What happened
Centerpartiet is trying to get Liberalerna to join a political centre alternative after Simona Mohamsson turned down a meeting with Socialdemokraterna's Magdalena Andersson. Mohamsson argues that Ulf Kristersson represents the centre and states that Liberalerna stand closer to Sverigedemokraterna. During the election campaign, she handed out sausages at Karlaplan in Stockholm to recruit Moderaterna support votes. She has herself described Liberalerna as Tidösamarbetet's ”support sausage”.
Our analysis
When a party calling itself liberal openly declares that it stands closer to an anti-immigration right-wing party than the political centre, the boundaries have shifted permanently. What is called ”teamwork” is in practice a complete adaptation to policies that make life harder for new Swedes.
The price of Liberalerna's government loyalty is not paid in the corridors of the Riksdag. It is paid in daily life by new Swedes who see their rights negotiated away piece by piece in exchange for ministerial posts and budget support.
The party has chosen to be a guarantor of policies that pit groups against each other. Instead of acting as a counterforce to xenophobia, the party has made itself its most reliable door opener.
Explained
Tidösamarbetet is the political agreement concluded in 2022 between the government and Sverigedemokraterna to govern Sweden and pursue shared policies.