Susanne Nyström: Romina Pourmokhtari makes a catastrophic misjudgment

Anyone who watched Aktuellt last Monday heard Minister Romina Pourmokhtari (L) sing Jimmie Åkesson's (SD) praises (9/11). It was said that he renounces all influence and sets aside the party's political interests for the good of Sweden. Something that is rooted in the fact that the Sweden Democrats tolerate Ulf Kristersson (M) as prime minister, without demands for either ministerial positions or contracts.

The Liberals interpret that as SD has turned into the Tidö collaboration's most selfless friend, who is now prepared to take a big hit for the team.

Nothing could be more wrong.

For Jimmie Åkesson's only promise is to press yellow for a coalition with M, KD, L and C in a prime ministerial vote. He has not said that he is willing to accept their politics.

On the contrary, he has been clear that SD will go into full opposition after the vote.

"You're on your own", as he told Kristersson at his press conference last week.

Anyone who wonders what the statement means does not have to think very long. It is enough to take part in the SD leader's words.

"If a bourgeois four-party government is formed, the Sweden Democrats will in practice be a strong wave master in the Riksdag," he writes in a debate article (Expressen 6/11).

It then becomes clear that Åkesson has not acted as a kingmaker for altruistic reasons – but to maximize his influence.

Åkesson does not argue that the SD's opportunities for influence are judged to be better with an M-led government than with an S-led one. He has expressed good hopes that the party will get its policy through. And he believes that the time in opposition can allow SD to find its way back to the position of a "center party" that can cooperate widely.

In plain language, it is about being able to settle with - or in any case vote for the same proposal as - the Social Democrats, which he does not boast about.

The announcement means that Ulf Kristersson - whose background with M, KD, L and C collects fewer mandates than S, MP and V - will have problems in voting. Not least the one about the budget.

There the red-greens win, provided that Kristersson has not secured Åkesson's support. This, in turn, requires a budget negotiation with SD, which covers most policy areas.

The alternative to settling is for M, KD, L and C to be "on your own", with a budget and political proposals that may - may not - pass the Riksdag. At the same time, Jimmie Åkesson sits there as wave master and decides how the outcome will be.

The selfless offer, where SD drops its demands, means that Ulf Kristersson can feel like a winner the day he takes office as prime minister. It then becomes clear that Åkesson has not acted as a kingmaker for altruistic reasons – but to maximize his influence.