This summer, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced that EU Minister Jessika Roswall is being proposed as the new Swedish EU Commissioner. If Roswall only passes the EU Parliament’s hearing, she will therefore leave the government in late autumn.
The moderates have always assumed that they will be allowed to choose a successor. But both the Liberals’ and the Christian Democrats’ youth unions think that the ministerial position should go to their parties.
– Those who have been EU ministers in the past from the Liberals have been real stars. I think the Moderates realize that if you want quality, you have to choose a liberal, says Anton Holmlund, chairman of the Liberala Ungdomsförbundet (LUF).
– It’s our turn. The moderates have had their way, now it’s half time. Then it is time for a Christian Democrat as EU minister, says Stefan Sarmes, chairman of KDU.
Could be a fight
Both youth associations have names they like to launch. LUF wants the foreign policy spokesperson Joar Forssell as EU minister. While KDU proposes regional councilor Martin Hallander, who was also KD’s third name in the EU election. Both youth associations agree that the issue can cause trouble among the Tidö parties.
– It can invite discord. But if you never argue, you never get what you want, says Anton Holmlund from LUF.
The moderates have declined to comment on a possible new EU minister. Among possible candidates, sources mention Jessika Rosencrantz, chairwoman of the Riksdag’s EU committee and EU parliamentarian Jessica Polfjärd. But the youth union of the Christian Democrats and the Liberals does not want to give up without a fight. And KDU believes it has the best chance.
– We are the second largest party in the government, says Stefan Sarmes, chairman of KDU.
– The Liberals’ mandates are worth as much as the Christian Democrats’. Even more, because we are the party that has recently shown that we can cooperate with other parties. So KD is tied to this boat in a different way, says Anton Holmlund, chairman of LUF.