Swedish PM Ulf Kristersson to Host Preparatory Meeting with Tidö Coalition Leaders in Strängnäs
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has called a key pre-Christmas meeting with Tidöparty leaders to strategize governance and coalition plans ahead of upcoming elections.
- • Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson invites Tidöparty leaders for a pre-Christmas meeting in Strängnäs to plan post-election governance.
- • Meeting focuses on political agenda areas: economy, crime, and integration amid new geopolitical challenges.
- • Tensions exist as Sweden Democrats demand government inclusion while Liberals oppose SD ministerial roles.
- • Kristersson critiques opposition's past governance failures and highlights current government's achievements.
- • Political analysts note historical and current coalition challenges impacting strategies for unity.
Key details
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has invited the leaders of the four Tidö cooperation parties—the Moderate Party, Sweden Democrats (SD), Liberals (L), and Christian Democrats (KD)—to a meeting at his home in Strängnäs before Christmas 2025. The meeting aims to prepare for continued governance after the upcoming election and to discuss the political agenda for the next mandate period, focusing on pressing issues such as the economy, everyday crime, and integration amid shifting geopolitical challenges (ID 115707, 115624, 115688).
Kristersson emphasized that this gathering will not be about drafting a joint election manifesto or negotiating government composition but about systematically preparing to take collective responsibility for Sweden again. He criticized the opposition, especially the red-green coalition, for their ineffective governance over the past eight years, citing parliamentary chaos and failed budgets during their tenure (ID 115624).
While all invited leaders have accepted, internal party dynamics highlight potential challenges. The Sweden Democrats demand ministerial inclusion in the government or consider going into opposition, whereas the Liberals have clearly opposed supporting any government involving Sweden Democrats in ministerial roles. Kristersson remains confident about forming a government despite these conflicting stances (ID 115707).
At the Moderate Party congress in Västerås, Kristersson showcased achievements like the arrest abroad of 210 gang crime suspects this year, presenting a strong record on law and order. He also announced impending legislation changes that remove outdated restrictions on outdoor alcohol service. Conversely, he criticized the Social Democrats for perceived failures in major cities such as Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmö (ID 115688).
Commentators note that this initiative recalls a similar but ultimately unsuccessful right-wing leaders' meeting in 2013, preceding a significant electoral loss in 2014. Given current tensions, especially within the Liberals and the Sweden Democrats, some suggest Kristersson might benefit from different strategies focusing more on internal coalition-building and consensus rather than broad leadership meetings (ID 115621).
Overall, the Strängnäs meeting represents a key step by Kristersson to solidify right-wing cooperation ahead of the next election, underscoring the need for unity amid divergent party priorities and emerging challenges to Swedish governance.