Ulf Kristersson sworn in as Prime Minister – The Irish Times
Sweden’s new Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has promised “serious solutions to major societal problems” with gang crime and high energy costs.
The 58-year-old was officially sworn in on Tuesday to lead a new centre-right coalition that holds the key finance and foreign affairs portfolios among the 13 ministries for his Moderate Party.
In a scathing speech to parliament, Kristersson said he has inherited a country with depressing European records: highest unemployment, lowest growth and, with 53 so far this year, a new “bloody record for shooting deaths”.
“No other country in Europe has had the same trend of violence as Sweden … the fight against serious crime must be won and security must be restored throughout our country,” he said. “In this regard, the government will now take back control.”
After a law-and-order election saw voters narrowly oust the centre-left government after two terms, Sweden’s new three-way minority coalition is relying for the first time on parliamentary support from the opposition benches and the populist Sweden Democrats (SD). .
Foreign Minister-elect Tobias Billström said he expects continuity around Sweden’s NATO membership and “as much help as possible” for Ukraine.
With a Swedish-Ukrainian label upon his appointment, Billström said he was likely to wear it “for a longer period, perhaps my entire time as a minister”.
“We have to recognize that Ukraine is on the front line, this is where the battle is taking place and Sweden and other countries should do as much as possible to offer any help,” he said.
He also promised continuity in Sweden’s EU policy and its upcoming presidency of the EU Council during the first half of 2023.
Other senior assignments include Elisabeth Svantesson, former employment minister, in finance. The Moderates’ former defense and EU speakers, Pål Jonson and Jessika Roswall, are now defense and EU ministers respectively.
The minister of energy and nutrition is Edda Busch, leader of the younger Christian Democrats, while the leader of the Liberals, Johan Pehrson, takes the work and integration portfolio. The new government’s youngest minister is the 22-year-old Climate and Environment Minister Romina Pourmokhtari.
Four months after its formal application, Sweden’s NATO membership is still in limbo amid ongoing concerns from Turkey.
Billström insisted that disputes with Ankara were being worked through and that accession would come “in the fullness of time”.
Kristersson promised to meet an agreement signed with Turkey in June, agreeing not to support what Ankara sees as terrorist organizations.
“I believe we will meet with the Turkish government and officials and reach a solution within the framework of the dialogue,” the prime minister said.
On Tuesday, he pledged to meet Nato rules on defense spending “as soon as possible, but no later than 2026”.
In addition to the traditional defense spending, Sweden is intensifying its civil defense against possible Russian interference over its decision to join NATO.
The new coalition will move responsibility for civil defense and emergency preparedness from the Ministry of Justice to Defense and a dedicated Civil Defense Minister.