Sweden Democrats leader delays push for prime minister role until after election

Jimmie Åkesson, leader of the Sweden Democrats (SD), is avoiding open demands for the prime minister position ahead of this autumn’s election, according to an analysis by Swedish public broadcaster SVT. Political commentator Mats Knutson argues that Åkesson’s strategy depends on the right-wing Tidö coalition first securing an election victory before any leadership dispute emerges.

Currently, the Tidö parties—comprising SD, the Moderates, the Christian Democrats, and the Liberals—publicly back Moderate leader Ulf Kristersson as their prime minister candidate. However, Knutson suggests a scenario where SD becomes the dominant force on the right, while the Moderates weaken, could force Åkesson to assert his claim.

“A bomb like that would drop after election day,” Knutson writes, noting that Åkesson’s own voter base may eventually demand he pursue the top role. The analysis follows SVT’s mini-documentary “Jimmie Åkesson – Can You Handle the Pressure?”, tracking his campaign from his hometown of Sölvesborg to political negotiations in Stockholm and a controversial conference visit to Israel.

The piece clarifies that its conclusions are the journalist’s own, independent of political or organisational influence, in line with SVT’s editorial guidelines.