate with all parties except the Sweden Democrats. The Left Party has demanded to be allowed to sit in an S-led government, in order to give its support to Magdalena Andersson as prime minister if the red-greens win the election.
“Stands between V and C”
Left Party leader Nooshi Dadgostar does not see the four opposition parties as a united team.
She fears that a possible S-led government will lean on the Center Party for support and thus pursue policies that are too right-wing for the Left Party's taste.
The Center Party, unlike the Left Party, seems to have gained some traction in the election campaign. At least according to the latest opinion poll.
Now it's between the Left Party and the Center Party. Should we have a right-wing government or a left-wing government? It will be very, very important that V is bigger than C on election day, says Dadgostar.
