"Political theatre" - mixed reactions after Åkesson's announcement

The reactions to the Sweden Democrats' party leader Jimme Åkesson's press conference on Friday were not long in coming. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson was lightning fast, as was the Liberals' Simona Mohamsson. Kristersson emailed his reaction, while Mohamsson and the Left Party's Ida Gabrielsson used the social media platform X.

While Ulf Kristersson welcomes what he describes as "the Sweden Democrats' responsible announcement" which "may possibly make what was very difficult somewhat less difficult", Ida Gabrielsson believes that what unfolded in Sölvesborg was just political theatre:

"It is an innovation to rename an SD-dependent government 'opposition'. A Kristersson government would be dependent on SD in every vote. The former alliance parties together are fewer than S, V and MP, without SD you cannot get a single decision through the Riksdag," writes Gabrielsson on X.

Simona Mohamsson also chose to speak out on X.

"Clearly from Jimmie. Even though Magdalena Andersson has celebrated the election victory with cake, the openings for a government to the right are getting bigger and bigger," she writes.

Kristersson notes that "the talks continue" while Mohamsson describes it as "continued hard work for Ulf as Prime Minister".

Ebba Busch chose the same slightly more academic tone as Kristersson:

- Ulf Kristersson is now continuing his probe mission in a complicated process. The Christian Democrats are a constructive party that seeks opportunities to build on the centre-right majority that exists in Sweden's Riksdag. Our focus is to work for a government for the good of Sweden, she writes on X.

Jimmie Åkesson's own conclusion of his party's position was that it is now time for the Center Party to show its colors.

- Now the Center Party must decide whether they can imagine being part of a bourgeois four-party government, he said during the press conference.