Social Democrats Outraged by Kristersson's Energy Negotiation Criticism

The Prime Minister blames the Social Democrats for the failed energy negotiations, leaving Fredrik Olovsson (S) furious. – He hasn't been allowed to do this by the Sweden Democrats, so now he's trying to shift the criticism onto us, he says. Magdalena Andersson also lashes out at the Prime Minister.

In Expressen's podcast "Viktor möter" with Viktor Barth-Kron, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) claims that the Social Democrats made "reckless" proposals during energy negotiations, such as reconsidering the Defense Forces' decision to reject offshore wind. This, according to Kristersson, made it impossible to reach a broad agreement.

The statement contradicts the image given by Energy Minister Ebba Busch (KD) on Thursday, when she praised the Social Democrats and the Left Party for being constructive in the negotiations.

Believes SD Blocked Progress

Fredrik Olovsson, the Social Democrats' energy policy spokesperson and the party's negotiator, is extremely upset over the image Ulf Kristersson is now presenting.

– He is incredibly weak. A few weeks ago, he stood in Ringhals and said a new broad agreement was needed. He already had all our material, and he naturally understood that a good and broad energy agreement could be made, says Olovsson, adding:

– Then he wasn't allowed to do it by the Sweden Democrats, and now he's trying to shift the criticism onto us.

But Ulf Kristersson says in the interview that the government has your demands on paper?

– We have been waiting for a comprehensive response. If there are proposals they don't like, we assumed they didn't want to include them, and they would explain why. That's how negotiations work.

But what have you submitted?

– We want to build on the sites in the Baltic Sea that have already been approved by the Defense Forces and all the authorities that have issued them. But we have also said that we want a dialogue with the Defense Forces and other relevant authorities about which sites in the Baltic Sea could be acceptable for everyone to build on.

Seeking Agreement

Despite Fredrik Olovsson's anger, he says the Social Democrats are still open to participating in a broad energy agreement.

– We are still prepared to do that. That the Prime Minister doesn't make more effort to get such an agreement in place is truly incomprehensible. This is something that all actors in the entire business community demand from politics that we deliver.

Andersson: Never Had the Ambition

S-leader Magdalena Andersson is also angry after Kristersson's statement. On X, she writes:

"Today, Ulf Kristersson showed that he never had the ambition to conclude an energy agreement, as he does not have control over his government base.

This is not good for Sweden. Our country needs an agreement to secure investments, cheap electricity, and new jobs.".