A change of attitude from the Sweden Democrats would mean a shift to the parliamentary majority in favor of joining the long-neutral Sweden alliance. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has prompted the two countries to consider joining, although Sweden is more reluctant than Finland, which shares a 1,300-kilometer border with Russia. The Finnish government has said it will clarify the next steps in the coming weeks regarding a possible decision to seek membership. “Then (if Finland implements) I aspire to go to the party council asking for a change of mind,” Swedish Democratic Party leader Jimmy Akesson said in an interview on Saturday. “What has changed now is that Finland is clearly moving towards NATO membership and there are many indications that this may happen in the near future. That and the fact that Ukraine, which is not a NATO member, is completely alone, made me to turn. “ The nationalist Swedish Democrats said last month, after a poll showed that a majority of Swedes, for the first time in favor of NATO membership, were reconsidering their stance. (Report by Anna Ringstrom · Edited by Angus MacSwan)
