Hatt: Andersson Receives 'Failing Grade'

Center Party leader Anna-Karin Hatt criticizes both Ulf Kristersson's and Magdalena Andersson's climate policies, giving them a 'failing grade.' She also intensifies her stance on nuclear power.

• We will only support an energy policy that we have had a hand in shaping.

Four months ago, Anna-Karin Hatt, 52, was elected as the new leader of the Center Party.

Today, the Center Party is seen as part of Social Democrat leader Magdalena Andersson's government base, due to the party's opposition to the Sweden Democrats. However, Hatt has been reserved in commenting on future collaborations, stating that any potential partnerships will be decided through an organized internal process.

In the last election, many of the Center Party's core rural voters turned away from the party. Today, C-strategists hope to win them back and attract new ones by promoting Hatt as 'competent,' 'knowledgeable,' and deeply committed to climate and environmental issues.

One area where Anna-Karin Hatt seeks influence is the future of energy supply.

Demands Participation

Currently, discussions are underway between the government and the Social Democrats for a long-term energy agreement, as recently revealed by Expressen.

Sources suggest that the government is now more open to including other energy sources, such as solar and wind, as demanded by the opposition. Magdalena Andersson has also opened up to supporting state aid for nuclear power.

Both Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) and Energy Minister Ebba Busch (KD) have recently stated their pursuit of a broad political agreement on energy, which Anna-Karin Hatt views positively. However, she insists that the Center Party must also participate in the discussions.

The Center Party can only support an agreement that it has influenced through negotiations, she emphasizes.

• It is entirely natural.

On Wednesday, Anna-Karin Hatt visited the Ångström Laboratory at Uppsala University to learn about new battery and solar cell research. Upon her election, she identified climate as one of her three priority issues, alongside entrepreneurship and jobs, and investments in rural areas.

• A government we are part of or can consider supporting must be one with high climate ambitions, says Hatt.

Failing Grade

Anna-Karin Hatt wants to see stricter climate requirements in Sweden, including moving the net-zero emissions target to 2040 instead of the current 2045. She argues that it is crucial to meet already set goals.

• The faster we can reduce emissions now, the less impact there will be on warming, so it is very important that we meet our interim targets and actually increase the pace of reducing emissions.

Hatt is highly critical of the government's and the Sweden Democrats' climate policies.

• Failing grade. Absolutely clear. On point after point, they have rolled back effective tools to reduce climate emissions, she says.

But neither Magdalena Andersson nor the Social Democrats receive approval. Hatt also gives them a 'failing grade' on climate.

• Magdalena Andersson does not talk much about climate either. So, voters who care about strong climate policy should choose the Center Party going forward. The stronger we become, the greater our ability to influence future governments to have an ambitious and strong climate agenda.