Sweden’s new Prime Minister Kristersson appoints cabinet ministers
Sweden’s new right-wing prime minister, Moderates leader Ulf Kristersson, on Tuesday appointed party colleagues Elisabeth Svantesson as finance minister and Tobias Billström as foreign minister in his minority coalition.
Sweden’s Riksdag confirmed Kristersson on Monday after more than a month of talks to create a coalition agreement and agree on a political platform with the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, who will support the government in the Riksdag. The new right-wing government faces a series of major challenges.
The economy is heading into recession and inflation
runs at almost 10%. Russia’s war in Ukraine has destabilized the Baltic Sea region – Sweden’s backyard – and the government needs to find means to increase
military spending to 2% of GDP, as well as easing the pain of skyrocketing electricity prices and cut taxes.
Meanwhile, Turkey can still block Sweden’s application to join NATO. “It’s a very tough situation that could get significantly worse,” Kristersson told parliament as he outlined his government’s agenda.
Pal Jonson, also from Kristersson’s Moderates, becomes defense minister.
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