Liberals' National Meeting on Sweden Democrats Sparks Political Debate

On Tuesday, the Riksdag opens again after the summer. It will be the starting shot for an intense political period where the parties position themselves ahead of the election next September.

The hottest thing in the autumn will be, according to Professor of Political Science Jonas Hinnfors, The Liberals' national meeting.

It's going to be very exciting, he says.

The question is whether The Liberals will then give an answer to whether they can sit in, or support, a government where the Sweden Democrats (SD) are included.

- It's difficult either way, says Hinnfors.

If The Liberals say yes to SD in a government, the party risks losing even more liberal votes, and if they say no, they risk missing out on vital support votes from right-wing voters.

SD has demanded to be included in a possible new Tidö government. The question is whether they will also demand the post of Prime Minister if they continue to be larger than The Moderate Party (M).

Increased tensions

Also, SD, M, and the Christian Democrats (KD) have congresses in the autumn.

Hinnfors expects increased tensions between the Tidö parties ahead. He points out that the closer to the election, the more important it is to prioritize one's own voters before compromises.

You have to show your unique position, says Hinnfors.

I think SD more and more wants to return to its roots.

Hinnfors believes that integration will be SD's major profile issue ahead of the election.

They are hammering on with Swedish values.

In the last election, M went to the election on a "paradigm shift" when it comes to law and order and migration policy. Hinnfors does not believe in any new policy agenda for M.

- You can't have a paradigm shift again, he says.

Instead, Hinnfors expects M to do everything to show what the government has delivered so far. At the same time, the Social Democrats (S) will claim that the fight against crime has failed.

Forcing a decision

Hinnfors believes that M now also wants to return to their old issues, such as the economy and lower taxes. At the same time, S will attack M for unfair tax cuts and for neglecting unemployment.

The government issue will become hotter the closer to the election, with increasingly loud demands from M that S must give an answer to how the red-green parties will get together for a government cooperation.

As always, says Hinnfors.

The Centre Party (C) and the Green party (MP) have congresses in the autumn. C has not given any clear answer to which government cooperation they want to enter into and which Prime Minister candidate they will support.

Hinnfors believes that C will "force" out an answer to which government cooperation they want to enter into or which Prime Minister candidate they will support – but perhaps not until the summer.