Andersson vows not to be controlled by extremist forces

Social Democratic leader Magdalena Andersson has vowed never to be “controlled by extremist forces” if she becomes prime minister, SVT reported. She made the pledge before taking part in TV4’s prime ministerial debate.

“If I am allowed to become the country’s prime minister, I will never let myself be controlled by extremist forces,” Andersson said. “That is a promise that Ulf Kristersson cannot make, because he is running for election on the opposite basis.”

Andersson said Kristersson would allow himself to be controlled by the Sweden Democrats, who she said would “totally dominate” the formation of a government. She said that would not happen in a government coalition she formed.

Asked whether she was referring only to the Sweden Democrats, Andersson said there were several extremist forces in Sweden. She pointed to members of the Left Party who had stood on its electoral lists and supported views she said she would never allow herself to be controlled by. She added that it was positive that the Left Party had removed those people, but said the party still had a long way to go before it was ready for government.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, of the Moderate Party, said the pledge was welcome if Andersson was referring to the Left Party. He questioned how she would form a government, noting that the Left Party had promised to vote against any government in which it did not participate.

Kristersson said he believed Andersson had made a similar statement four years ago. “If you cannot cooperate, you get nothing done,” he said, adding that cooperation had helped reduce crime, reduce immigration to Sweden and make decisions needed to turn around the economy.