Analysis: SD is ready for cooperation with M and KD

Sunday's hottest debate at SD's national days otherwise became the issue of public service. Although the party leadership has already stated that it wants to review public service and introduce a number of mechanisms to promote impartiality and objectivity, many representatives wanted to go much further. One proposal was to significantly reduce public service allocations, another to privatize SVT2.

A series of hard attacks were made from the pulpit where SVT was accused of propaganda and left-wing. But despite the seemingly widespread criticism, the days later made decisions in accordance with the party's more cautious line.

However, the decision can still have consequences in the long run. During the fall, both the Moderates and the Christian Democrats decided that public service should change and be given a narrower assignment. These three parties constitute a conceivable alternative to the government after the next election, and it is therefore quite possible that it could affect the public service mission from the permit period beginning in 2026.

At the same time, the decision on Sunday afternoon about public service became yet another example of how most of the party leadership went on national days.

For party leader Jimmie Åkesson, it has been a clearly stated goal to remove a number of troublesome and controversial issues from party politics. He and the other party board succeeded.

In all these questions, the national days were on the line of the party leadership, which means that the Swedish Democrats now do not require a reduced abortion limit from 18 to 12 weeks. The party thus accepts Swedish abortion law and should not pursue the issue of freedom of conscience. SD also says yes to same-sex couples' right to adopt children.

Another thing that is changing is that the controversial concept in the principle program "inherited essence" is deleted, while the party makes clear that national minorities can also have a Swedish identity. In addition, the party abandons its demand for a ban on dual citizenship.

Many of these changes are, of course, about the fact that the Swedish Democrats want to expand in order to attract new electoral groups. The ambition right now is to try to increase voter support among women. Most who have voted for SD so far are men. By saying yes to same-sex couples' right to adopt children, the party also hopes to be able to shine on the door of the LGBTQ movement.

But attracting new voters is only part of the goal of the new policy. It is also a matter of removing a number of questions that may cause concerns in an election movement.

Most importantly, however, is to facilitate government co-operation with the Moderates and the Christian Democrats. This has long been the main goal of Jimmie Åkesson.

For this reason too, it is important for the party to remove a number of controversial items from the agenda. This is often the type of question that other parties have referred to when they rejected cooperation with SD.