Johan Britz, a new minister from the Liberal Party, is being praised by the Sweden Democrats (SD) for his role in advocating deeper collaboration between the parties. As the Liberals and the Center Party face challenges in opinion polls, internal discussions are underway about potential alliances. Britz, known for his extensive contacts with SD, is seen as a key figure in this strategic shift. Meanwhile, the Center Party is also evaluating its stance on future government collaborations.
Johan Britz: The Mastermind Behind the SD Strategy
Johan Britz: The Mastermind Behind the SD Strategy
New minister Johan Britz (L) is being praised by the Sweden Democrats (SD) and is described as his party's leading advocate for deeper collaboration. Later this autumn, the Liberals are expected to make a decisive move. However, the Center Party is also working on its stance ahead of the election, Expressen reports.
Sweden's two centrist parties, the Liberals and the Center Party, continue to struggle. Opinion polls show that Simona Mohamsson's Liberals would be out of parliament if elections were held today, while Anna-Karin Hatt's Center Party would barely survive.
Much of the issues are linked to recent years' tensions over government formation and whether the two parties can cooperate with the Left Party or the Sweden Democrats.
With just a year left until the election, both parties are in processes that will lead to decisions for voters.
Sources within the Tidö parties claim that it is practically decided that the Liberals' national meeting in November, which will decide the contentious issue of deeper SD collaboration, will result in a yes. This means accepting a government that includes the Sweden Democrats.
Several point to Labor Minister Johan Britz (L), who took on his role as recently as June, as a driving force behind this.
– He is the mastermind, says a source.
Until he became a minister this summer, Johan Britz was head of the Liberals' coordination office and often collaborated with the Sweden Democrats in that role. Sources in L claim he has had so much contact with SD that it has become "normalized" for him.
Praised by SD
Johan Britz is now traveling to various L associations as part of a campaign to be elected to parliament next year, described by some Expressen sources as "pure lobbying" for an SD yes.
It is clear that Britz is one of the Liberals who has had the most contact with SD.
Gustav Gellerbrant, head of SD's coordination office, has only good things to say about him.
– Johan Britz is a tough negotiator who cannot be fooled and has great loyalty to his party. I am the same, which has led to a good dynamic between us, he says.
According to Gellerbrant, Britz has always prioritized policy, which he claims has given the Liberals significant political negotiation victories. Internally, Britz is described as something of a "gray eminence," a powerful player who has long been in the background and often influenced the party's direction.
At the same time, party representatives claim that recent turbulence surrounding SD member Jessica Stegrud, and her criticized tweet, has complicated deeper SD collaboration. Stegrud highlighted the ethnic background of debaters Parisa Liljestrand (M) and Lawen Redar (S) instead of discussing the content of the Tidö parties' cultural canon, which was seen as an expression of racism.
Simona Mohamsson is one of those who reacted strongly to Stegrud's tweet.
At a press conference on Thursday, where SD leader Jimmie Åkesson also participated, the L leader said she was still "angry."
When asked if the turbulence made it harder to defend SD collaboration, she avoided answering directly.
– I have been very clear about what we want, how we stand on this issue. I think questions should be directed to Jimmie Åkesson, how he plans to handle his party and explain such statements, she said.
Process for Hatt's Decision
The Center Party is also undergoing a process to decide on the future. The exact timing is not set, but it will be "well before the election."
In practice, it is about whether the Center Party can accept a government that includes the Left Party. The question is difficult internally, as the parties are far apart on economic policy, and among centrists, there is a perception that the left excuses anti-Semitism.
The parliamentary group has attended a seminar where the Left was high on the agenda, and the party board, executive committee, and district leaderships have also discussed the issue.
Since being elected, Anna-Karin Hatt has avoided giving a clear stance on a government that includes the Left Party. Her predecessor, Muharrem Demirok, stated that Magdalena Andersson (S) was the Center Party's prime minister candidate and was perceived as more open to the Left than, for example, Annie Lööf.
In an interview with Expressen, Hatt closes the door to the Sweden Democrats, stating she will not sit in a government with SD.
When asked if she can sit in a government with Nooshi Dadgostar's Left Party, she leaves the door more open.
– How we view various cooperation issues and what type of message we want to give before the next election, that process is ongoing, and we will return well before the election, says Hatt.
Johan Britz comments on Expressen's information in a written message.
"I am happy to discuss with other party members how the Liberals can become a stronger party. I do not comment on anonymous sources in the media," he says, adding:
"We are currently implementing the Tidö agreement, which is good for Sweden. How the Liberals should relate to other parties after the next election is a question for our party leader to answer."