Liberalerna in Malmö has announced it will end its eight-year alliance with Socialdemokraterna and seek a right-wing coalition after the September 2026 elections. The decision was made at the party's annual meeting over the weekend of March 4-5, 2026, marking a significant shift in Malmö's political landscape.
Party chairman Karl Philip Nilsson stated that Liberalerna sees a closer ideological alignment with bourgeois parties and wants to pursue a power shift in Malmö. The party has governed with Socialdemokraterna for two mandate periods, achieving what Nilsson described as successful liberal policies including improved school results and lower unemployment.
Liberalerna sees a closer ideological alignment with bourgeois parties and wants to pursue a power shift in Malmö.
However, Liberalerna has set a clear condition: they will not allow Sverigedemokraterna into a governing coalition, though they welcome SD's support for a bourgeois budget to achieve a power shift. Nilsson emphasized that a right-wing alliance is their 'first choice' but noted the decision is not set in stone if election results dictate otherwise.
In response, Socialdemokraterna's Katrin Stjernfeldt Jammeh said she is not surprised by the decision, calling Liberalerna a 'divided party.' She indicated openness to cooperation with Vänsterpartiet instead, stating that Socialdemokraterna remains open to collaboration with all parties except Sverigedemokraterna.
They will not allow Sverigedemokraterna into a governing coalition, though they welcome SD's support for a bourgeois budget to achieve a power shift.
Sverigedemokraterna's Magnus Olsson expressed skepticism about Liberalerna's conditions for a new alliance, suggesting that SD would demand more than just passive support for a bourgeois budget. The political shift makes the upcoming Malmö election more competitive and could potentially lead to the city's first right-wing government in years.
A right-wing alliance is their 'first choice' but noted the decision is not set in stone if election results dictate otherwise.
I am not surprised by the decision, calling Liberalerna a 'divided party.'
Socialdemokraterna remains open to collaboration with all parties except Sverigedemokraterna.