Sweden’s new right-wing government reveals plans, Minister
LONDON
Sweden’s new prime minister announced the members of his cabinet on Tuesday and set out priorities for his government, including law enforcement, a stepped-up defense posture and climate change.
Ulf Kristersson, who was appointed prime minister on Monday, confirmed in a speech that he will lead a three-party coalition government with the Moderates, the Christian Democrats and the Liberals.
His government will include 13 ministers from his centre-right party the Moderates, six from the Christian Democrats and five from the Liberals.
Among the most highly appointed are Tobias Billström as foreign minister and Pople Jonson as defense minister, both from the Moderates, and Ebba Busch from the Christian Democrats as the new energy and industry minister.
Kristersson promised that the new government will “unite” the country and respect differences.
“I will form a government for all of Sweden and for everyone who lives here, a government anchored in strong values that will respect the values of others,” he promised.
Energy, China, NATO membership applications
Among the political tasks that await the government’s efforts, he mentioned crime and record-high shootings in the Nordic country as the highest priority.
“A Serious Organized Crime Council will be established at the Ministry of Justice,” he said.
Kristersson also addressed several reforms in the areas of energy and justice, pensions and the labor market.
Aware of Sweden’s proximity to Russia, he said that in 2026, 2% of the country’s GDP will go to defence, and that civil defense will now be under the Ministry of Defence.
On foreign and security policy, he said, clearly alluding to Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine: “Sweden will never accept that aggressive states violate the freedom and self-determination of democratic countries.”
Farther from home, Kristersson also criticized China’s new tone towards Taiwan and said: “Sweden’s relationship with China should anchor a common European strategy with a clear transatlantic connection.”
As for Sweden’s bid for NATO membership — spurred by Russia’s nearly eight-month-old war against Ukraine — he said the Swedish defense force will “live up to our obligations as a member.”
Sweden has not yet been officially accepted into the alliance, and longtime NATO member Türkiye says it needs to do more to fulfill its promises to Ankara in an agreement signed in June.
Environmental problems are “one of the great cross-border issues of our time,” Kristersson added, saying a program for international climate investment in line with the 2015 Paris Agreement is being developed.
“The investments contribute to reaching the Swedish climate goal of net zero emissions by 2045,” he added.
The right-wing bloc won a narrow majority in last month’s election over the ruling Social Democratic government and its left-wing bloc by securing 176 seats in the 349-member parliament.
The far-right Sweden Democrats will not be part of the government, but Kristersson said at a press conference last week that “he will cooperate closely” with the party.
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