Ulf Kristersson

Ulf Kristersson
Kristersson in 2025
Ulf Kristersson
Born	Ulf Hjalmar Kristersson 29 12, 1963
Birthplace	Sweden
Nationality	Swedish
Occupation	Politician
Title	Prime Minister of Sweden
Known for	Prime Minister of Sweden, Leader of the Moderate Party
Website	[https://www.government.se Official site]

Ulf Hjalmar Kristersson (born 29 December 1963) is a Swedish politician serving as the Prime Minister of Sweden since October 2022 and as Leader of the Moderate Party since 2017. A member of the Riksdag representing Södermanland County since 2014, Kristersson previously held a parliamentary seat for Stockholm County from 1991 to 2000 and served as Minister for Social Security in the government of Fredrik Reinfeldt from 2010 to 2014. His political career began in the youth wing of the Moderate Party, where he served as chairman of the Moderate Youth League (MUF) from 1988 to 1992, a period during which he competed for influence with future party leader and prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt. After being elected Moderate Party leader in October 2017, succeeding Anna Kinberg Batra, Kristersson steered the party toward cooperation with the Sweden Democrats, ultimately forming a right-wing governing coalition under the Tidö Agreement following the 2022 Swedish general election. As prime minister, he has overseen Sweden's accession to NATO, announced the largest rearmament of the Swedish Armed Forces since the Cold War, and pursued a restrictive migration policy. In 2025 and 2026, his government has engaged in European defence discussions, including unprecedented talks with France and the United Kingdom regarding nuclear deterrence.

Early Life

Ulf Hjalmar Kristersson was born on 29 December 1963 in Sweden. Details regarding his parents and family background are limited in publicly available English-language sources. Kristersson grew up in Sweden during a period when the country's political landscape was dominated by the Social Democrats, and he became involved in centre-right politics at a young age.

Kristersson's entry into political life came through the Moderate Youth League (Moderata Ungdomsförbundet, or MUF), the youth wing of the Moderate Party. He rose through the ranks of MUF during the 1980s, a period when the organisation served as a training ground for several future leaders of the Swedish centre-right. According to SVT Nyheter, during this period Kristersson and Fredrik Reinfeldt — who would later serve as Moderate Party leader and Prime Minister — competed for influence and power within MUF. Kristersson ultimately became chairman of MUF in 1988, a position he held until 1992. His leadership of the youth league coincided with his first entry into the Riksdag, as he was elected as a member of parliament representing Stockholm County in 1991.

The rivalry and parallel career trajectories of Kristersson and Reinfeldt within MUF would shape the internal dynamics of the Moderate Party for decades. While Reinfeldt went on to become party leader first, in 2003, and subsequently prime minister in 2006, Kristersson continued to build his political career in other capacities before eventually succeeding to the party leadership himself in 2017.

Education

Kristersson holds a degree in business and economics, making him the fourth consecutive leader of the Moderate Party with a background as a civilekonom (a Swedish university degree in business administration and economics). This educational background in economics and business administration has informed his policy focus on economic and fiscal matters throughout his career, particularly during his time as the Moderate Party's shadow Finance Minister and economic policy spokesperson.

Career

Early Parliamentary Career and MUF Chairmanship (1988–2000)

Kristersson's political career began in earnest when he was elected chairman of the Moderate Youth League in 1988, at the age of 24. He led the youth wing until 1992, during which time Swedish politics was undergoing significant changes, including a severe economic crisis in the early 1990s and a shift in the country's relationship with Europe. His tenure at MUF overlapped with that of other ambitious young Moderates, including Fredrik Reinfeldt, and the two men's competition for influence within the youth league was well documented by Swedish media.

In 1991, Kristersson was elected to the Riksdag as a member for Stockholm County. He served in parliament throughout the 1990s, a turbulent period in Swedish politics that saw the country join the European Union in 1995 and undergo significant economic reforms. Kristersson held his Stockholm County seat until 2000, when he left the Riksdag.

Return to Parliament and Ministerial Role (2010–2014)

After a period away from parliamentary politics, Kristersson returned to a prominent role in the Moderate Party. In 2010, he was appointed Minister for Social Security (socialförsäkringsminister) in the government of Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, serving in this capacity until 2014. As Minister for Social Security, he was responsible for Sweden's social insurance system, including policies related to sick leave, disability benefits, and pensions.

In 2014, Kristersson returned to the Riksdag, this time representing Södermanland County, the constituency he has represented since. On 11 December 2014, following the Moderate Party's transition to opposition after the September 2014 election, he was appointed the party's shadow Finance Minister and economic policy spokesperson. In this capacity, he became one of the most prominent voices of the centre-right opposition against the Social Democrat-led government of Stefan Löfven.

During this period, Kristersson engaged in public debates on economic policy and criticised government spending priorities. SVT Nyheter reported on notable exchanges between Kristersson and politicians from left-wing parties during Riksdag debates.

Moderate Party Leadership (2017–present)

On 1 October 2017, Kristersson was elected leader of the Moderate Party following the resignation of Anna Kinberg Batra. His election as party leader came at a critical juncture for the Swedish centre-right, as the question of how to relate to the Sweden Democrats (SD) — a party with roots in Swedish nationalism that had grown into one of the largest parties in the Riksdag — was becoming a defining issue in Swedish politics.

Under Kristersson's leadership, the Moderate Party gradually opened up to cooperation with the Sweden Democrats, a shift from the previous cordon sanitaire approach that the mainstream parties had maintained. By late 2021, Kristersson had formed an informal right-wing coalition with the Sweden Democrats, together with the Christian Democrats and the Liberals — former members of the dissolved centre-right Alliance bloc.

In the 2018 general election, Kristersson was the Moderate Party's candidate for prime minister. However, the election produced a deadlocked parliament, and after lengthy negotiations, Kristersson was unable to form a government. Bloomberg News reported that his failure to secure a parliamentary majority brought "few signs of breaking Swedish deadlock," as the political landscape remained fragmented. The period following the 2018 election was described by Swedish media as a political crisis, and Kristersson's inability to form a government was characterised by some outlets as a significant setback.

In the years between 2018 and 2022, Kristersson continued to build the right-wing bloc and refine the Moderate Party's positioning. He was noted for making controversial statements on Swedish domestic policy; Dagens Arena reported on remarks in which Kristersson compared aspects of the Swedish welfare model to apartheid.

Prime Minister of Sweden (2022–present)

In the 2022 Swedish general election, held on 11 September 2022, the right-wing bloc consisting of the Moderate Party, the Sweden Democrats, the Christian Democrats, and the Liberals secured a narrow majority in the Riksdag. The four parties subsequently negotiated the Tidö Agreement, a comprehensive governing agreement that laid out the policy framework for the new administration. On 17 October 2022, Kristersson was elected Prime Minister of Sweden by the Riksdag, and he took office on 18 October 2022, succeeding Social Democrat Magdalena Andersson. Deputy Prime Minister in the Kristersson government is Ebba Busch, leader of the Christian Democrats.

NATO Accession

One of the defining achievements of Kristersson's time as prime minister has been Sweden's accession to NATO. Sweden had maintained a policy of military non-alignment for over two centuries, but following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the country applied for NATO membership in May 2022, a process that began under the Andersson government. Kristersson's government oversaw the completion of the accession process, navigating complex negotiations with Turkey and Hungary, which initially objected to Sweden's membership. Sweden formally became a member of NATO, marking a historic shift in Swedish foreign and security policy.

Defence and Security Policy

Under Kristersson, the Swedish government announced the largest rearmament of the Swedish Armed Forces since the Cold War, reflecting a fundamental reorientation of Sweden's defence posture in response to the changed European security environment. In February 2026, Kristersson delivered a statement prior to the Munich Security Conference, underscoring Sweden's commitment to European security.

In February 2026, it was reported that Sweden had entered into discussions with France and the United Kingdom regarding nuclear deterrence — a move described as breaking with approximately 50 years of pacifist tradition on nuclear weapons policy. The talks reflected growing geopolitical tensions in Europe and a broader reassessment among European nations of their security arrangements.

Also in February 2026, Kristersson issued a joint statement with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, signalling enhanced bilateral cooperation between Sweden and Poland on defence and security matters.

European Union Policy

In November 2025, Kristersson presented the government's priorities for Sweden's work within the European Union at a party leaders' debate on EU policy in the Riksdag. In early 2026, the Financial Times reported that Kristersson expressed scepticism toward French-led efforts to promote a "Buy European" protectionist agenda, warning that Europe could not succeed through protectionism. This position reflected the Moderate Party's longstanding commitment to free trade and open markets within the European framework.

Migration Policy

Kristersson's government has pursued a restrictive approach to migration policy, a central element of the Tidö Agreement that underpins the governing coalition. The inclusion of the Sweden Democrats as a support party for the government ensured that migration reform would be a top priority of the administration. Specific measures have included tightening rules on asylum, residency, and family reunification, representing a significant shift from the relatively open immigration policies that Sweden had maintained in previous decades.

Domestic Issues and Controversies

In February 2026, Kristersson delivered a speech on the anniversary of the mass shooting at Campus Risbergska in Örebro, addressing issues of public safety and gun violence. The speech reflected the government's focus on tackling gang violence and organised crime, issues that had featured prominently in the 2022 election campaign.

In August 2025, Kristersson faced criticism for his use of artificial intelligence tools, including ChatGPT, in his role as prime minister. The Guardian reported that technology experts criticised Kristersson after a Swedish newspaper accused him of falling for "the oligarchs' AI psychosis." The controversy raised questions about the appropriate use of AI tools by political leaders and the influence of technology companies on government decision-making.

Foreign Relations

In October 2025, Kristersson received President Jakov Milatović of Montenegro in Stockholm for discussions on bilateral relations and other topics. Under Kristersson, Sweden has pursued an active foreign policy in the context of European security, with particular emphasis on Nordic and Baltic cooperation, support for Ukraine, and strengthened transatlantic ties following NATO membership.

Personal Life

Kristersson and his wife have adopted children from China, a fact that has been publicly discussed in Swedish media. He represents Södermanland County in the Riksdag and is based in that region of central Sweden.

Kristersson's personal background in business economics, combined with his long career in party politics beginning in the youth league, has shaped his public persona as a pragmatic and policy-oriented politician. His career trajectory — from MUF chairman to minister to party leader and ultimately prime minister — reflects a path through the institutional structures of the Moderate Party spanning more than three decades.

Legacy

As of early 2026, Kristersson's tenure as prime minister is ongoing, making a full assessment of his legacy premature. Nonetheless, several aspects of his time in office have already had lasting effects on Swedish policy.

The most historically significant development under Kristersson's leadership has been Sweden's accession to NATO, ending over two centuries of Swedish military non-alignment. This decision, while initiated before Kristersson took office, was completed under his government and represents a fundamental reorientation of Sweden's place in the European and transatlantic security architecture. The subsequent announcement of the largest Swedish rearmament since the Cold War, along with the 2026 nuclear deterrence talks with France and the United Kingdom, further underscored the depth of this strategic shift.

Kristersson's decision to bring the Sweden Democrats into a formal governing arrangement through the Tidö Agreement also marked a turning point in Swedish politics. The party, which had long been excluded from cooperation by other mainstream parties, became a parliamentary support party for the government, fundamentally altering the dynamics of Swedish coalition politics. Whether this shift is viewed as a pragmatic response to changing electoral realities or as a problematic normalisation of nationalist politics remains a subject of debate in Sweden.

On economic policy, Kristersson's scepticism toward European protectionism and his advocacy for free trade reflect the Moderate Party's traditional positioning as a pro-market, economically liberal party within the European centre-right.