Swedish party leaders clash over energy, healthcare, and migration in heated debate

The leaders of Sweden’s political parties traded sharp accusations during a televised debate on Sunday, with disputes over energy policy, healthcare, and migration dominating the discussion, reports SVT Nyheter.

Energy policy opened the debate, with the governing Tidö parties—Moderates, Christian Democrats, Sweden Democrats, and Liberals—united in support of expanding nuclear power. Opposition leader Magdalena Andersson (Social Democrats) agreed on the need for new nuclear plants but criticised the government for neglecting wind energy, calling its approach a “wet blanket” on renewable expansion.

Healthcare became the most contentious issue, with Left Party leader Nooshi Dadgostar accusing the right-wing bloc of creating a “hellish” situation in public healthcare and preparing for privatisation. Christian Democrat leader Ebba Busch countered that Dadgostar “doesn’t understand how healthcare works,” arguing that centre-right governments consistently clear backlogs left by the left.

On economic policy, Liberal leader Simona Mohamsson warned that a change in government would bring a “tax shock” for working people, while Green Party co-leader Amanda Lind accused the current administration of prioritising tax cuts for the wealthy, worsening inequality.

Migration policy sparked further confrontation, with Centre Party leader Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist calling the government’s approach “inhumane.” Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (Moderates) defended the policy, claiming parts of the opposition would reverse stricter rules if elected. A brief exchange also addressed the recent parliamentary “offset chaos,” with Sweden Democrat leader Jimmie Åkesson accusing the Greens of buying votes from independent MPs—a claim Amanda Lind dismissed as “complete nonsense.”