How will Sweden vote on 13 September?
In the run-up to the Swedish general election on Sunday, the centre-left opposition comprising the Social Democrats, the Left Party, the Greens and the Centre Party is leading the polls, ahead of the centre-right coalition of Liberal Conservatives, Christian Democrats and Liberals, which cooperates with the right-wing Sweden Democrats (SD). However, both camps have been hit by new scandals shortly before the vote.
A threat to national security
According to media reports the partner of Gustav Gellerbrant, a leading member of the Sweden Democrats, has been spreading pro-Russian narratives online for years. She herself is also a Sweden Democrat official. Aftonbladet is outraged that Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has promised the party a place in a new centre-right government:
“How can it be that a person who has been spreading pro-Russian narratives for many years has been entrusted with a key role within the Sweden Democrats? ... The Sweden Democrats have had problems like this for years. A host of high-profile SD politicians have already had to step down as a result. Ulf Kristersson knows this but has nevertheless promised the party ministerial posts. ... He knows that ministers from the Sweden Democrats pose a threat to our national security, but he does not consider this important enough to say no.”
The Left Party is not ready to govern
Following allegations of terrorism and antisemitism within its ranks, the Left Party has removed more candidates from its lists. According to leading Social Democrats, this calls into question the party's participation in any new government. They are absolutely right, Dagens Nyheter concurs:
“As recently as August, [party leader] Nooshi Dadgostar had stated that the list candidates 'represent us very well' – after the party had expelled two dozen people following revelations of antisemitism and support of terrorism. Time and again incidents of this kind have come to light, whereupon the Left Party's leadership insists it is taking the matter seriously. And then the same thing happens again. Either these ideas are widely accepted within the party or the leadership has lost control of its members. Either way, it proves that the party is still a long way from being ready to govern.”
No more red lines
The Swedish example illustrates the consequences of right-wing populists supporting a minority government, writes the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung:
“They dominate government policy without having to take responsibility for the government's actions, which only makes them stronger. ... After the election on 13 September, however, the Sweden Democrats want more, including ministerial posts. Prime Minister Kristersson, along with the other party leaders in the coalition, have signalled to [leader of the Sweden Democrats Jimmie] Åkesson that they are prepared to go along with this, which means that there are no longer any red lines.”