Andersson, who also favors limits on immigration, said some of the governing coalition’s policies had gone too far for average Swedes, such as deporting the teenage children of migrants who had grown up in Sweden. “These are young people that are part of the club and now they have to leave,” she said. “People don’t like it.”
Far right a victim of its own success
Two big issues that had driven support for the SD in previous elections — gang shootings and immigration — were lower on the agenda in this election, Aylott said. Perhaps because Kristersson’s coalition, with the SD’s support, had succeeded in reducing gun crime and throttling immigration.
Four years ago, the headlines were all about “gang violence, daily shootings, kids being killed,” Kristersson told POLITICO. “Now we have brought that down by some 80%.”
On immigration, Kristersson’s government began paying some foreign-born people €30,000 to leave the country.
“For me, results matter,” Kristersson said. His Moderates party won more seats this time around — perhaps a sign of voter gratitude — but the SD, which was so closely identified with anti-immigration policies, fell back.
“The paradox is that when the situation begins to feel less acute, it falls down the list of voters’ priorities,” said Aylott. When that happens, “probably the party that was favored is not going to be favored again.”