Swedish Left Bids for Power - Vows to Keep Sweden Democrats Out

SWEDEN - Social Democrat leader Magdalena Andersson wants to form a government with the Centre Party and the Greens, with the Left Party as a partner on the outside. Her stated goal is to keep the Sweden Democrats away from any power.

Andersson laid out the plan at a press conference in the Swedish parliament on Sunday evening. She said she had met the three other parties during the day and would spend the coming week trying to get them on board.

Together the four parties hold 176 seats, a bare majority in the 349-seat parliament. Andersson urged the Left Party to think about what is at stake if those seats cannot be turned into a government.

She would not say whether the Centre Party has accepted the plan. Asked if she had a green light, she said it was something she would work for over the coming week, or longer if needed.

"Monumental betrayal"

Andersson ruled out supporting or enabling a centre-right government that would depend on the Sweden Democrats. She also rejected anything resembling a new cross-bloc deal to let such a government through.

Her argument is arithmetic. The Social Democrats, the Left Party and the Greens have 151 seats, against 136 for the four centre-right parties, which would need Sweden Democrat votes on budgets and other contested bills.

If the Centre Party were to join such a government, Andersson said, it would be a "monumental betrayal of the voters" and the biggest political betrayal in modern Swedish history.

The Social Democrats will still vote for individual proposals they like, and will stay in the parliamentary defence commission.

Door left open to Kristersson

Andersson remains open to governing with the Moderates. If the Left Party refuses to talk, she named a government of the Social Democrats, the Moderates and one or more other parties as the only remaining option that would not be "entirely in the hands of the Sweden Democrats".

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has so far shown no interest in such talks, she said. Asked how realistic that option is, she replied: "You'll have to ask Ulf Kristersson."

The Left Party, which is larger than the Centre Party, would be kept out of cabinet. Andersson offered it officials inside the Government Offices and a role in drafting policy instead, so it would not be "cheated out" of any concessions it wins.

Softer migration policy

Andersson set no deadline for answers. She named three main tasks for the government she wants: more growth and jobs, working welfare across the country, and holding Sweden together.

She also promised a "more reasonable migration policy" and an end to what she called "unfair teenage deportations", the removal of young people who came to Sweden as minors.

And she made clear the whole project rests on one principle: "A government that never gives the Sweden Democrats and their view of humanity influence and power over people in our country."