For a Social Democratic prime minister, the first of May means both demonstrations and speeches.

This event is especially important in an election year.

It is about mobilizing one's own voters, linking the party with the union and also creating a clear conflict with the political opponents.

The election promise to permanently increase the unemployment insurance fund fulfills this function and the proposal has already been criticized by the Moderates, who believe that it leads to higher unemployment.

Increased unemployment insurance, however, is an old social democratic heart issue that both unions and party activists like to pursue.

In his speech, the Prime Minister also highlighted the government's proposal for increased pensions, criticism of welfare gains and the need to break segregation and push back serious crime.

"Trying to tone down fears"

But much came, directly or indirectly, about the issue that is currently the most important - the issue of a Swedish NATO membership.

And it is obvious that the Prime Minister is trying to tone down the fears many of her party comrades have before a possible Swedish NATO membership.

In her speech at Norra Bantorget, she was clear that the security policy situation has changed completely with Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"All assumptions about Swedish security policy that were made before the war have had to be reconsidered.

There is a clear before and a clear after February 24 ", she said.

The importance of these formulations should not be underestimated.

For the Social Democrats, it is no small matter to change their position on NATO.

Such a decision must be justified by a fundamental change in the world around us.

Raised risk of not following Finland

During the visit to Sundbyberg in the morning, she was asked what a Swedish NATO membership would mean.

According to the Prime Minister, this gives Sweden better opportunities to get help in the event of an armed attack.

If Finland joins, but not Sweden, Sweden also risks becoming more vulnerable, she believes.

Several older Social Democrats have aired their concerns that Sweden will lose foreign policy freedom of action in the event of NATO membership and will be forced to lower its profile on disarmament issues.

The Prime Minister does not seem to agree.

Instead, she highlighted Norway as a counter-argument: A country that has been a member of NATO since 1949 but which, according to the Prime Minister, "has been incredibly active internationally both in terms of mediation and disarmament".

Do not believe in nuclear coercion

Another objection raised by individual Social Democrats is that NATO membership may mean that Sweden is forced to house nuclear weapons on its territory.

The Prime Minister does not believe this either, and refers to the exceptions that Denmark and Norway, among others, have succeeded in achieving here.

Another argument Magdalena Andersson raised on Sunday is that it risks becoming more expensive for Sweden to stand outside.

If Sweden chooses not to apply for membership in NATO, Swedish defense capabilities need to be further upgraded, she said.

Magdalena Andersson also highlighted the disadvantages, or risks, of applying for membership in NATO.

These include the Russian backlash that may occur, although she did not specify what it may be about.

Rejects objections

But if you add the Prime Minister's formulations on Sunday about NATO, it is hardly possible to draw any other conclusion than that she wants to prepare her party for a turnaround in the NATO issue.

It is above all about her way of dismissing the objections to a membership, which have been put forward, not least in her own party.