On the one hand - a single 81-year-old with memory problems who regrets the sale of his childhood summer house.

On the other - a successful party leader who refuses to give up his future dream house and now forces the old man to court.

This is the picture that has gained a foothold since Expressen revealed the deal in early October.

But as so often in this type of infected conflict, the reality is more complicated than that.

Word for word in a tangle where there is talk of relatives with their own financial interests, of blackmail and of canceled meetings that made an orderly solution impossible. 

Quarrel with 81-year-old problematic for KD

Only those involved know what is true.

It is clear, however, that it is troublesome for KD that their party leader's house quarrel with an 81-year-old has become a serial on the newspapers' leaflets.

The fact that the issues of the elderly are an important profile issue for KD and that Ebba Busch is happy to emphasize them as crucial for her political involvement, contributes to the explosive power. 

Then it does not matter that Ebba Busch seems to have acted correctly legally. 

It may seem unfair.

Ebba Busch should, just like everyone else, have the opportunity to act if she has the right on her side.

Everyone is equal before the law, no matter what position you have in society?

But it is not really that simple.

Politics is an industry of trust where high trust is the hard currency for every party leader who wants to convince voters of the party's message.

Especially for smaller parties where the party leader dominates the media image of the party.

Slipped in the confidence league

Of course, Ebba Busch knows that.

When KD reached peak levels in public opinion in the spring of 2019, her high confidence was an important explanation.

There was talk of an "Ebba effect" and the internal support for the party leader was total. 

Then she topped the confidence league - now almost two years later she has slipped down to a fourth place. 

At the same time, the pandemic has meant a voter drop of close to two percentage points for KD.

In a crisis, voters turn to the large, state-supporting parties, which has benefited the Moderates at the expense of the Christian Democrats. 

On top of that, there is a house feud that can last for a further number of months if the parties do not reach a settlement in early March.

Ebba Busch seems highly aware that she is thereby exposing her party to an opinion risk.

But she is also a combative person who seems to think that backing away from the deal is the same as admitting guilt.

The house deal has consequences

Concerns are now growing among party comrades about what a protracted legal process could mean for the party leader's confidence and, by extension, for the party's voter support.

Someone describes it as the party holding its breath in the hope that the issue will be decided as soon as possible. 

From a purely human point of view, it is possible to sympathize with Ebba Busch's desire to find a home close to her ex-husband and her parents.

But the question she ultimately has to decide is what political price she is willing to pay to fulfill her dream home.

And above all - what consequences it can have for her party.