The leader of Sweden's Social Democratic Party, Magdalena Andersson, is set to become the country's next prime minister. But her centre-left credentials won't make her any less of a "frugal" hardliner in the upcoming EU budget negotiations.
The Swedish Social Democratic Party (S) is on course to win the 13 September election, currently polling at 32%, well ahead of the national-conservative Sweden Democrats on 20% and the centre-right Moderate Party of current Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on 17%, according to the latest data.
That would make Sweden one of the few EU countries turning towards a progressive government, as centre-left executives now remain only in Spain, Denmark and Malta, with electoral trends elsewhere in Europe generally favouring the radical right.
But anyone expecting Stockholm's next government to soften its stance in the EU's sensitive long-term budget talks will be disappointed, as Andersson's administration is shaping up to be even more hawkish than the current one.
"The next Swedish government is likely to be much tougher," a Swedish official told Euronews, speaking on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to comment publicly. "During the parliamentary hearings they always ask why the current government is not doing more to oppose the budget proposal."
