Jimmie Åkesson, the leader of Sweden's anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, has publicly stated his ambition to secure the position of prime minister by 2030. The announcement comes less than a month before the nation heads to the polls on September 13th, a contest in which the current right-wing governing bloc is trailing.
According to a Verian poll published by the public broadcaster SVT on Tuesday, the three right-wing government parties, supported by the Sweden Democrats, currently hold 43.9 percent of voter support. In contrast, the left-wing opposition bloc is credited with 53.9 percent. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s coalition, which includes the Moderate party, the Christian Democrats, and the Liberals, rose to power in 2022 following a wide-ranging collaboration agreement with the Sweden Democrats in exchange for their parliamentary support.
Under Åkesson’s leadership, the Sweden Democrats have grown significantly, overtaking the Moderates to become the second-largest party in Sweden with 20.5 percent of the vote, trailing only the Social Democrats. When asked by AFP about his future aspirations for the premiership, Åkesson remarked that he would like to aim for the role in 2030 or later, noting that there will be more elections to come.
Despite his long-term goal, Åkesson confirmed that his party remains in agreement with the Moderates that Ulf Kristersson is the designated candidate for prime minister should the right-wing bloc emerge victorious in the September 13th election. He emphasized that in such a scenario, his party expects significant influence and the assignment of ministerial posts with substantial responsibility. In April, Prime Minister Kristersson expressed his willingness to include the Sweden Democrats in a future government, suggesting that the party would be granted influential cabinet positions, specifically mentioning areas such as immigration and integration.
