In the latest shift within Swedish politics, the growing influence of the Sweden Democrats (SD) is making waves, particularly in the context of televised political duels. According to the most recent SVT/Verian poll, the Sweden Democrats have become the second-largest party in Sweden, surpassing the Moderates (M) in terms of public support. Despite this, it was Ulf Kristersson, leader of the Moderates, and not Jimmie Åkesson, the leader of the Sweden Democrats, who faced off against Social Democrat leader Magdalena Andersson in Tuesday’s edition of Aktuellt.
This choice to exclude Åkesson from the debate has prompted renewed discussions about the rules surrounding Sweden’s traditional TV duels. Mikael Pettersson, project manager for SVT’s election programming, emphasized that the custom of inviting the sitting prime minister and the opposition leader to debate has stood for decades.
For years, Aktuellt has adhered to this tradition, with the Prime Minister and the official opposition leader sharing the stage. However, the current political landscape has dramatically shifted. The Moderates are no longer the largest party in the right-wing bloc, raising questions about whether the traditional debate format should be updated to reflect the new power dynamics.
Just days ago, Magdalena Andersson raised this issue on Aktuellt, hinting that there may be behind-the-scenes efforts from the Sweden Democrats to ensure representation from the Tidö parties in future prime ministerial duels. “There are rumours that the Sweden Democrats are working with SVT to ensure two representatives from the Tidö parties are included in the prime minister’s debates,” she remarked.
Despite Andersson’s concerns, Mikael Pettersson of SVT reiterated that there are currently no plans to change the format. “We have a long-standing tradition of inviting the Prime Minister and the opposition leader to these duels,” Pettersson explained. However, this sentiment doesn’t quite address the growing frustration felt by some regarding the dominance of the Moderates in televised political discourse.
The question of who should represent the right-wing in debates remains unresolved. Jimmie Åkesson has previously stated that he is considering a future bid for prime minister, though he has since downplayed those ambitions. On the other hand, Martin Borgs, the Moderate Party’s election leader, argues that only two prime ministerial candidates should be considered—Ulf Kristersson and Magdalena Andersson—regardless of the shifting party sizes.
Borgs defended the current system, stating that it’s natural for the two primary candidates to face off in debates. “The focus on which party is the largest in parliament is not as crucial as ensuring the ability to form a majority,” he added, suggesting that the nuances of parliamentary power play a more significant role in the debate.
From the Social Democrats’ perspective, however, the situation looks different. Tobias Baudin, the party’s secretary, emphasized that Jimmie Åkesson has not ruled out a prime ministerial bid, pointing to his rising influence within Swedish politics. “I have not heard Jimmie Åkesson say that he is not a candidate for prime minister,” Baudin remarked, reinforcing the notion that the Sweden Democrats’ role in national governance cannot be ignored.
As Sweden approaches a crucial political season, the debates on who should represent the right-wing and opposition forces in televised discussions are bound to continue. With shifts in public opinion and a realignment of power, these duels are more than just political theatre—they are an important reflection of the evolving power dynamics in Swedish politics.
The coming months may offer clarity on whether the current debate formats will be redefined or if the tradition will continue to hold sway. But one thing is certain: the political duels are no longer as straightforward as they once seemed.
Why the Sweden democrats couldn’t forma a government despite their size as the biggest right-wing bloc
The Sweden Democrats became the second largest political party in the 2022 Swedish general election but did not form the government because they were not able to assemble a coalition with enough parliamentary support, and key partners in the right-wing bloc were unwilling to accept them as the leading party in government. Instead, Ulf Kristersson, leader of the Moderate Party, was chosen to head a centre-right government, supported by the Sweden Democrats in a formal confidence-and-supply arrangement but without them holding ministerial posts or the premiership.
Why the Sweden Democrats Did Not Lead
- Despite their size, the Sweden Democrats were still considered too controversial by coalition partners—particularly the Liberals and, to a lesser degree, the Christian Democrats—due to their far-right origins and policies.
- The right bloc (Moderates, Christian Democrats, Liberals, and Sweden Democrats) agreed to support a Moderate-led government in return for significant policy influence for the Sweden Democrats, especially on matters of immigration and crime (codified in the Tidö Agreement).
- The traditional arrangement in Swedish parliamentary politics has meant that prime ministerial candidates are chosen based not solely on party size, but on their ability to command a viable majority and secure deals within their bloc.
Why the Moderates Formed the Government
- The Moderate leadership, perceived as more acceptable to all right-of-centre parties, became the unifying choice for the coalition. The Moderates, Christian Democrats, and Liberals formed a minority government, relying on external support from the Sweden Democrats for passage of their policies.
- This arrangement allowed for formal Sweden Democrat influence on government policy for the first time, but kept them outside of ministerial office to placate coalition partners and broader political concerns domestically and within the EU.
The outcome is a Moderate-led coalition government in practical partnership with the Sweden Democrats, who exercise significant power through their supporting role but do not formally lead the government or occupy the prime ministership.