Christian Democrat Says Åkesson Is Probably Feeling Stressed

Erik Slottner believes Jimmie Åkesson’s public doubts about Ebba Busch say more about electoral pressure than about an imminent change of government plans. The Christian Democrat civil minister said the Sweden Democrats’ leader may be worried that his party could lose voters to the Christian Democrats.

“I think this criticism may be due to some stress over the Christian Democrats doing well in the polls and some parties being afraid that the Christian Democrats will take voters from them,” Slottner said. He added that this could explain some of the anxiety now spreading among the parties.

Åkesson has continued to demand that Busch publicly explain when she might support a government led by Magdalena Andersson of the Social Democrats after the election. He has said the Christian Democrats would rather face a new election than support Andersson as prime minister. Slottner said he knew of no such plan.

The polling picture described in the debate is difficult for the four parties in the Tidö alliance. The Sweden Democrats appear headed for a weaker result than four years ago, while the Christian Democrats are slightly stronger. The Liberals risk falling out of the Riksdag, and the alliance appears unlikely to win the election. Slottner said he did not know what the Christian Democrats would do if the Tidö side lost, but argued that Sweden could benefit from broader agreements across political blocs, especially on energy policy.

A government involving the Social Democrats, Centre Party and Christian Democrats also appears unlikely, he said, while the Green Party has rejected such a solution. Moderate Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson played down the dispute, saying all four Tidö parties should focus on maximizing their support and that public tensions at the end of an election campaign were unsurprising.

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I think this criticism may be due to some stress over the Christian Democrats doing well in the polls and some parties being afraid that the Christian Democrats will take voters from them.