– It’s cute that they want to be in a government with us, but we in SSU don’t want them in the same government. The biggest problem is that we have different views on economic policy and on how welfare should be financed, says Lisa Nåbo.
She mentions that the Social Democrats want to stop what the party calls profit-seeking in schools, while the Center Party does not want to stop profit-taking in schools. She also thinks there are problems on the financing side, where, for example, the Center Party has already flatly said no to higher taxes on, among other things, labor and capital. This makes it impossible for the Social Democrats to raise taxes for the most affluent as a way of financing investment in welfare.
Greider: Small neoliberal party
SSU’s view is also found elsewhere within the party. One who is on the same line is Göran Greider, who is a well-known S debater and author.
– The Center Party is a small party. It is also a very neoliberal party in many ways that stands to the right of the Moderates when it comes to economic issues. So there is a point in letting the Center Party stand outside a government. I really mean that, says Göran Greider.
Baudin: Needs a government
Nevertheless, the party leadership seems to count the Center Party as a possible coalition partner, something that not least party leader Magdalena Andersson herself made clear in SVT’s hearing the other day. It may seem strange, but party secretary Tobias Baudin defends this openness.
– Sweden must have a government. We have to get a government somehow. Now we have to wait and see what the Swedish people vote, then we will see what government it will be. We can cooperate with other parties and it is clear that the Center Party, the Left Party and the Green Party are the closest to us because we have got a right-wing conservative block on the other side, says Tobias Baudin.