"I want the Moderates to be a party for everyone"

During the Moderate Party's general meeting this weekend, you were elected to the party board as one of three new members. What are your thoughts on your new assignment?

- If I where to summarize: fun and challenging! It is a great responsibility but also an opportunity to have a seat at the table when we choose the political and strategic direction the Moderates will take, something that really affects our chances of winning elections in Malmö. I've actually been on the party board before, as a co-opted member when I was vice president of the Moderate Youth League, but it's something completely different to sit there on my own mandate. It also means that I will spend a little more time in Stockholm, but I've gotten good practice in traveling efficiently, to lose as little time as possible.

What do you see as the most important political priorities for the Moderate Party until the 2026 election?

- I want the Moderates to be Sweden's largest party, and that people in all parts of the country with all different backgrounds and experiences feel at home with us. This requires political breadth and curiosity about the problems that people experience. Tackling exclusion and restoring security is central, but not enough. We should be the hopeful alternative for everyone who wants something and believes that their own efforts should always pay off, whether it is getting their first job, starting a business, or getting an education after many years in Sweden.

With your appointment, Malmö is once again represented on the party board. Which issues in Malmö and Skåne are so important that they affect the entire country?

- It means a lot that Malmö is back, and I think it is a perspective that is needed. Many major societal problems, such as serious organized crime, have come to us first, but only ended up on the national political agenda when the problems reach Stockholm. Another important issue is infrastructure. Far too many people do not realize what will happen when the Fehmarn Belt link opens and how it will affect the entire flow of goods in and out of Sweden. A metro in Öresund could relieve the bridge and create more growth in Skåne, which also benefits the whole country.

Helena Nanne was interviewed by Filippa Morfiadakis, Senior Consultant at New Republic. "3 quick questions..." is a series of interviews conducted by New Republic.