Olofsson doubts Åkesson’s plan to support a government from opposition

Former Centre Party leader Maud Olofsson doubts the Sweden Democrats can reliably support a centre-right government from opposition, she told SVT, warning that the arrangement could falter on budgets and policy votes.

Sweden Democrats leader Jimmie Åkesson said on Friday that his party would drop its demand to join a government and allow a government led by the Moderates’ Ulf Kristersson to take office. The party would instead go into what Åkesson called “full opposition”. He said a centre-right government could better protect important reforms made by the Sweden Democrats in recent years.

Olofsson was asked about such a scenario when SVT met her at her home outside Örnsköldsvik earlier this week. She said support from opposition would cover only part of a four-year term.

“Then they would have to abstain on a budget, and they cannot vote against a budget. They would have to abstain on energy and climate policy, and on changes to the wage floor,” she said.