Åkesson open to trading ministerial posts for SD policy gains

Jimmie Åkesson is prepared to forgo ministerial posts if the Sweden Democrats instead succeed in passing important political reforms. The SD leader gave that message during Ekot’s party leader interview on Tuesday morning. As an example, he pointed to an expanded dental care reform.

In the run-up to the election, the question of the Sweden Democrats’ role in a potential new Tidö government has been central. Previously, Åkesson has said that SD should be granted a significant share of ministerial posts if the parties win the election. Now, he is simultaneously opening up to another model.

– One could imagine trading individual ministerial posts in exchange for getting important policy instead, Åkesson said in Ekot’s interview.

This means that ministerial posts can be used as negotiation capital in government talks. For SD, tangible political impact could, in some cases, outweigh getting another seat at the government table.

The issue Åkesson emphasises in particular is dental care. The SD leader describes the ongoing dental care reform as his most important campaign promise. The reform that took effect at the turn of the year means that people aged 67 and older receive enhanced protection, with the state covering a large part of the cost for certain treatments. SD wants to expand the system to include all adults.

The party has previously estimated the cost of a fully developed reform at around ten billion SEK per year. At the same time, the issue has been described by Åkesson as a firm demand ahead of a potential new mandate period.

The announcement about ministerial posts thus comes as SD is trying to broaden the image of the party’s campaign. In June, Åkesson highlighted dental care, unemployment insurance, and health insurance as key issues where the party will not accept cutbacks. He has also said that SD wants to see an expanded high-cost protection for dental care for all age groups.

Stands firm on permanent residence permits

When it comes to migration issues, Åkesson made it clear that SD has not changed its position. The party stands firm on the proposal that permanent residence permits should be able to be converted to temporary ones.

Åkesson described the issue as a principle to be implemented during the next mandate period, although he also downplayed its significance compared to other migration issues.

Sveriges Radio reports that Åkesson believes the issue is mainly about how the change should be carried out, rather than whether it should happen.

At the same time, the SD leader emphasized that immigration is currently at a low level, which provides an opportunity to focus more on existing problems.

Defends Jomshof

Åkesson was also questioned about the widely reported conflict between SD and the Social Democrats following Richard Jomshof’s attack on Magdalena Andersson (S).

Jomshof has called Andersson and Aftonbladet columnist Anders Lindberg “quisling”. Åkesson defended his party colleague’s statement and described the controversy as a “storm in a teacup.”

The SD leader also claimed that the Social Democrats have a “questionable relationship with Islamists.” He referred, among other things, to the Social Democrats’ previous support for former MP Jamal El-Haj.