When the new boards are now taking shape in Stockholm County, it is clear that power has so far shifted in five municipalities.
In most municipalities, parties that would also like to govern together at national level cooperate. But there are also those who violate the Riksdag's block boundaries and red lines.
Tyresö is one of two municipalities in Stockholm county where the Social Democrats and the Moderates govern together after the election. Last term, 60 municipalities were governed by such a constellation in the country.
At national level, the two parties have only held power together once before – during the Second World War. According to political scientists, the conditions for cooperation between M and S in the Riksdag are worse than at municipal level.
In Tyresö, Sweden's two largest parties have entered into an unusual agreement. Group leaders Fredrik Bergkuist (M) and Anita Mattsson (S) say they share the view of Tyresö's biggest challenges: the municipality needs to become safer and attract more families with children.
After this year's election, when the Moderates became the largest party in the municipality, the parties examined different paths to a majority. Three weeks later it was clear that they wanted to rule with S.
- We realized that this is how we can get the most through and give Tyresö the stability it needs, says Bergkuist.
The parties began to govern together already during the last term, when the minority government with S, L, KD and C collapsed in 2024. According to Anita Mattsson (S), the cooperation within the previous government got worse and worse and it became difficult to get support for a budget. The moderates accepted the invitation.
- At municipal level, it is important that you are pragmatic and like the people you work with. Anita and I work together very well. Not just because we can put our ideological differences aside, says Fredrik Bergkuist.
When S and M merged in 2024, it met with criticism. The Liberals' group leader questioned how cooperation would work when the parties pursue such different policies. The Green Party deplored the situation and described it as a social democratic right turn.
Bergkuist and Mattsson believe that the small parties have had too much influence in relation to their size.
- I think the voters appreciate that M and S govern together. We offer a clear path forward and prevent parties with a small voter base from dictating, says Fredrik Bergkuist.
In the municipal election campaign, the two parties avoided talking bad about each other.
- It is clear that it is good to have a big and strong main opponent. But for us it has been the Sweden Democrats in the last election as well, says Anita Mattsson.
- It would have been very strange if we had started criticizing each other when we govern together. We didn't really have any main opponents in this election campaign, but we went to the polls on what we want to implement, says Bergkuist.
The cooperation involves some political compromises. Even if the common platform is not yet completely ready, the direction is clear:
Tyresö must work more on crime prevention and security creation, they must be open to both municipal and private welfare solutions and more of both single-family houses and rental properties must be built.
- Housing policy is hugely ideological, above all at national level. But when we come down to the fact that Tyresö residents need somewhere to live and when we have to look for this piece of land together, then there is not as much ideology left, says Anita Mattsson.
S and M have over 60 percent of the mandates in the municipality.
How do you see the risk that your cooperation makes it difficult to vote for change?
- The voters have an opportunity to have their say. It was also why it was not a matter of course for us that we would continue to rule, even though many thought so, says Bergkuist.
Despite the united front, there are issues where they think differently. One such applies to how important national politics is to Tyresö.
Bergkuist believes that the most important thing for Tyresö is that Sweden gets a stable government soon, regardless of what color it is.
- Personally, I'm more afraid of what the other small parties could cause than what would happen if the soss were in charge. Then it is clear that as a moderate I hope for a moderate-led government, he says.
Anita Mattsson, on the contrary, believes that it is also important for Tyresö that her party is allowed to rule in the Riksdag.
- A social democratic government has said that we should step in and secure the value of the state grants that have been cut to municipalities and regions.
How do you see red lines in the Riksdag preventing the formation of such a government?
- I think that sometimes you could take a step back and see what is best for the residents instead of what the party can profit from in the short term, says Anita Mattsson.
