Åkesson acknowledges scepticism over SD ministers

Sweden Democrats leader Jimmie Åkesson says he understands why some voters are sceptical about the prospect of ministers from his party, SVT reports. He is nevertheless urging those voters to support another party in the same political bloc so their negotiating position is as strong as possible after the election.

More than a month before election day, Åkesson is travelling through northern Sweden on a bus tour. The Sweden Democrats increased their support in many parts of the region in the last election, including areas where the Social Democrats have traditionally been strong.

Åkesson says voters in northern Sweden could have a significant impact on the Sweden Democrats’ result.

“I think there is enormous potential for us to make a real breakthrough among these Social Democratic voters, both inland and along the coast,” he says.

If Åkesson’s political bloc wins the election, the Sweden Democrats would enter government for the first time. The Social Democrats have repeatedly cited the prospect of Sweden Democrat ministers as a reason not to vote for the parties in the Tidö cooperation.

Åkesson says he also understands that some Sweden Democrat voters are deeply sceptical about the party’s cooperation with the centre-right and fear that it could become a centre-right party.

His recommendation to voters who are sceptical of the Sweden Democrats is to vote for one of the other parties in the blue-yellow bloc rather than reject the bloc entirely.

“That way, their negotiating position will be as strong as possible after the election,” he says.

Åkesson rejects calls to abandon the Liberals

The Liberals are in urgent need of votes and appear to face a significant risk of losing their seats in parliament.

A debate emerged earlier this summer over whether the right-wing bloc should abandon the Liberals. Åkesson says he is not considering that option for now.

“When a party that is part of this blue-yellow bloc is doing so badly, there is a risk that a vote for the Liberals will be wasted. That is how it is. But I am not there yet, where I start thinking along those lines,” he says.