Kristersson rejects Åkesson’s plan for 12 SD ministers

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has rejected Sweden Democrats leader Jimmie Åkesson’s proposal for the party to receive 12 to 14 ministerial posts if the Tidö parties win the 2026 election, Swedish public broadcaster SVT reported.

Åkesson told Aftonbladet that his starting point was for ministerial posts to be distributed proportionally according to the parties’ size. Based on current opinion polling, that would give the Sweden Democrats between 12 and 14 ministers.

“Yes, that would be the starting point. But it is not necessarily the case that you have to claim all of them,” Åkesson said.

Kristersson laughed when SVT asked whether a government led by him could include 12 Sweden Democrat ministers.

“No, it cannot. Everyone wants to be the biggest, best and most beautiful, but that is not how it works. You negotiate both policy and ministerial posts, and you do that after winning an election. You do not claim victories in advance,” he said.

Kristersson said the government consists of 24 ministers and would not become larger. The parties would negotiate the distribution of policy areas and posts after the election, he said.

Social Democratic leader Magdalena Andersson has repeatedly warned during the election campaign that the alternative to a government led by her would be “12 Sweden Democrat ministers” taking control of the government.

According to information obtained by SVT, the Social Democrats believe that reminders of the Sweden Democrats’ possible participation in government and access to important ministerial posts are an effective strategy, particularly for attracting centrist voters who are weighing the two political blocs.

Kristersson dismissed Andersson’s criticism.

“The only similarity between Magdalena Andersson and me seems to be that we both think mostly about how a centre-right government should govern Sweden. They are obsessed with the Sweden Democrats. There is something unhealthy about it,” he said.