Heated debate sees Sweden Democrats target Left Party

Wednesday’s final pre-recess party leader debate in the Riksdag was marked by sharp exchanges, with Sweden Democrats leader Jimmie Åkesson focusing his entire speaking time on the Left Party, SVT reports.

Åkesson demanded Social Democrats leader Magdalena Andersson clarify whether she would include the Left Party in government, following an Expressen investigation revealing 25 candidates on the Left Party’s lists had expressed antisemitic views or praised terrorism. All have since been removed.

“Social Democrats do not want that. It may take a few rounds of talks, but if it ultimately comes down to a choice between a snap election and giving the Left Party ministerial posts, I believe the Social Democrats will choose the latter,” said SVT political commentator Elisabeth Marmorstein.

The debate also saw Liberal Party leader Simona Mohamsson declare the Centre Party’s “Stureplan Centre” brand of market-friendly policy “dead and buried” after the Centre Party backed Andersson as the likely prime ministerial candidate. Mohamsson accused the Centre Party of abandoning tax cuts and business-friendly policies in favour of “socialist tax-hiking policy.”

Centre Party leader Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist countered that “a vote for the Centre Party ensures Sweden does not lurch to the left.”

Marmorstein noted the Centre Party aims to grow by attracting non-Sweden Democrats conservative voters, potentially sidelining the Left Party in any future majority.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (Moderates) warned of tax hikes under what he called “the most left-wing radical government alternative Sweden has ever seen,” while Andersson accused the government of rising unemployment and welfare cuts due to “tax cuts for the rich.”

Marmorstein observed both Social Democrats and Moderates thrive in a clear left-right economic policy debate.