Kristersson and Andersson clash over crime-discount vote ahead of televised debate

The televised debate in Gävle began with Magdalena Andersson arriving in a red campaign bus, followed shortly by Ulf Kristersson, who had just published an Instagram-posted letter. In the letter, Kristersson condemned Andersson’s vote against the removal of the "mängdrabatten" for severe and sexual offenses, claiming it betrayed crime victims and prioritized foreign aid over domestic safety. He also denounced a Social Democrats’ TikTok image showing two convicted gang members, labeling it "offensive" and demanding an explanation from Andersson.

Andersson retorted that Kristersson was deliberately spreading falsehoods and using a woman's experience of violence as a political weapon, calling the tactic undignified for a prime-ministerial candidate. Kristersson replied that the opposition had never used the term "crime victim" and could have supported the proposal earlier. The heated exchange highlighted deep divisions over criminal-justice policy ahead of the election campaign.