Caretaker government can act if Sweden faces an attack

A caretaker government would make urgent decisions if Sweden faced an armed attack, but would avoid major policy shifts, international law expert Marika Ericson told SVT.

Ericson, a head of department at the Swedish Defence University, said the government would handle matters that could not wait for a new government. It would likely seek support from other parties in parliament and consult a possible future government, she said.

Warnings about Russian threats have come recently from the United States, Poland and Denmark, SVT reported. A series of suspected hybrid attacks have also taken place this summer in countries including Germany, Poland and the Baltic states.

Government agencies such as the police and the armed forces have clear responsibilities and can act independently in many situations, including cyberattacks, sabotage and violations, Ericson said. Their roles remain the same during a government transition.

If a neighbouring NATO country were attacked, a caretaker government could convene the Foreign Affairs Advisory Council and bring together party leaders. Parliament would also be involved, Ericson said.