To negotiate or not? That's the new Nordic puzzle over populism

[WorldNews]

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By Alistair Scrutton and Alister Doyle STOCKHOLM/OSLO (Reuters) - Years of political instability and policy impasse may be the price Sweden is about to pay for its traditional parties' refusal to countenance deals with far-right politicians. A collapsed budget deal has upset the genteel consensus of center-right and center-left, prompting talk of a snap parliamentary election that could see the far-right gain and lead to even more policy gridlock. The stalemate underscores how Sweden is out of step with other Nordic countries that have opened their doors to anti-immigrant and parties skeptical about the European Union, either by allowing them in coalition governments or negotiating with them in parliament.

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