Independent MP Kakabaveh To Abstain In Key No-Confidence Vote

Independent lawmaker Amineh Kakabaveh told SVT that she will abstain in today's no-confidence vote against Sweden's Justice Minister today, effectively throwing a lifeline to PM Andersson's government.

• "I have thought a lot after different meetings with the Social Democrats, different rounds last night and this morning. I have come to the conclusion that I should abstain." She highlights "the fact that Morgan Johansson has delivered on honor issues and men's violence against women" as a reason why she will not vote to oust him.
• The motion of no confidence in Minister Johansson was called by the far-right Sweden Democrats with support of three other opposition parties. Kakabaveh is holding the tie-breaking vote, with 174 MPs expected to back Johansson and the same number seen supporting his ouster. Her abstention would mean that Johansson can remain Justice Minister.
• PM Andersson said her government would resign if Johansson was voted out of office, which would trigger a political turmoil amidst Russia's war on Ukraine and Sweden's bid to join NATO.
• Kakabaveh is a former Kurdish guerilla fighter who took refuge in Sweden and thus has been targeted by Turkish President Erdogan who is blocking Stockholm's accession to NATO. "The party secretary has given me a promise that there will not be any changes [to Sweden's relations with Kurds" due to the NATO issue," she told SVT.