Before the election for two years, Ulf Kristersson said that he could not imagine "cooperating, talking, collaborating or co-governing with the Sweden Democrats".
But the Moderates have changed their attitude and opened up for cooperation with the party.
- When we went forward and thought that we would form a four-party government, this was the alliance's common message, he says in Aktuellt and continues:
- But I have never accepted a situation where you have to talk to all parties except one and not then be able to accept silent support from the party.
I thought it was bad then and I still think so.
Criticized by Annie Lööf
The Center Party's party leader Annie Lööf said in Sunday's Agenda that she was concerned that "M chooses to put the state's finances in the hands of an xenophobic populist party".
Kristersson comments on the criticism by saying that he does not want to label parties, neither SD nor C.
- I look at the issues - what problems I see in Sweden, what solutions I want to implement if I get the responsibility to form a government.
And I will talk to everyone who is willing to work together to go in the right direction.
Do not want to form a government with SD
However, the moderate leader is not prepared to form a government with SD because the parties' opinions differ on many important issues, such as foreign policy and the environment.
Instead, it is the Christian Democrats and Liberals he mentions as possible government colleagues.
- Right now it is obvious that it is M and KD that are the core of the Swedish bourgeoisie.
I would like to see the Liberals also become part of that core.
Is the Center Party still a possible government partner?
- I like to talk to the Center Party because there are many issues where we have quite similar views, but I will never let the government issue be decided by the fact that C does not want to talk to other parties, says Kristersson.