« The week when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs imploded will chase Ulf Kristersson »

« It is only when we create this moral panic that someone can start to blackmail us. In fact, Ulf Kristersson, by kicking Thyberg over this thing, has made us more vulnerable. »

After Tobias Thyberg, a star diplomat from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was forced to leave the job as a new national security adviser, the moderate municipal politician Hanif Bali went hard to his party leader in Aktuell’s broadcast.

It tells more about the Moderates’ inner life than many may think.

The former MP Works now in the margin, but is closely connected with a powerful phalanx in the party. The fact that Hanif Bali goes out so aggressively has certainly been intercepted by the M lead, as it usually means that an important part of the party thinks the same way. The internal power struggle in the Moderates never sleeps, nor during the surreal week that passed.

After a series of startling events, Ulf Kristersson’s leadership is now put into lightning lighting from several directions.

Shock, anxiety and grief prevail at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after two top diplomats were arrested within a day. One is suspected of gross unauthorized position with a secret task, but is set free. The second diplomat was on the lower degree suspected of espionage, and has now been found dead. How the political leadership handles in the coming days will be crucial for the officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

At which workplace At any time, two strikes of Säpo against two employees had created anxiety and dismay. But the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is no ordinary workplace, in any way.

Now media are filled with anonymous sources that speculate on the events of the last week, Russia’s possible involvement and Ulf Kristersson’s responsibility. At the 2026 election will remember all the details, but no prime minister wants to put that kind of seeds in the earth just over a year before the election.

In addition, and it is perhaps the most serious, the consequences spill over on Swedish security policy.

After two failures Of very different kinds, Ulf Kristersson still stands without a new regular security adviser at the decisive NATO summit in June. Then, among other things, a new level for defense appropriations will be set, and the meeting is seen as decisive for the future transatlantic link.

The opposition now sees its chance to emphasize how Kristersson’s government fails to recruit anyone to the highest post.

Despite the last week’s turbulence, work continues for the around 80 employees at the National Security Council, and preparations for the NATO meeting.

But the opposition now sees its chance to emphasize how Kristersson’s government fails to recruit anyone to the highest post. S leader Magdalena Andersson opened this week because the position as a national security adviser may not even remain in its current form at an electoral win for the left bloc.

That would be a setbacknot only for Ulf Kristersson, but also for all the work already done to counteract the drop -down splash between the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Cabinet of Ministers.

Read more by Annie Reuterskiöld:

« Obvious question: How many other misses have happened? »

« Three reasons why V’s government chances are minimal »

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