Busch meets Åkesson over coalition doubts and serves sponge cake

Christian Democrat leader Ebba Busch met Sweden Democrat leader Jimmie Åkesson for coffee on Sunday after he questioned whether voters could trust her, Swedish public broadcaster SVT reported.

Åkesson raised the issue in a speech on Saturday, asking whether a vote for the Christian Democrats could become a vote for the Social Democrats. His comments followed Busch’s statements that she had not ruled out forming a government with the Social Democrats in an “exceptional situation”.

Busch changed her plans and travelled by campaign bus to Sölvesborg, the town where Åkesson lives. At the meeting, she brought sponge cake and Åkesson provided the coffee.

“It was not a meatball lunch, but it was a good coffee break,” Busch said.

Afterwards, Busch said the party leaders were “completely in agreement”. She said a vote for the Christian Democrats would support a centre-right victory and four more years of stability and security in a turbulent time.

Asked whether she understood Åkesson’s doubts because she had not ruled out a government with the Social Democrats in an exceptional situation, Busch said no.

“We are not afraid of a snap election, if it comes to that. I have been very clear that we are not interested in becoming a support wheel for the Social Democrats,” she said.

However, Busch said that in an exceptional situation such as a crisis or war, Sweden and its citizens should know that she could set short-term party tactics aside for the country’s good.

Liberal Party leader Simona Mohamsson said it was good that Busch was bringing Åkesson into “team play”, adding that the time had come for goals against the left and passes within the right.

Moderate Party leader Ulf Kristersson told Sveriges Radio’s Ekot that he fully trusted Busch.

“She would never do an Annie Lööf and suddenly allow a Social Democratic government to take office,” Kristersson said.

SVT said it had sought comment from Åkesson.