This chapter explores the evolving and problematic relationship between politicians and bureaucrats in Swedish municipalities. As local governments have expanded their responsibilities, a power imbalance has emerged due to a sharp increase in municipal employees and a decrease in elected representatives. While debates have long focused on bureaucratic dominance, recent evidence suggests the reverse may also be problematic—politicians seem to increasingly micromanage, politicise appointments, and exploit the unregulated nature of their relationship with administrators. Sweden’s Local Government Act lacks clear guidance on this dynamic, heightening risks to accountability, the rule of law, and democratic resilience. Despite minor reforms, such as mandatory instructions for municipal CEOs, meaningful regulation remains absent. We warn that without formalised guardrails, Swedish local democracy is vulnerable to exploitation, echoing global concerns about democratic backsliding and administrative capture.