- Title: Tested PM or new right bloc? Swedish voters undecided
- Date: 10th September 2022
- Summary: STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN (SEPTEMBER 10, 2022) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PRIME MINISTER AND SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY CANDIDATE, MAGDALENA ANDERSSON SPEAKING AT CAMPAIGNING EVENT ATTENDEES CHEERING (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRIME MINISTER AND SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY CANDIDATE, MAGDALENA ANDERSSON, SAYING: "Well, it’s very very close. It’s a very very close race. So, it’s up to the Swedish people to decide." SINGER CHERRIE PERFORMING PEOPLE IN CROWD WITH RED ROSES / WOMAN HOLDING UP PICTURE OF ANDERSSON ATTENDEES APPLAUDING (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRIME MINISTER AND SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY CANDIDATE, MAGDALENA ANDERSSON, SAYING: "Well, the rights of the far right, what we have seen during the last four years, is that the Conservative party have spent so much time and effort to try to convince the Swedish people that the Sweden Democrats aren’t the party that they actually are, and they show it again, and again, and again. Also during this election campaign where so many (candidates) on their lists do have racist opinions and racist backgrounds." VARIOUS OF LEADER OF THE MODERATE PARTY, ULF KRISTERSSON, ON STAGE AT ELECTION RALLY PEOPLE LISTENING KRISTERSSON ADDRESSING RALLY MODERATE LOGO ON BACK OF SWEATER KRISTERSSON COMING OFF STAGE (SOUNDBITE) (English) LEADER OF THE MODERATE PARTY, ULF KRISTERSSON, SAYING, ASKED ABOUT MAIN ELECTION ISSUE: "Well, quite obviously very much about crime, unfortunately. We haven't had those problems in Sweden in this way ever before actually but this election campaign is a lot about how to fight crime and of course the energy crisis. Sweden has shut down nuclear power for a long time and the nuclear issue has been kind of dividing Swedish politics for decades and on my side in politics we are united, we want to stop the, to save those (nuclear plants) we have and to build new plants to safeguard Swedish energy." JOURNALISTS AND POLICE (SOUNDBITE) (English) LEADER OF THE MODERATE PARTY, ULF KRISTERSSON, SAYING: "Well, my hopes are quite obvious. I mean, we hope to win and we will win if people who really want to have change, if they vote for change, we will deliver change. But we really need that support from people." VARIOUS OF CHRISTIAN DEMOCRAT (KD) CANDIDATE EBBA BUSCH ON STAGE, ADDRESSING CROWD ELECTION POSTER OF BUCH / SWEDISH FLAGS (SOUNDBITE) (English) 31-YEAR-OLD ENGINEER NOUR (NO SURNAME GIVEN), SAYING, ASKED ABOUT MAIN ELECTION ISSUE: "I think it will be about integration. I hope it will be about energy and the crisis, but I think everybody is talking about integration and the problems with that." MAN TALKING WITH VOLUNTEER AT CENTRE PARTY ELECTION BOOTH FLYERS OF CENTRE PARTY CANDIDATE ANNIE LOOF (SOUNDBITE) (Swedish) 50-YEAR-OLD LUMBERJACK, JOHAN HUDSON, SAYING: "There's a lot that is damaging to Sweden already now and lots needs to be done. We have to start from scratch. At the moment it feels like fires are extinguished with money instead of dealing with the problems - a restart is needed to put it simply." PEOPLE PASSING BY PARTY BOOTHS GREEN PARTY VOLUNTEER TALKING TO PEDESTRIANS (SOUNDBITE) (English) 34-YEAR-OLD ENGINEER MARCUS (NO SURNAME GIVEN), SAYING, ON POSSIBLE ELECTION OUTCOME: "I don’t know, I think it is kind of obvious what is going to happen. The anti-immigrant parties are going to become a bit bigger and other than that, I think whoever wins is probably ... same old, I would guess." POSTER FOR STOCKHOLM MAYOR, ANNA KONIG JERLMYR CHRISTIAN DEMOCRAT POSTER FOR ERIK SLOTTNER PEDESTRIANS WALKING PAST ELECTION POSTERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) 82-YEAR-OLD RETIREE, BO VIKTORSON, SAYING, ON WHAT HE WOULD LIKE TO HAPPEN: "That we have a government looking forward instead of looking backwards, see what we have done. And what they have done doesn’t work. So why don’t they look forward instead?" PEDESTRIANS WALKING POSER FOR LEFT PARTY CANDIDATE NOOSHI DADGOSTAR PEOPLE CROSSING STREET (SOUNDBITE) (Swedish) 56-YEAR-OLD PHD STUDENT EVA-LENA (NO SURNAME GIVEN) SAYING, ON THE ELECTION ISSUES: "It's about creating an inclusive society - or at least that is what I want it (election) to be about. But it's about two sides and one doesn't want the Sweden Democrats come to power and get influence which is a big risk if there is a change in government. So I think Magdalena Andersson should continue to lead the country.†PARLIAMENT BUILDING / SWEDISH FLAG BLOWING IN WIND PARLIAMENT BUILDING
- Embargoed: 24th September 2022 15:36
- Keywords: Magdalena Andersson Moderate party Social Democrats Ulf Kristersson election voting
- Location: STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN
- City: STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN
- Country: Sweden
- Topics: Europe,Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA001435010092022RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:The energy crisis, soaring inflation and war in Ukraine could help Social Democrat Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson to secure another term in office if Swedes decide to vote for a safe pair of hands in Sunday's (September 11) parliamentary election.
"It’s a very very close race. So, it’s up to the Swedish people to decide,†Andersson told reporters on Saturday (September 10) at a campaign event in Rinkeby.
The closely fought election comes at a time when clouds are gathering over Sweden's economy.

With energy costs rocketing as a result of Russia's decision to squeeze gas supplies to Europe, growth is set to slow next year with recession a distinct possibility.Â
Inflation is running at a pace unseen since the early 1990s and unemployment and interest rates are set to rise. House prices have already begun sliding.Â
This ought to give the right-wing opposition a golden opportunity to return to power after eight years of Social Democrat-led governments.
But experience dealing with crises could play into the hands of Andersson, 55, the finance minister from 2014 to 2021 who steered the economy successfully through the pandemic and spearheaded Sweden's bid to join the NATO military alliance as prime minister.
While polls show the left and right blocs running neck and neck, the Social Democrats are the biggest party and Andersson easily outscores Moderate leader Ulf Kristersson - who has the backing of other right-wing parties - in voters' preferences.
Kristersson is hopeful nonetheless. "We will win if people who really want to have change if they vote for change, we will deliver change. But we really need that support from people."
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