Minority forms of government in Sweden, aim to limit benefits
Moderates leader Ulf Kristersson said on Friday that he aims to form a three-party minority government with support from the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats after the right-wing bloc won a majority in last month’s election.
The new government plans to cut taxes, begin the process of building new nuclear power plantsmaximize benefits, tighten immigration rules and give police more powers as part of a policy deal with the Sweden Democrats.
“Change is not only necessary, change is also possible, and we four parties together can offer that change,” Kristersson told reporters.
The new government will make it more difficult for new immigrants to receive social benefits while the foreign aid target of 1 percent of gross national income will be replaced by a fixed amount.
The police will be able to take tougher measures against criminal gangs and the penalties for gang offenses will be longer.
Sweden’s prime ministerial candidate will face a confirmation vote on Monday which he is almost certain to pass.
But his party’s junior status could make it extremely difficult to govern for the next four years he will have to rely on both the Sweden Democrats and the Liberalswho strongly disagree on many policy areas.
Sweden is in the midst of a cost of living crisis and could be headed for recession next year, while Russia’s war in Ukraine has destabilized the Baltic region – Sweden’s backyard. Meanwhile, Turkey can still block the country’s application to join NATO.
In the election on 11 September, the right-wing bloc secured a narrow majority, winning 176 seats in the 349-member parliament.
source:
Reuters