Tobias Billström: That's why I choose Jimmie Åkesson over Annie Lööf

Magdalena Andersson (S) has been elected Prime Minister, but will rule on a budget negotiated by M, SD and KD.

But how united is the opposition really?

Jimmie Åkesson has in several interviews emphasized that there is a broad consensus in the opposition, but according to the Moderates' group leader Tobias Billström, there are still major differences between the parties.

- It is natural.

We think differently on a number of points, but the Moderates' view has always been that you should be able to talk and cooperate with everyone.

It is part of the parliamentary strategy that we set after 2019. And it's not just about the Sweden Democrats, we have made lots of agreements with, for example, the Left Party.

Is there a blue-yellow block as Jimmie Åkesson says?

- No, I do not think so, because it is not a question of forming a new bloc, but it is a matter of discussing party boundaries.

We think it is above all important that we have an impact on our policy.

That is why Billström chooses Åkesson before Lööf

But if you have to choose, will it be Annie Lööf or Jimmie Åkesson?

- I think that question is quite interesting because it is about in what context.

If you are talking about a prime minister, I do not want any of them, but I want Ulf Kristersson as prime minister, says Tobias Billström and continues:

- If you talk about settling individual issues, yes, then the Center Party gravitates in one direction and the Sweden Democrats in another.

Right now we have created a budget together with the Sweden Democrats and there I naturally choose Jimmie Åkesson over Annie Lööf.

"Distanced from me"

That M and SD negotiated a budget together was previously unthinkable.

In 2013, SD was a pariah and Tobias Billström, who was then Minister of Migration, provoked strong reactions to a statement that the volume of immigrants must be reduced.

Critics said that the Minister of Migration was too close to the Sweden Democrats.

But the criticism also came from the highest ranks in his own party - shortly after the interview was broadcast, Fredrik Reinfeldt went out and publicly distanced himself from Tobias Billström's statement.

- Fredrik Reinfeldt was not alone in that, even Stefan Löfven distanced himself from me in very harsh words.

Words that he may have had to eat up as prime minister a little later when he needed to implement these changes I have talked about.