New government with the support of the right-wing extremists is in place

In Sweden, three right-wing parties have agreed to form a government, which for the first time will also be supported by the far-right Sweden Democrats. As the party leader of the conservative moderates, Ulf Kristersson, announced on Friday, moderates, Christian democrats and liberals agreed "to form a government and to work together with the Sweden democrats in parliament".

Kristersson is now to be elected prime minister on Monday.

In September's parliamentary elections, the right-wing bloc won a narrow majority of 176 out of 349 seats. After eight years under social democratic leadership, the signs in Sweden were pointing to a change of government. The big winners were the far-right Sweden Democrats, who, for the first time in Sweden's history, became the second-strongest force and claimed a stake in the new government.

However, it was long unclear whether moderates, Christian Democrats and liberals could agree on a government basis with the Sweden Democrats. Without the right-wing populists, who achieved record results in the election and replaced the moderates as the second strongest force for the first time, the three parties would not be able to achieve their own majority. Minority governments are not uncommon in Scandinavia - what is new, however, is that such a constellation in Sweden will count on the support of right-wing populists.

However, the agreement was viewed critically by the other right-wing parties, and government participation by the right-wing extremists led by party leader Jimmie Akesson would have been a novelty. Even before the coalition negotiations began, the Liberals announced that they would withdraw their support for Kristersson if he brought the right-wing extremists to the cabinet table. However, the coalition that has now been agreed is supported by the Sweden Democrats in Parliament.

In terms of content, the coalition parties agreed, among other things, to build new nuclear power plants in Sweden. "New nuclear reactors are being built," announced the leader of the Christian Democrats, Ebba Busch, at a press conference.