Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is seeking a new term and plans to include the far-right Sweden Democrats in his government if he wins Sunday's election. The party's support was instrumental in carrying Kristersson into office four years ago, helping him shift Sweden's politics towards tougher policies on immigration and crime. According to polls, the right bloc and left bloc are running neck and neck, but if the right wins, the Sweden Democrats may gain more votes than Kristersson's Moderates, potentially limiting his authority as prime minister. Analysts warn that including the far-right party in government could cement its anti-immigration agenda at the heart of Swedish politics.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-11,
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Story summary
Swedish PM Ulf Kristersson, who promised not to cooperate with the far-right Sweden Democrats in 2018, is now seeking re-election and potentially forming a government that includes this party. His Moderates party's support helped carry him into office in 2022, and if he wins again, he plans to include the Sweden Democrats in his cabinet for the first time. Kristersson's current government has already implemented tougher policies on immigration and crime, including abolishing permanent residency for asylum seekers and increasing expulsions. His party's shift towards the right has been marked by stiffer sentencing and expanded police powers. Critics argue that this partnership with the Sweden Democrats, who were once seen as a political outcast, is a significant departure from Kristersson's 2018 promise.
Written for “Swedish Right Wing Coalition” on 2026-09-12,
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Leaning score +0.55 for article 8097 (medium confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-09-11
Swedish PM Kristersson seeks new term and backing for partnership with far right
STOCKHOLM, Sept 11 - When Ulf Kristersson promised Holocaust survivor Hedi Fried his Moderates would never cooperate with the far-right Sweden Democrats back in 2018, the party was still treated as a political outcast by much of Sweden's right wing.
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party → seek → wing
Four years later, the party's support helped carry Kristersson into office, lending its votes to the three-party right-wing minority government he leads and propelling his journey of shifting Sweden's politics to focus on tougher policies on immigration and crime.
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he → help → immigration
Now, if the right wins Sunday's election, Kristersson has said he will include the Sweden Democrats in his new government, which would be the first time it would join a cabinet.
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it → win → cabinet
Kristersson's government has already abolished permanent residency for asylum seekers and ramped up expulsions.
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government → abolish → expulsions
It had to drop a bill to lock up the most violent 13-year-old criminals, settling for offenders one year older, but has imposed stiffer sentencing and expanded police powers.
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It → have → powers
"There were fundamental things that just weren't working in Sweden," Kristersson, a 62-year-old father of three, said at the launch of his party's manifesto in August.
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Kristersson → be → August
Asylum numbers have dropped to a 40-year low and shooting deaths are down 75%.
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deaths → drop → low
Things looked bleak for Kristersson - who as head of the Moderates' youth wing espoused open borders - when he took over as party leader in 2017.
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he → look → 2017
The centre right was split over whether to work with the Sweden Democrats and had no way back to power.
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right → split → power
Prioritising pragmatism over principles, Kristersson broke the taboo, clearing the way for a centre-right victory in 2022 and four years of stable government - a rarity in recent years.
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Kristersson → prioritise → years
His unflappable leadership and managerial style have smoothed personal frictions with his coalition and helped him shake off questions about his judgment in picking advisers, including one accused of leaving secret documents in a hotel.
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him → smooth → hotel
"He talks about being the adult in the room, and, by and large, he has succeeded in being that," Jenny Madestam, political scientist at Sodertorn University, said.
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Madestam → talk → University
To critics, however, Kristersson's pursuit of power risks cementing the far right's anti-immigration agenda at the heart of Swedish politics and a further move to the right.
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pursuit → risk → right
"I've lived in Donald Trump's USA the last few years and I've seen how fast it can go in the wrong direction," Birgitta Ohlsson, of the opposition Centre Party and a former EU minister, said.
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Ohlsson → live → Party
Polls show the left and right blocs running neck and neck.
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blocs → show → ?
If Swedes do pick the right bloc, Kristersson's pragmatism could still face a test.
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pragmatism → pick → test
The Sweden Democrats could get more votes than the Moderates.
uncertain
Democrats → get → Moderates
Most analysts expect Kristersson would soldier on as prime minister, but his authority would be weak.
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authority → expect → minister
"The Sweden Democrats would be in control, in practice," said Marie Demker, professor of political science at Gothenburg University.
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Demker → say → University
