2022 SWEDISH ELECTION
The four parties backing Moderate Party leader Ulf Kristersson to become Sweden’s next Prime Minister have already agreed on stricter migration and crime policies, a source has told the Aftonbladet newspaper.
Published: 21 September 2022 17:46 CEST
Liberal party leader Johan Pehrson is embraced by his party secretary Maria Nilsson at the end of the party’s election vigil. Photo: Christine Olsson/TT
According to the source, who the paper said “had insight into the negotiations to form a new government”, the four parties have also reached agreement on who should be voted in as Speaker of the country’s Riksdag parliament when the role goes up for a vote on Monday.
“We are counting on all parties sticking to [the agreed] line,” the source told the newspaper. “Everything is being negotiated as one comprehensive solution, as a packet, and the role of Speaker is part of that whole.”
“We are agreed that we should have a stricter migration policy, and we are also agreed on having longer prison sentences for criminals,” the source added.
The talks between the Kristersson’s Moderate Party, the Sweden Democrats, the Christian Democrats, and the Liberal Party have been continuing for ten days, with most of the negotiations taking place at the Moderate Party’s premises, and precautions taken so that as little as possible leaks from the discussions.
“We are not telling people where the negotiations are taking place, when they are taking place, or exactly who is involved,” the source told the newspaper. “This is about making sure that those sitting down and negotiating should be able to do it in peace.”
The talks began on the Monday after the election with one-on-one meetings between Kristersson and the other three party leaders.
But according to the newspaper’s sources, the talks have since then been led by the party officials responsible for the various policy areas, with party leaders only becoming involved to resolve the most difficult issues that come up.
According to the source, the talks are expected to take a few more weeks.
“It could take a little bit of time,” the source said. “It might take a few weeks or so. But it will definitely not take 134 days.”