Busch rejects Åkesson’s deadline and backs Mohamsson

Christian Democrat leader Ebba Busch has criticised Sweden Democrat leader Jimmie Åkesson’s deadline for the Liberals, saying Sweden needs Liberal leader Simona Mohamsson in government over the next four years, SVT reports.

Åkesson said on Sunday that if the Liberals are polling below 3.5 per cent with ten days left before the election, “blue-and-yellow voters” should vote for another Tidö party instead.

Busch rejected that appeal.

“I do not do politics that way. Voters are smart enough to read opinion polls for themselves. People should vote for the party they believe has the best policies,” she said.

Following the school attack in Fagersta, Busch also called for a different tone in the final weeks of the election campaign, with less polemics and more agreement between party leaders.

“I think Sweden needed that even before the terrible attack, but it is definitely needed now. There should be less polemics, more consensus and a greater focus on each party’s own policies,” Busch said.

She said she wanted tough debates about policy, but not debates primarily aimed at putting down political opponents.

“The purpose cannot be primarily to tear down your opponent, but to highlight the good proposals with which you want to govern Sweden. I want to urge my colleagues to show that we can lead differently in a time of grief and seriousness,” she said.

Busch declined to say that senior Christian Democrat Hans Eklind was wrong after he told SVT that Åkesson’s deadline was reasonable. Eklind had said that the Christian Democrats were a better choice than “wasting your vote on a party that might not get in”.

“Everyone is free to have an opinion,” Busch said. She added that the Christian Democrats had delivered “an incredible amount of good for Sweden” together with the Liberals and that she appreciated Mohamsson.