Kristersson says Busch will not switch political sides

Moderate Party leader Ulf Kristersson told SVT that he trusts Christian Democrat leader Ebba Busch and does not believe she will abandon their political alliance.

“Ebba Busch will not do an Annie Lööf and suddenly switch sides,” Kristersson said in SVT’s party leader interview.

His comments followed a speech on Saturday in which Sweden Democrat leader Jimmie Åkesson questioned whether Busch could be trusted. Åkesson cited her repeated statements that she could cooperate with the Social Democrats in an “exceptional situation”.

Busch and Åkesson met on Sunday. Afterwards, Busch said they were “completely agreed” that both were working for an election victory for the Tidö alliance. Åkesson nevertheless demanded that Busch reject all invitations to allow Social Democrat leader Magdalena Andersson to become prime minister.

Kristersson said he felt “very secure” about his team and had “not the slightest doubt” about Busch. He compared the situation with the Centre Party’s cooperation with the Social Democrats after the 2018 election.

“Sometimes there are hugs, sometimes there is a little bickering. That is what happens when you work closely together. We are also in the middle of an intense election campaign,” he said.

Kristersson played down the disagreement but said he expected the friction between Busch and Åkesson to subside. If it does not, he said, “they can have another cup of coffee”.

He also said his side of politics was considerably more united than the opposition.