Simona Mohamsson reversed her position and is now willing to allow the Sweden Democrats into the government. She was re-elected as Liberal Party leader at an extraordinary national meeting, receiving 93-95 votes in favor of her leadership, with 80 blank votes or votes for 'nothing'. The Liberal Party and Sweden Democrats have agreed on a new cooperation agreement called 'Sverigelöftet' ahead of the next election. According to SVT Nyheter, Simona Mohamsson described the agreement with the Sweden Democrats as not her first choice but necessary to save the party in parliament. She also noted that the Swedish people have not accepted the previous line of cooperating with SD but not letting them into government.
Simona Mohamsson and SD leader Jimmie Åkesson held secret meetings over several weeks to develop the 'Sverigelöftet' agreement, according to officials. The other Tidö Agreement parties, the Moderates and Christian Democrats, were not involved in these secret talks between the Liberals and SD, officials confirmed. The Tidö Agreement is over, replaced by an L-SD cooperation called 'Sverigelöftet', according to multiple reports. According to Flamman, Jimmie Åkesson described the Tidö Agreement as 'silver tape', indicating dissatisfaction with the previous arrangement.
The agreement with the Sweden Democrats (SD) is not my first choice but is necessary to save the party in parliament.
Mohamsson's decision has caused internal party dissent, with members resigning candidacies and leaving the party board. Cecilia Rönn has been nominated as a challenger to Mohamsson for party leadership by the Jönköping party association, according to major media reports. All Liberal ministers will resign if Mohamsson loses the leadership vote, according to Johan Britz, the labor market minister. According to SVT Nyheter, Simona Mohamsson described understanding liberals who do not want to approach SD, noting that many SD members do not see her as Swedish.
Support for Simona Mohamsson among regional Liberal Party branches is deeply divided. The Liberal Party board in Västerbotten wants to force out party leader Simona Mohamsson, citing a lack of confidence and a poorly handled process, according to Jens Wennberg, the chairman. In Blekinge, 13 local liberals voted for Mohamsson and 10 against, so the party locally will support her at the national meeting, but several key members are considering their future in the party, officials reported. The party board in Skåne was unanimous in supporting Simona Mohamsson, officials said. The Liberal Party's district board in Östergötland nominates sitting party leader Simona Mohamsson ahead of the extra national meeting, according to officials.
I understand liberals who do not want to approach SD, noting that many SD members do not see me as Swedish.
Simona Mohamsson's future will be decided at an extraordinary national meeting on Sunday, which is digital and not open to media. The Liberals will hold an extra national meeting on March 22 with only one item on the agenda: election of party leader, officials confirmed. According to SVT Blekingenytt, Jesper Rehn, the district chairman in Blekinge, described that it should have involved an extra national meeting to change the red line decision, highlighting procedural concerns.
The Liberal Party is polling around 2% in opinion polls, a bottom level, according to major media reports. In one poll, the Liberal Party rose to 4.5%, above the parliamentary threshold for the first time since the 2022 election, multiple reports indicate. Only 8% of voters have high or fairly high confidence in Mohamsson, while 64% have little confidence, making her the party leader with the lowest confidence, according to major media. According to SVT Nyheter, Simona Mohamsson described that the Liberal Party must clearly choose a political side, either right or left, to pass the parliamentary threshold in the next election.
The Liberal Party must clearly choose a political side, either right or left, to pass the parliamentary threshold in the next election.
Only a few people within the Liberal Party knew about the talks with SD until the party leadership was informed on Thursday, officials said. The Liberal Party's decision to cooperate with SD was prepared during a four-hour Microsoft Teams meeting with little discussion of the party's soul, according to major media reports. According to SVT Skåne, Sara Wettergren, a school councilor in Malmö, described the decision as 'almost coup-like', reflecting internal criticism.
Stockholm Liberals will not nominate a challenger to Mohamsson at the upcoming party congress, according to Ylva Mozis, chair of Liberalerna in Stockholm. Former Liberal top figure Cecilia Wikström is involved in talks to form a new liberal party due to outrage over the SD decision, according to major media reports. According to SVT Halland, Niclas Bexelius, group leader for Halmstad liberals, described considering leaving the party after Mohamsson's re-election.
The Swedish people have not accepted the previous line of cooperating with SD but not letting them into government.
If the Tidö parties win the next election, the ambition is for all four parties, the Moderates, Sweden Democrats, Christian Democrats, and Liberals, to be part of the government, according to research sources. Simona Mohamsson and Jimmie Åkesson have announced their intention to form a coalition government, research indicates. According to www.illiberalism.org, Jimmie Åkesson described that SD will not support Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson for a second term unless SD forms part of the government in 2026.
Dagens Nyheter considers Mohamsson's actions disrespectful, likening them to attempted blackmail, according to the newspaper. Aftonbladet criticizes the Liberals for risking a government crisis and accuses them of being governed by a corrupt, unscrupulous clique, the outlet reported. According to Svenska Dagbladet, Johan Pehrson, the former Liberal leader, described Mohamsson as 'brave and wise', offering some support.
The decision does not mean becoming SD's best friends.
A government reshuffle will take place in a week, where former party leader Johan Pehrson is expected to leave as Minister of Education, according to research sources. According to swedenherald.com, Simona Mohamsson described praising the Tidö Agreement's law policy, reduced tax on labor, and school issues in her speech, while also noting she would be tougher in negotiations on issues like labor immigration.
The specifics of the 'Sverigelöftet' agreement, including what concessions were made between the Liberals and Sweden Democrats, have not been disclosed. It is unclear how many Liberal Party members are expected to leave the party following Mohamsson's decision and re-election, though some departures are anticipated. According to SVT Sörmland, Öqvist Seimyr, a Liberal Party member from Sörmland, described that there will be some departures from the party.
It should have involved an extra national meeting to change the red line decision.
The timeline for forming a coalition government with the Sweden Democrats if the Tidö parties win the next election remains uncertain. How the secret talks between Mohamsson and Åkesson will affect the relationship with the other Tidö parties, the Moderates and Christian Democrats, is also unknown. According to swedenherald.com, Simona Mohamsson described that the Liberals will give a clear message on the government issue after the summer holidays.
The legal or constitutional implications of the 'Sverigelöftet' agreement compared to the Tidö Agreement have not been detailed. According to SVT Nyheter, Jimmie Åkesson described the work as a conversation rather than a hard negotiation, with no 'difficult nuts to crack'. According to swedenherald.com, Simona Mohamsson described welcoming SD into government as not a dream solution but necessary to overcome the parliamentary blockade before autumn elections.
The decision is 'almost coup-like'.
I am considering leaving the party after Mohamsson's re-election.
There will be some departures from the party.
She is 'brave and wise'.
The Tidö Agreement is 'silver tape'.
SD will not support Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson for a second term unless SD forms part of the government in 2026.
I praised the Tidö Agreement's law policy, reduced tax on labor, and school issues in my speech.
The Liberals will give a clear message on the government issue after the summer holidays.
I criticized the left side of politics, including the Left Party, Green Party, and Center Party, in my speech.
Much is good about the Tidö cooperation but I would be tougher in negotiations on issues like labor immigration.
The work was a conversation rather than a hard negotiation, with no 'difficult nuts to crack'.
Welcoming SD into government is not a dream solution but necessary to overcome the parliamentary blockade before autumn elections.