Sweden Democrats Sverigedemokraterna | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | SD |
| Chairperson | Jimmie Åkesson |
| Party secretary | Mattias Bäckström Johansson |
| First deputy chair | Henrik Vinge |
| Second deputy chair | Julia Kronlid |
| Parliamentary group leader | Linda Lindberg |
| European Parliament leader | Charlie Weimers |
| Founded | 6 February 1988; 37 years ago (1988-02-06) |
| Preceded by | Sweden Party |
| Headquarters | Riksdag, 100 12Stockholm |
| Newspaper | SD-Kuriren |
| Youth wing |
|
| Women's wing | SD-Women |
| Media wing | Riks [sv][1][2] |
| Membership(2023) |  30,426[3] |
| Ideology | |
| Political position | Right-wing tofar-right |
| European affiliation | European Conservatives and Reformists Party |
| European Parliament group | European Conservatives and Reformists Group |
| Nordic affiliation | Nordic Freedom |
| Colours |
|
| Riksdag[4] | 72 / 349 |
| European Parliament | 3 / 21 |
| County Councils[5] | 275 / 1,720 |
| Municipal Councils[5] | 2,091 / 12,614 |
| Website | |
| sd | |
TheSweden Democrats (Swedish:Sverigedemokraterna[ˈsvæ̂rjɛdɛmʊˌkrɑːtɛɳa]ⓘ,SD[ˈɛ̂sːdeː]ⓘ) is anationalist[6][7] andright-wing populist[8][9][10] political party inSweden founded in 1988.[6][8][9] As of 2024, it is the largest member of Sweden'sright-wing bloc and the second-largest party in theRiksdag. It providesconfidence and supply to the centre-right ruling coalition.[11][12] Within theEuropean Union, the party is a member of theEuropean Conservatives and Reformists Party.[13][14]
The party describes itself associal conservative with a nationalist foundation.[15][16][17] The party has also been variously characterised by academics, political commentators, and media asnational-conservative,[8][6]anti-immigration,[20]anti-Islam,[21]Eurosceptic,[27] andfar-right.[14][28] The Sweden Democrats reject the far-right label, saying that it no longer represents its political beliefs.[29] Among the party's founders and early members were several people that had previously been active inwhite nationalist andneo-Nazi political parties and organizations.[30][31][32][33][34] Under the leadership ofJimmie Åkesson since 2005, the SD underwent a process of reform by expelling hardline members and moderating its beliefs, building on a work that had begun during the late 1990s and early 2000s.[8][33] Today, the SD officially rejects fascism and Nazism on their platform and since 2012 has maintained a zero-tolerance policy against "extremists", "lawbreakers", and "racists".[35]
The Sweden Democrats oppose currentSwedish immigration and integration policies, instead supporting stronger restrictions on immigration and measures for immigrants to assimilate into Swedish culture. The party supports closer cooperation withNordic countries, but is against furtherEuropean integration and believes Sweden must have a strategy to exit theEuropean Union if it assumes more power and that the Swedish people should be allowed to vote on future EU treaties.[citation needed] The Sweden Democrats are critical ofmulticulturalism and support having a common national and cultural identity, which they believe improves social cohesion. The party supports theSwedish welfare state but is against providing welfare to people who are not Swedish citizens and permanent residents of Sweden. The Sweden Democrats support amixed market economy combining ideas from the centre-left and centre-right. The party supportssame-sex marriage,civil unions for gay couples, andgender-affirming surgery but prefers that children be raised in a traditionalnuclear family and argues that churches or private institutions should have the final say on performing a wedding over the state. The SD also calls for a ban on forced, polygamous or child marriages and stricter enforcement of laws against honour violence. The Sweden Democrats support keeping Sweden'snuclear power plants in order tomitigate climate change but argues that other countries should reduce theirgreenhouse gas emissions instead of Sweden, which the party believes is doing enough to reduce their emissions.[citation needed] The Sweden Democrats support generally increasing minimum sentences for crimes, as well as increasingpolice resources and personnel. The party also supports increasing the number ofSwedish Army brigades and supports raising Sweden's defense spending.
Support for the Sweden Democrats has grown steadily since the 1990s and the party crossed the 4% threshold necessary for parliamentary representation for the first time during the2010 Swedish general election, polling 5.7% and gaining 20 seats in theRiksdag.[36][37] This increase in popularity has been compared by international media to other similar anti-immigration movements in Europe.[38] The party received increased support in the2018 Swedish general election, when it polled 17.5% and secured 62 seats in parliament, becoming the third largest party in Sweden.[39][40] The Sweden Democrats were formerly isolated in the Riksdag until the late 2010s, with other parties maintaininga policy of refusing cooperation with them.[41][42] In 2019, the leader of theChristian Democrats,Ebba Busch announced that her party was ready to start negotiations with the Sweden Democrats in the Riksdag,[43] as didModerate Party leaderUlf Kristersson. In the2022 Swedish general election, the party ran as part of a broad right-wing alliance with those two parties and theLiberals, and came second overall with 20.5% of the vote.[44] Following the election and theTidö Agreement, it was negotiated that SD agreed to support a Moderate Party-led government together with the Christian Democrats and the Liberals.[45][46][47] It is the first time that SD holds direct influence over the government.[48][49]
The Sweden Democrats party was founded in 1988 as a direct successor to theSweden Party,[8] which in turn had been formed in 1986 by the merger ofBevara Sverige Svenskt (BSS; in English: "Keep Sweden Swedish") and a faction of theSwedish Progress Party. The SD continued to use Keep Sweden Swedish as its slogan until the late 1990s.[30] The SD claims 6 February 1988 as the date of its foundation and that the party was formally registered after a meeting in Stockholm designed to bring together various nationalist movements who issued awhite paper for a new party, although observers tend to see the party's foundation as part of a complex decade-long series of events, with some even calling into question whether a meeting took place.[50]
Initially, the party did not have a single centralized leader and was instead fronted by two alternating spokespeople beforeAnders Klarström became the party's sole official chairman and head of the Sweden Democrats' national board in 1989.[32][51]
According to the anti-racism publicationExpo and the political historian Duncan McDonnell, it is generally agreed that the Sweden Democrats have never been aneo-Nazi or a fascist political party,[52] although some of the SD's founders and early members had previously belonged to both Swedish and foreign neo-fascist and white nationalist groups and the party had a reputation in the late 1980s and early 1990s for attractingskinhead gangs to its public events.[53][31] Studies byExpo documented that around nine of the original 30 people who founded the SD had associations to known Nordic fascist organisations such as theNew Swedish Movement and theneo-NaziNordic Realm Party (Nordiska rikspartiet,abbr.NRP) and estimated that around sixty percent of party's national board members between 1989 and 1995 were connected to neo-Nazi movements in various ways both before and during their time in the party.[52] However, the study also concluded that a majority of these members were no longer active within the party by the mid-to-late-1990s.[54][55] The party's first auditor,Gustaf Ekström, was aWaffen-SS veteran and had been a member of the national socialist partySvensk Socialistisk Samling in the 1940s.[56] The SD's first chairman Anders Klarström and deputy board members and party co-founders Fritz Håkansson andSven Davidson [sv] had all been active in the Nordic Realm Party.[57] Klarström later elaborated he had briefly been part of the NRP as a teenager before distancing himself from it by the time he became SD leader.[63] The first version of the SD's old youth-wing, theSweden Democratic Youth was accused of having dual leadership with neo-Nazi youth movements until 1995[64][65] while the SD's logo from the 1990s until 2006 was a version of the torch used by the BritishNational Front.[68] The SD also encountered controversy for some of its early policy ideas before 1999, which included a proposal to repatriate most immigrants who came to Sweden from 1970, banning adoption of foreign born children and reinstating the death penalty.[69]
The party promoted concerts by the Swedish offshoot ofRock Against Communism and sponsored music of the nationalistViking rock bandUltima Thule. Various party officials today acknowledge that being fans of Ultima Thule's music factored prominently in their decision to become politically engaged.[70] Early on, the party recommended international connections to its members such as theNational Democratic Party of Germany, the AmericanNational Association for the Advancement of White People (founded byDavid Duke) and publications like the NaziNation Europa andNouvelle École, a newspaper that advocatesracial biology and the British neo-NaziCombat 18 movement.[71][72][73]
The SD won municipal representation for the first time during the1991 Swedish local elections inDals-Ed Municipality andHöör.[74]
In 1995, Klarström was replaced as SD chairman byMikael Jansson, a former member of theCentre Party. Jansson strove to make the party more respectable and took a more direct stance against displays of extremism within its ranks. In 1995, the SD closed down its youth-wing and after skinheads started to impose on SD meetings, consuming alcohol at party events, displaying fascist imagery and the wearing of any kind of political uniform were formally banned in 1996. Also in 1996, it was revealed that a party spokeswomanTina Hallgren, had been to a party meeting ofNational Socialist Front posing in a Nazi uniform. Opposition to the party have mistakenly mixed these two events together and falsely claim that she was wearing the uniform at a rally of the Sweden Democrats and that it was because of this that the uniform ban came about.[75][76][77] During the early 1990s, the SD sought to become a more conventional party and became more influenced by the FrenchNational Rally, as well as theFreedom Party of Austria, theDanish People's Party, GermanThe Republicans and ItalianNational Alliance.[78] SD received economic support for the1998 election from the then called French National Front, and became active inJean-Marie Le Pen'sEuronat from the same time.[77][79] By the end of the decade, the party took further steps to moderate itself by distancing itself from all forms of fascist ideology, softening its policies on immigration and capital punishment and removing party figures deemed to be too radical or guilty of inappropriate behaviour.[80] In 1999, the SD left Euronat although the youth wing remained affiliated until 2002.[79] In 2001, the most extreme faction was expelled from the party, leading to the formation of the more radicalNational Democrats which in turn resulted in many of the SD's remaining hardline members leaving for the new party.[78]
During the early 2000s, the so-called "Scania gang", also known as the "Gang of Four" or "Fantastic Four", which consisted of the youth wing chairmanJimmie Åkesson, as well asBjörn Söder,Mattias Karlsson andRichard Jomshof continued and expanded the moderation policy, which included ousting openly extremist members, banning neo-Nazi activists from attending party events or obtaining membership, and further revising the SD's policy platform.[77][73] Before the 2002 election, formerMember of Parliament (MP) for theModerate Party,Sten Andersson defected to SD, citing that the party had gotten rid of its extreme-right elements.[79] In 2003, the party declared theUniversal Declaration of Human Rights to be a cornerstone of its policies.[81] In 2005, Åkesson defeated Jansson in a leadership contest. Shortly after, the party changed its logo from the flaming torch to one featuring anAnemone hepatica, reminiscent of the party's very first, but short-lived, logo (a stylisedMyosotis scorpioides).[82]
In the2010 Swedish general election, SD won representation in theSwedish Riksdag for the first time, with 5.7% of the vote and 20 MPs.
In 2010, the SD leadership introduced a charter against racism on the party platform and later expanded this into a zero-tolerance policy regarding political extremism and law breaking. After some of the SD's elected members caused controversies during the party's first term in the Riksdag, the SD also stated it would introduce a vetting procedure for its future parliamentary candidates and issued updated guidelines on conduct and communication for party members.[83][84][85] In 2011, the party also changed its self-description from "nationalist" to "social conservative".[86]
Sweden Democrat MPWilliam Petzäll was persuaded to leave the party on 26 September 2011 while still retaining his parliamentary seat.[87] This was done because of Petzäll'ssubstance abuse and the problems this might cause for SD's public image. Petzäll later died of an overdose and his seat was turned over toStellan Bojerud in September 2012.
In November 2012, videos from August 2010 were released, in segments, over the course of three days by Swedish newspaperExpressen (a year earlier,Expressen had released the same videos without making much noise). This came to be known as theIron pipe scandal, although the same videos had already been released onYouTube by Erik Almqvist in 2010. The videos, recorded by MPKent Ekeroth, featured him along with fellow Sweden Democrats MPErik Almqvist andChristian Westling. The videos show Almqvist arguing with comedianSoran Ismail: Almqvist is referring to Sweden as "my country, not your country", as an insult to Ismail. They are also shown arguing with a drunken man. A woman can also be seen approaching Kent Ekeroth while filming; he calls her a whore and pushes her out of the way. A few minutes later they are seen picking up iron bars.[88] Coming only a month after party leader Åkesson had instated a zero-tolerance policy towards racism in the party,[35] the release of the video caused Almqvist to leave his position as the party's economic policy spokesperson and his place in the executive committee on 14 November. He excused himself as having been under a lot of pressure and threats of violence at the time.[89] As more segments of the video were released, revealing the other two men's involvement, the party announced on 15 November that Ekeroth would take a break from his position as the party's justice policy spokesman.[90] Almqvist and Ekeroth both took time off from their parliament seats.Sweden Democratic Youth presidentGustav Kasselstrand and vice presidentWilliam Hahne criticised the decision to remove Almqvist and Ekeroth in anop-ed inDagens Nyheter, arguing that the party should not give in to media pressure.[91]
Only two weeks after Almqvist and Ekeroth were forced to step down, fellow MPLars Isovaara reported being robbed of his backpack and pushed out of his wheelchair by "two unknown men of an immigrant background". When trying to get into the Riksdag, Isovaara was himself reported by the police for racial abuse against safety guards.[92] The Sweden Democrats initially defended Isovaara, but backed down whenExpressen revealed that Isovaara had actually forgotten his backpack at a restaurant, and that the two men had helped him when he fell out of his wheelchair.[93] He left his seat in the Riksdag on 29 November, and was replaced byMarkus Wiechel.[94]
In theEuropean election of 2014, SD received 9.67% of votes, winning two seats in the European Parliament and becoming the fifth largest party in the country. The party later joined theAlliance for Direct Democracy in Europe and theEurope of Freedom and Direct Democracy group.
In the2014 election, the Sweden Democrats received 12.9% of the votes, doubling their support and becoming the third-largest party. The party remained big inScania andBlekinge; for example inMalmö the party received 14% of the votes, inLandskrona it received 19% of the votes and inSjöbo a total of 30% rendering the party the largest in that municipality.[95] Other parties, however, remained firm in their decision to isolate them from exerting influence. Out of 29 constituencies electing parliamentarians, the party was the second largest in "Scania North & East" while being the third largest party in 25.[96] Although relying heavily on rural areas and the deep south, the party also made strong inroads and results above 15% in some medium-sized central Sweden cities such asNorrköping,Eskilstuna andGävle, indicating a widening of its voter base in all areas.
Some time after that, Åkesson announced he would go on sick leave due toburnout.[97][98]Mattias Karlsson was appointed to temporarily take over Åkesson's duties as party leader.
On 23 March 2015, it was announced that Åkesson would return from his leave of absence to resume his duties as party leader following an interview to be broadcast on the Friday, 27 March instalment of theSkavlan program onSVT, and a subsequent press conference with the Swedish media.[99][100]
Amid media coverage regarding the high immigration figures and theEuropean migrant crisis, the Sweden Democrats soared in allopinion polls during the summer of 2015, even topping web-based polls fromYouGov and Sentio in late summer, with a little over a quarter of the vote.[101] The party also saw rising support in phone-based polls, although the swing was lower.
In early 2018, thefar-right[102]Alternative for Sweden was founded by members of theSweden Democratic Youth, who were collectively expelled from the Sweden Democrats in 2015.[103] Three Sweden Democrat members of theRiksdag,Olle Felten,Jeff Ahl and former leaderMikael Jansson subsequently defected to the party.[104]
On 2 July 2018, the two Sweden Democrats MEPs left theEFDD group and moved to theEuropean Conservatives and Reformists Group.
In the2018 Swedish general election, the SD increased its support to 17.5% of the vote,[105][106][107][108][109] though it did not grow as much as most polls had predicted.[110][111] According to Emily Schultheis ofForeign Policy, the SD won an ideological victory, as it "effectively set the terms for debate" and forced its rivals to adopt immigration policies similar to its own,[112] and other reporters made similar observations.[113][114] The SD performed particularly well inSkåne County, having the highest number of voters in 21 out of the county's 33 municipalities.[115] An SVT analysis of the results found that at least 22 seats in 17 city councils would be empty as the Sweden Democrats won more seats than the number of candidates it had.[116][117] The party also received its first mayor, inHörby Municipality.[118]
Following the election,Christian Democratic leaderEbba Busch announced that her party was willing to enter negotiations with the Sweden Democrats in the Riksdag.[43] In December 2019,Moderate Party leaderUlf Kristersson held an official meeting with the Sweden Democrat leadership for the first time, despite having previously ruled out negotiating with the party. This led to speculation that the SD could be included in a new centre-right grouping to replace theAlliance which had collapsed after theCentre Party and theLiberal Party left to support the Social Democratic led government.[119][120]
In October 2018, the Sweden Democrats went into a governing coalitions with theModerate Party and the Christian Democrats for the first time inStaffanstorp Municipality,Sölvesborg Municipality,Herrljunga Municipality andBromölla Municipality.[121][122] In Bromölla, coalition felt apart in 2020, while new coalitions with the SD emerged inSvalöv Municipality (2019),Bjuv Municipality (2020) andSurahammar Municipality (2021).
In 2020,Mattias Karlsson, the former group leader of the Sweden Democrats in the Riksdag foundedOikos, a conservative think-tank which has been alleged to be an "extension of the Sweden Democrats' political project", supposedly also receiving funding from the party.[123]
In 2021, the SD was invited to participate in alternative budget agreement talks with the Christian Democrats and the Moderates for the first time. That same year the SD also issued avote of no confidence against theLöfven II cabinet citing the government's handling on immigration, the economy and housing which was carried by the other opposition parties and led to Löfven's impeachment. The SD had previously issued a vote of no confidence in the government in 2015, albeit without success.[124]
Ahead of the2022 Swedish general election, the SD attempted to form a conservative grouping with theModerates, Christian Democrats and theLiberals and requested ministerial posts in government should the right-wing bloc form a parliamentary majority.[125] During the election, the SD campaigned to reduce asylum migration close to zero, stricter policies on work permits, lower energy bills and a tougher stance on gang violence with longer prison sentences.[126][127] Preliminary results indicated that the Sweden Democrats had seen their strongest result to date and had overtaken the Moderates to become the second largest party with 20.6% of the vote. The result was confirmed after the election.[128]
In October 2022, the SD was allocated chairmanship of four parliamentary committees for the first time in the Riksdag with party secretaryRichard Jomshof appointed to head theJustice Committee,Aron Emilsson theCommittee on Foreign Affairs,Tobias Andersson theCommittee on Industry and Trade, andMagnus Persson theCommittee on the Labour Market. SD parliamentarians were appointed as international delegation leaders for the first time, withMarkus Wiechel becoming chairman of the Swedish delegation to theParliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe,Björn Söder for theOrganization for Security and Co-operation in Europe andAdam Marttinen the chairman of the joint-parliamentary group forEuropol.[129][130]
The party also formed a deal with Moderate leaderUlf Kristersson to provide for the first time in their history parliamentary support to a Moderate Party-led government as part of theTidö Agreement.[131][132]
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The Sweden Democrats' current party programme is based on "democraticnationalism" andsocial conservatism.[133][134] The SD platform expresses that the party's core philosophy is inspired by Swedishnational conservatism and parts of thesocial democraticfolkhemmet ('the people's home') idea. SD rejects any positioning of the party within the classic left-right scale, instead referring to itself as a "value-oriented" party and stating that "basicsocial justice with traditional conservative ideas",nationalism and desires for democratic and good governance form the party's main principles.[135] Nevertheless, the party is often described by international commentators as beingright-wing[136] tofar-right.[137]
In policy, SD articulates its main focus to be the areas of immigration, law and order and the elderly. The party also attaches particular importance to its economic and family policies.[138] The SD criticizesmulticulturalism in Sweden and emphasizes preserving national heritage. It is also opposed to what it sees as a constant shift of power from Stockholm to theEuropean Union and campaigns to protect Swedish sovereignty and financial autonomy against the EU.[139] Until the 2000s, the SD usedethnopluralist arguments in its defense of a Swedish homeland and culture[140] with its 2005 handbook calling for a "high degree of ethnic and cultural similarity among the population"[135] while the party platform described the need to preserve the "inherited essence" of ethnic Swedes.[141] However, since 2018 SD's policy book has stressed a more moderatecultural conservative position by promoting a shared national identity in which foreign-born people can become culturally Swedish through strong assimilation policies.[142][143]
The SD's ideology and political identity has evolved significantly in the decades since its founding and entrance into the Riksdag. Labels for the party have consequently been a source of debate by outside observers. Nordic Studies scholarBenjamin R. Teitelbaum called the SD radical nationalist in 2013 and by 2018 said the party has since moved to the "softer side" of European populist parties.[70][142] The party has been described by sociologistJens Rydgren and political scientistCas Mudde variously as xenophobic,far-right, racist or right-wing populist.[133][144][145][146][147][148] French newspaperLe Monde profiled the SD as far-right and "a nationalist party with fascist roots".[149] In 2013, aSveriges Radio journalist called the SD "xenophobic", which resulted in a complaint lodged to the broadcasting regulator by the party. TheSwedish Broadcasting Commission determined that this description was acceptable to use.[150] According to Sveriges Radio in 2017, a European research agency classed the party as "extreme" using the SwedishGAL-TAN [sv] political scale, arguing that the SD is more traditionalist, socially authoritarian and nationalist and less progressive compared to other Swedish parliamentary parties and described the SD as similar to theFrench National Rally in some of its policies.[151] In 2022, University of Gothenburg political scientist Johan Martinsson described the SD as "anti-immigration, anti-multicultural, nationalist" while stopping short of labelling the SD as a far-right party.[152]
However, the characterization of the SD as radical or extreme far-right has come under dispute in recent years by scholars and political observers. Commentator Kateřina Lišaníková observed that the SD had hardline origins through its founders and initial support network, and notes the SD's leadership openly acknowledges its history, but argues the present version of the SD does not match the description of a radical far-right party but is mistakenly labelled as such by media or opponents who focus on the party's early rather than current beliefs. She stated that the SD is now anational conservative[8][153] party with populist elements but does not contradict democratic or Swedish constitutional principles.[154] Similar observations were made in 2021 by Swedish political scientist Sören Holmberg that "extreme right" was not a good description for the SD when placed within the traditional left-right scale, since the party contains centre-left and centrist policies on some issues compared to the other centre-right parties in Sweden. Holmberg furthermore argued that while SD can be considered aright-wing populist party, the label "populist" has become unstable due to some of the other parties in the Riksdag adopting populist ideas of their own. He concluded national-conservative was a better term for the SD.[155] Swedish sociologist Göran Adamson has also argued some political opposition conflate the SD's national conservative image as being right-wing extremist, and argued the SD today is not comparable to European extreme-right or neo-fascist parties since the SD has a more liberal direction in several areas, and there is no evidence to suggest that the current incarnation of the party's policies are fascist or anti-democratic.[156]
Describing the party's political trajectory, Johan Martinsson wrote that culturally nationalist was the most appropriate label for the Sweden Democrats since the party has continued to change its ideological programs and manifestos since its founding and no longer refer toethnic nationalism in party literature. Martinsson acknowledged that the SD had links to Nazi movements during its first years before transforming itself in a conventional political party during the 1990s and since the 2010s the term "radical right" is no longer accurate for the SD. Martinsson summarized that while the SD adopts populist and anti-immigration rhetoric, other parties had also adopted more restrictive stances on migration and the SD's support for welfare state policies contrasts it from other right-leaning parties while the term "right" can be used as a pejorative label as opposed to an accurate description.[157] Sweden-based British journalist Richard Orange noted in 2018 that the SD stands out due to its neo-Nazi roots but in the present now endorses more inclusive "cultural nationalism" over ethnic homogeny while calling for stricter immigration policies.[143] In 2022, British political scientistMatthew Goodwin described the SD as having transformed itself from an extreme past to becoming part of a broader European family ofnational-populist parties which combine social and cultural conservative nationalism and populism but are opposed to fascist, anti-democratic and revolutionary ideas.[158]
Within the party, the SD's leadership have rejected the extreme and "far-right" labels and argue they no longer represent the party. SD also denies that the party is racist and that expressions of neo-fascism or Nazism among its membership are historical and no longer tolerated.[159]Oscar Sjöstedt, the SD's financial spokesperson, places the party around the centre on theleft–right political spectrum,[160] while leader Jimmie Åkesson has stated that they are parallel with theModerate Party.[161] In addition, the party has in recent years increasingly distanced itself from other European ultra-nationalist or far-right parties.[8][162] In spite of this, a 2022 report by Swedish researchers Acta Publica claimed to have found 289 Swedish politicians who expressed racist or neo-Nazi views, with 214 of them being members of the SD.[163][164] The SD itself has argued that some of these controversies with members have been as a result of the party's rapid growth since the late 2000s rather than the party being extreme.[83]
The party is a supporter of theSwedish monarchy playing a constitutional and cultural role in Swedish life, but also supports an amendment to theconstitution that obligates the Riksdag to elect a new monarch in the event of there being no heir to the throne.[165] In 2014 the party proposed that granting of citizenship should be contingent on declaring loyalty to the king.[166]
The Sweden Democrats are critical of the special rights given to the indigenousSámi people of northern Sweden. In 2008 the party accepted a motion against the rights toreindeer husbandry. They have argued that those "who do not involve themselves with reindeer husbandry are treated as second class citizens" and that the privileges the herders have are "undemocratic". They want to restructure the councils and funds that are used to benefit the Sami population, so that they are used "regardless of ethnic identity and business operations". They also want to abolish theSámi Parliament, which claims special privileges for an "ethnic minority while the society claims equal rights for others".[167]
SD values a strong, common national and cultural identity, believing this to be one of the most basic cornerstones of a functioning democracy. Minimizing linguistic, cultural and religious differences in society has a positive effect onsocietal cohesion, according to the party. On its platform, SD states the Swedish nation is defined "in terms of loyalty, a common language and common culture". A requirement for becoming a member of the Swedish nation is to either "be born in it or [...] by actively choosing to be a part of it". For these reasons among others, SD firmly rejectsmulticulturalism.[134]
In an interview forDagens Nyheter, Second Deputy Speaker of the Riksdag and then-party secretaryBjörn Söder elaborated on the SD party programme with respect to its views on national identity by saying that he personally did not think people with dual national identities in Sweden would necessarily identify themselves as Swedish. Although an immigrant of any ethnic background in theory can become a Swedish citizen, they would have to adapt and beassimilated in order to be considered Swedish in the cultural sense.[168][169] Björn Söder stated that the officially recognised Swedish minority peoples (e.g.Sámi,Tornedalians andJews) in many cases have dual cultural identities and that they probably would be proud of both heritages.[168] It was widely interpreted that Söder had stated in the interview that Jews cannot be Swedish unless they abandon their Jewish identity.[170][171] Söder's comments were understood to be anti-semitic and caused Swedish parliamentary groups and party leaders to call for Björn Söder's resignation.[172] TheSimon Wiesenthal Center listed the statement as number six on their list of the top ten most anti-semitic events of 2014.[173][174][175] Söder responded inThe Jerusalem Post, denying the charges of anti-semitism and claimingDagens Nyheter had taken his statements out of context.[176]
The Sweden Democrats advocates a cultural policy that would strip funding for multicultural initiatives and strengthen support for traditional Swedish culture. This agenda has often manifested itself as opposition to state funding of immigrant cultural organisations and festivals, and support for traditional Swedish craft, folk music, and folk dance groups. The party also tends to oppose state support for cultural initiatives deemed provocative or elitist.[70] A 2014 letter signed by 52 Swedish anthropologists, criticised the Sweden Democrats' use of the terms "culture" (kultur[kɵlˈtʉːr]ⓘ) and "anthropology" (antropologi[antrɔpʊlʊˈɡiː]ⓘ), claiming their views on culture were "essentialist and obsolete", clarifying that culture is "dynamic" and "in constant change".[177]
The Sweden Democrats criticise modern art and have accused local councils of wasting public money on what it calls "provocative" art.[178] The SD want citizens to be able to vote in local referendums on public art displayed near schools, public transport stations and town centres. "The important thing is that what is expressed in the public environment is anchored to the citizens and especially the local residents who are most often in the environment so that they feel an identification", says the party's cultural spokespersonAron Emilsson.[179] Sweden Democrats mayor inSölvesborgLouise Erixon claimed "There's a big division between what the general public thinks is beautiful and interesting and what a tiny cultural elite thinks is exciting".[180]
The Sweden Democrats also support a ban on theburqa andniqāb in public places and are against proposals to publicly broadcast the Islamic call to prayer from minarets.[181] The SD wants tougher enforcement of existing laws againstfemale genital mutilation, honor violence and social segregation. The party also wants Swedish to remain Sweden's sole official language in state funded schools, government agencies and public funded media, and for more teaching of Swedish cultural history in schools.[182] It also supports prohibiting thehijab in primary schools, arguing that while it is not opposed to hijabs in general, the choice to wear it should be made on an individual basis when a child reaches adulthood.[183] The SD is strongly opposed tosharia law being incorporated into the Swedish legal system.[184]
Leading party representatives have also spoken out in various contexts against mosques and Islamic centres in Sweden.[185] In 2023, SD leaderJimmie Åkesson argued that Swedish mosques which preach "anti-democratic, anti-Swedish, homophobic, anti-Semitic propaganda" should be closed and demolished and expressed opposition to the construction of new Islamic buildings. SD has also argued that other Swedish parties, particularly those on the left such as theSocial Democrats are willing to allow Islamist activities in Sweden to secure votes.[186][187][188] In 2009, he also described Muslim immigration to Sweden as "the greatest foreign threat since theSecond World War".[184] In January 2024,Richard Jomshof, chairman of the Justice Committee in the Riksdag, ignited controversy in Sweden by proposing the prohibition of the Islamicstar and crescent.[189] He drew parallels to the ban on theSwastika, claiming that both symbols represent something dangerous.[190][191]
The Sweden Democrats believe that currentSwedish immigration and integration policies have been a national failure and instead call for stricter immigration and assimilationist policies. In a statement filed before theRiksdag Committee on Migration in August 2020, SD claims that Sweden's "irresponsible" immigration and asylum policies have subjected Sweden to an on-going "long-term, albeit low-intensity crisis".[192] The SD official policy brief states that the party "welcomes those who contribute to our [Sweden's] society, who follow our laws and respect our customs. On the other hand, anyone who comes here and exploits our systems, commits crimes or exposes our citizens to danger is not welcome".[193]
Historically, SD sought to repatriate most immigrants and ban immigration entirely; however, these policies were moderated in the 1990s before being abolished altogether.[69] Presently, SD positions itself againstmass immigration and wishes to strongly restrict immigration and instead give generous support to those who do not want to assimilate into Swedish society to emigrate back to their country of origin and change laws to allow for wider deportations of foreigners who engage in illegal activity or are unemployed and abusing state welfare.[194] The Sweden Democrats also call for an expansion of circumstances in which citizenship can be revoked from naturalized citizens, with Jimmie Åkesson mentioning individuals who commit crimes, welfare and visa fraud, show poor moral character by supporting violence, deliquency and terrorism or are unintegrated into society.[195] The Sweden Democrats support raising theremigration allowance given to foreign-born residents who seek to voluntarily leave the country.[196] The party argues that its migration policies are not based on xenophobia towards immigrants, but believe immigration must stay at a level where it does not "threaten national identity, the country's welfare or security".[197] SD has also campaigned to restrict immigration from what it calls "culturally distant" countries and argues that temporary work visas should be limited only to skills that are impossible to find in Sweden.[198] SD are againstfree movement of labour within the European Union, calling on Sweden to revise its membership terms of theSchengen agreement, but support free movement betweenNordic nations.[135] The SD believes that Sweden will be better able to helprefugees and economic migrants in their home areas once more state funds are freed from being directed towards funding immigration into Sweden.[199][200] SD also favours assimilation over integration of immigrants from non-European backgrounds, arguing that integration is a meet in the middle approach and that Swedes should not have to bear the burden over what the party claims have been reckless immigration policies.Torbjörn Kastell [sv] (former party secretary from 2003 to 2004) said in 2002 that the party wanted "a multicultural world, not a multicultural society".[133][201] In 2017, members of the Sweden Democrats' leadership defended comments made by then US PresidentDonald Trump in response to Trump's assertion that Sweden's migration and asylum policies had led to a rise of terrorism and crime in Sweden.[202] However, following the2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine the SD supported accepting and accommodating Ukrainian refugees in Sweden.[203]
When handling asylum seekers, the party supports protectingnational sovereignty in regards to Sweden's decisions on migration and border control, as well as "the principle of first safe country", meaning that asylum seekers should only be able to seek asylum in the first safe country that they arrive in.[204] Until such legislation is realized, SD supports setting limits on the right to welfare for asylum seekers and making cultural integration mandatory. The party opposes offeringpermanent residency to refugees, believing that temporary residency should be the standard for those who claim asylum in Sweden. SD supports Sweden eventually accepting refugees exclusively through theUNHCR resettlement programme in accordance with a quota based on eachmunicipality's capacity.[192][205] SD has also referred to the recommendations from theUnited Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) which state that the return of refugees should be the solution to refugee problems.[133] The party also supports giving priority to cases of persecuted Christian, former Muslim and other religious or sexual minorities fleeing war or death for apostasy believing that such individuals are less likely to be offered refuge elsewhere.[206] Ahead of the2022 Swedish general election, the party campaigned to tighten the rules in the Swedish Aliens Act (Utlänningslagen [sv]) to the strictest possible level within European law and encourage voluntaryremigration of asylum seekers and immigrants who are economically inactive or remain culturally unassimilated.[200]
The SD also wants European governments to construct a security wall along the European border with Turkey in response to illegal immigration, terrorism and incursions by theGrey Wolves into Greece. It also calls on Europe to commonly adopt a migration system based on theAustralian model to prevent human trafficking across the Mediterranean which the party states enables illegal immigrants and terrorists to reach Sweden.[207][208] SD calls for compulsory measures for immigrants to be employed, live and work in Sweden for at least ten years, learn theSwedish language, go through a mandatory cultural assimilation program, and be subject to a language and social skills test before becoming eligible for Swedish citizenship.[209][200] The party also supports increased spending on border patrol forces,zero tolerance laws on illegal immigration and foreign-born criminals, repatriations ofSchengen Area migrants who move to Sweden to make a living from street begging, changes in the law to enable the government to strip foreign-born Swedish nationals of their citizenship if found guilty of a crime, penalties against employers who use foreign and undocumented labor to circumvent Swedish working conditions and stricter laws against family migration.[200]
In recent years, the SD has tried to approach the immigration policies of theDanish People's Party, which from 2001 to 2011 provided parliamentary support for the former Danishliberal/conservative governments in return for a tightening of Danish immigration policies and stricter naturalisation laws.[210] Following the2022 Swedish general election, the Sweden Democrats achieved this objective under theTidö Agreement with the centre-right Moderate, Christian Democrat and Liberal Party coalition government.[211] In exchange for SD parliamentary support, the Swedish government conceded to some of the SD's immigration policy demands on requirements for obtaining Swedish citizenship and expanding the deportation circumstances for foreign-born residents and asylum seekers.[212]
Following scenes of people in Swedish cities celebrating thePalestinian attack on Israel, the SD leadership stated that those who praised the attack should be expelled from the country and that the Tidö Agreement clause on deporting non-citizens on grounds of poor character and not just criminal convictions should be used against those who supportHamas.[213]
The Sweden Democrats consider children raised in anuclear family as the preferred option for the child's development. Those not raised by their biological parents should have the right to associate with or at least find out who they were. SD has been critical of adoption andartificial insemination for same-sex couples andpolyamorous people.[214]
The party also calls for a ban on child, polygamous andforced marriages, as well as harsher penalties forhonor violence. It also supports a zero-tolerance stance againstfemale genital mutilation within Sweden and abroad, and for perpetrators to be prosecuted or if necessary deported.[215] SD also wants certain restrictions onmale circumcision, calling for a ban on minors unless its for medical reasons. The party says that while it does support male circumcision for religious reasons, it should be performed at the age of consent and the state should not fund it through the healthcare system.[216][217]
SD supportsabortion being legal in Sweden and for free access to abortions for up to twelve weeks but opposes late-term abortions unless permission is given bythe Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare. The party also calls for a law to banabortion tourism in Sweden.[218]
The party today fully supports legalization ofsame-sex marriage andcivil unions for gay couples but believes the ultimate decision to perform a wedding ceremony should be decided by the individual religious institution rather than the state.[219]
SD previously opposed government sanctioned adoption to single people and same-sex couples unless the adopting party are close relatives or already have a close relationship with the child, but has since shifted its stance to permittingsame-sex adoption and supports privately funded insemination for single or gay parents. Historically, members of SD have criticized a so-called "Homosex Lobby" but the party has since changed and moderated its position on LGBT in Swedish society. Party leader Jimmie Åkesson has expressed concerns that what he describes as the gradualIslamisation of Sweden will eventually lead to the rights ofsexual minorities being violated.[220]
Throughout the early 2000s,SD-Kuriren (the official SD party newspaper) regularly published articles criticizing LGBT events and describing homosexuality as "perversion", before moderating itself alongside a shift in party ideology.[221][222][223][224] A blog post claimingStockholm Pride sexualised young children andequating homosexuality with pedophilia titledBotten måste snart vara nådd (Soon enough we'll hit rock bottom) was published by SD Party secretaryBjörn Söder on 1 August 2007.[225] The post was widely criticised in the Swedish media as an attack on LGBT people.[226]
An unofficialpride parade called Pride Järva was organised by SD member and former party magazine editor Jan Sjunnesson in the Stockholm suburbs ofTensta andHusby, two areas with large immigrant populations.[227] The event was disavowed by the official Stockholm Pride organisation and theSwedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights; in a joint statement both organisations called Sjunnesson "a person who's spreading hatred towards Muslims on social media [and] who's not supporting LGBT rights".[228][229] Approximately 30 people participated in Pride Järva, with a larger amount of LGBT and heterosexual anti-racistcounter-protestors arriving to oppose them.[230] In 2014, the officialStockholm Pride voted to ban the SD from participating that year which was met with criticism from both within the party and from some opposition politicians who argued it was undemocratic.[231]
In recent years, the SD has shifted its stance to being more supportive of LGBT rights and same-sex parenting by updating and expanding its policies regarding LGBT issues. In 2010, SD leader Jimmie Åkesson and party vice-presidentCarina Ståhl Herrstedt published an article apologizing for pasthomophobic statements made by party members and arguing that mass immigration risked eroding the rights of Sweden's gay community.[232] In its current platform, the SD states "everyone must be treated equally, regardless of sexual orientation, and discrimination must be combated".[233][234] In a 2018 interview, SD member of the Riksdag and gender-equality spokespersonPaula Bieler stated that homophobes "are not welcome in our party".[235] Since 2018, the SD party program was updated to support same-sex adoption and parenting.[236]
The SD supportsgender-affirming surgery as long as the motive behind it is mental wellbeing and permission is given by a medical professional.[237]
SD opposes any "negative or positive special treatment on the basis of gender, age, sexual orientation, nationality or ethnic origin" in the labour market.[238]
The party maintains that, collectively, there are biological differences between men and women, some of which that cannot be "observed with the naked eye". Perceived differences between men and women in regards to preference, behaviour and life choices exist due to each individual's choices and does not necessarily have to be "problematic, the result of discrimination nor the result of an oppressive gender power structure".[238]
The party believes that theChurch of Sweden should have a special position in Swedish society. In order to protect Swedish cultural heritage, members of the party want to protect the Lutheran tradition in the church elections and counteract secular party-political control of the Swedish Church. SD supports interfaith dialogue but opposes Qur'an recitals or imams delivering Islamic services in churches which the SD claims to be part of "Islamizing Swedish society".[239] The SD previously called for the Church of Sweden to be reinstated as astate church but no longer supports this policy, however they continue to support holidays in connection with religious occasions to only include traditionally Swedish and Christian holidays with party leader Jimmie Åkesson stating in a 2014 interview that he wants to protect Christianity as a "system of norms".[240] In Swedish Church Assembly election campaigns, the SD has campaigned on the issue of Christians who are subjected to persecution and hate crimes in Sweden and abroad.[241][242]
The Sweden Democrats support generally increasedminimum sentences as well as increased resources and personnel for thepolice. SD wishes to instate the possibility oflife imprisonment without parole for the worst crimes and to repatriate foreign citizens found guilty of serious crimes.[243][244] SD also wants to establish a public register of individuals convicted of certain sexual crimes.[245] The party also supports increased surveillance of those known to be involved in criminal gangs and terrorism. SD argues for a zero-tolerance law for people who physically attack police officers and emergency workers.[246]
SD previously supported the reinstatement ofcapital punishment before dropping it as an official policy after the party program was updated in 1998, although individuals within the party continue to support the death penalty for serious crimes such as murder andinfanticide and have called forchemical castration of convicted child sexual abusers.[247][248][249]
The SD opposes allowing Swedish citizens who joinedISIS to return to Sweden and argues that anyone who joins a foreign terrorist group should be denied state funded assistance. In 2023, SD also stated that Swedes who have travelled toGaza to support Hamas should be banned from reentering the country.[250][251] SD has also emphasised a desire to crack down on abuses and crimes of which the elderly are particular targets.[252]
In 2025, the SD supported passing stricter ownership regulations onAR-15 rifles following the2025 Risbergska school shooting although some senior party spokespeople expressed opposition to amending gun ownership laws citing the impact it could have on farmers and hunters.[253][254]
The Sweden Democrats have described themselves as supporters of theSwedish welfare state,labour rights and thepublic sector, but argue that welfare should be restricted to Swedish citizens and permanent residents.[255] The party argues that foreign-born nationals must show proof of legal residence, paid taxes and financial self-support for a certain period to become eligible for welfare.[256] In its platform, the SD claims that its economic policies are neither left or right-wing, but designed to improve conditions forsmall and medium-sized companies,self-employed citizens andentrepreneurs to boost employment and stimulate the economy, as opposed to what it describes as "constructed jobs" created by the state to reduce unemployment but hold no long term benefit for the Swedish economy or career paths for the people who work them. SD wants to abolish the Swedish Employment Service in its current form and replace it with a new authority for the supervision and close regulation of private employment services to ensure large corporations do not exploit or undercut Swedish workers. The party supports affordable and free access to public healthcare for Swedish nationals.[257]
SD supports certainfree trade conditions but believe Sweden must exit or revise trade agreements that pose a threat to Sweden's sovereignty and Swedish workers. The party favours certain measures ofeconomic protectionism and support state-ownership of companies that operate Swedish mines, agricultural land and produce energy or defense equipment. However, SD also support abolishinginheritance tax and reducingproperty tax.[135] Since the 2010s, the SD has been critical of Chinese government involvement in infrastructure projects and trade deals with Sweden.[258] SD wishes to lower the tax rate for the elderly, as well as increase subsidised housing for the elderly.[252] SD also wishes to allocate additional resources to municipalities in order to provide seniors with greater food assistance and, in general, improve their quality of life.[252]
Political author Anders Backlund described the party as "economically centrist", leaning towardseconomic nationalism (in contrast to the other Swedish conservative parties who tend to favour open free markets and global cosmopolitan philosophies) and supporting amixed market economy combining centre-left and centre-right ideas, as well as promoting "welfare chauvinist" policies which blend national-populism with socio-economics.[259] According to political scientist Johan Martinsson: "In economic terms, the party is more centrist and pragmatic, with a mixture of left and right-wing proposals".[260]
The party argues that, while Sweden should maintain its "active role in global climate cooperation", other countries should reduce their emissions, as it believes Sweden to already be doing enough on that front.[261][262] The party opposed theParis agreement,[262] and advocates keepingnuclear power plants as a prominent energy source in Sweden,[263] believing it to be an efficient way tomitigate climate change. They also advocate investing in climate research internationally and funding climate action on a global scale.[233][better source needed]
SD supports creating a specialist law enforcement branch for animal welfare and call for stricter penalties against animal cruelty. In 2017, the SD members of the Riksdag Justice Committee filed a motion calling for extended prison sentences for those found guilty of animal abuse which was ultimately supported by the other parties.[264] The party opposes EU influence over domestic laws on hunting, farming and forestry within Sweden, calling for such policies to be decided upon by rural Swedes instead of Brussels. SD is also critical of non-stun animal slaughter and want to ban the import of goods that contradict Swedish animal welfare legislation.[265]
SD wants to increase the number ofSwedish Army brigades to seven from 2021's two.[238] The party has stated that it would seek to raise Sweden'sdefense spending to 2–2.5% of GDP.[266][238]
The party supports closer military cooperation with neighboringNordic countries and previously opposed Swedish membership ofNATO, instead calling for an alignment without full membership.[266] However, following theRussian invasion of Ukraine the SD leadership announced it would consider changing its policy to endorse NATO membership and support joining ifFinland also applied for NATO membership.[267]
The Sweden Democrats support close political co-operation within theNordic sphere, but areeurosceptic and against furtherEU integration and cession of Swedish sovereignty to theEuropean Union.[268] The SD states that it supports European political and economic co-operation to secure trade and combat cross-border organized crime, illegal immigration,Islamism, terrorism and environmental challenges but strongly opposes creating anEU army or policies that could lead to the creation of aFederal European Superstate.[269][270][268] The party generally opposes all EU regulation over Swedish tax, pensions, environmental and domestic affairs and calls for the national sovereignty and cultural identity of European nations to be prioritized above the EU's political ambitions.[271] SD rejects joining theEconomic and Monetary Union by opposing theEuro currency and favors keeping thekrona. They also seek to reduce Swedish financial contributions to Brussels, end Swedish participation in bailouts for other EU member states, renegotiate Swedish membership of theSchengen Agreement and opt-out of common asylum agreements, protect freedom of speech and thefree access to the internet from EU copyright bills, and are against theaccession of Turkey to the European Union.[272][268]
The party also calls for Sweden to renegotiate its membership of the EU and seeks an amendment to the Swedish constitution to make it mandatory that proposed EU treaties and financial transfers be first put to a public vote.[273] The SD believes that if the EU cannot be reformed or attempts to transform itself into a Superstate, Sweden must immediately reconsider its membership via a referendum and prepare to leave the EU.[206] The SD's youth-wing, theYoung Swedes (Ungsvenskarna), support a Swedish exit from the EU. In 2023, party leader Åkesson and SD European Union spokesmanCharlie Weimers unveiled a new EU strategy with the objective of achieving better negotiation results, increasing Swedish influence and stopping the EU from gaining more power by creating areferendum lock based on theUKEuropean Union Act 2011 in the Riksdag to prevent transfer of powers to Brussels without a mandatory public vote. SD argues that a referendum lock should be used to prevent furtherEU expansion to include Turkey, Albania and Balkan states.[274] The SD also wants a Swedish exit from the EU be made possible by removing all references to membership in the constitution.[275][276][277]
The SD has taken a strongly pro-Ukraine position following theRussian invasion and has called on Sweden and Western governments to help the Ukrainian people defend their homeland.[203]
In 2022, an analysis of votes relating to Russia in theEuropean Parliament found that the Sweden Democrats were the 10th-most critical party in the parliament having voted against Russian interests 93 percent of the time.[278][better source needed] The report found that among all Swedish parties the Sweden Democrats were the most critical of Russia.[279] Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the party got rid of members who had previously expressed support for Putin.[280]
The Sweden Democrats are supportive ofIsrael and favors recognisingJerusalem as Israel's capital and proposes moving theSwedish embassy there.[281] A study by theEuropean Coalition for Israel documented that SD had the most pro-Israel voting record of the Swedish parties in the European Parliament.[282] In 2021, the Israeli government stated that they did not maintain relations with the SD due to "its roots in Nazism"[283][284] but by 2023 had dropped its non-cooperation stance after SD representatives signed a document of principle with Israeli ministers pledging to combat antisemitism. Between 2023 and 2024, a delegation of senior SD members visited Israel to hold meetings withKnesset politicians and discuss a cooperation pact with theLikud party.[285][286] The party has also taken a strongly pro-Israel position following the outbreak of the2023 Israel-Hamas war, supporting military action to remove Hamas and calling on the Swedish government to review all funding to Palestinian organizations which the SD accuse of spending aid money on terrorism.[282]
SD has advocated a "neutral" position on theSyrian civil war and sent a delegation to meet with Syrian officials in 2017.[287]
In 2011, SD was the only Swedish political party to vote against Swedish involvement in the2011 military intervention in Libya.[288] SD also supports the creation of anindependent Kurdish state and for theArmenian genocide to be formally recognised by the international community.[206] Since 2022, the SD has participated inbipartisan efforts to give more diplomatic recognition toTaiwan and supported a motion in the Riksdag to change the name of Sweden’s representative office in Taiwan to "House of Sweden". SD politicianMarkus Wiechel said the name change denotes that Sweden should treat Taiwan as a nation rather than a disputed territory or a province of China.[289]
| Election | Votes | % | Seats | +/- | Government |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 1,118 | 0.0 | 0 / 349 |  0 | Extra-parliamentary |
| 1991 | 4,887 | 0.1 (#10) | 0 / 349 | 0 | Extra-parliamentary |
| 1994 | 13,954 | 0.3 (#9) | 0 / 349 | 0 | Extra-parliamentary |
| 1998 | 19,624 | 0.4 (#8) | 0 / 349 | 0 | Extra-parliamentary |
| 2002 | 76,300 | 1.4 (#8) | 0 / 349 | 0 | Extra-parliamentary |
| 2006 | 162,463 | 2.9 (#8) | 0 / 349 | 0 | Extra-parliamentary |
| 2010 | 339,610 | 5.7 (#6) | 20 / 349 |  20 | Opposition |
| 2014 | 801,178 | 12.9 (#3) | 49 / 349 | 29 | Opposition |
| 2018 | 1,135,627 | 17.5 (#3) | 62 / 349 | 13 | Opposition |
| 2022 | 1,330,325 | 20.5 (#2) | 73 / 349 | 11 | Confidence and supply |
| Election | Votes | % | Seats | +/− | EP Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 8,568 | 0.34 (#8) | 0 / 22 | New | − |
| 2004 | 28,303 | 1.13 (#9) | 0 / 19 | 0 | |
| 2009 | 103,584 | 3.27 (#10) | 0 / 19 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 359,248 | 9.67 (#5) | 2 / 20 | 2 | EFDD |
| 2019 | 636,877 | 15.34 (#3) | 3 / 20 | 1 | ECR |
| 2024 | 552,920 | 13.17 (#4) | 3 / 21 | 0 |
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| Party leader | Time in office | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Anders Klarström | 1989 – 1995 |
| 2. | Mikael Jansson | May 1995 – 7 May 2005 |
| 3. | Jimmie Åkesson | 7 May 2005 – 2014 |
| 4. | Mattias Karlsson | 2014 – 2015 (interim) |
| 5. | Jimmie Åkesson | 2015 – present |
| First Deputy | Time in office | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Jonas Åkerlund | 2006 – 2015 |
| 2. | Julia Kronlid | 2015 – 2019 |
| 3. | Henrik Vinge | 2019 – present |
| Second Deputy | Time in office | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Jonas Åkerlund | 2005 – 2006 |
| 2. | Anna Hagwall | 2006 – 2009 |
| 3. | Carina Ståhl Herrstedt | 2009 – 2019 |
| 4. | Julia Kronlid | 2019 – present |
| Secretary | Time in office | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Jakob Eriksson | 1998 – 2001 |
| 2. | Jimmy Windeskog | 2001 – 2003 |
| 3. | Torbjörn Kastell [sv] | 2003 – 2004 |
| 4. | Jan Milld | 2004 – 2005 |
| 5. | David Lång | 2005 |
| 6. | Björn Söder | 2005 – 2015 |
| 7. | Richard Jomshof | 2015 – 2022 |
| 8. | Mattias Bäckström Johansson | 2022 – present |
| International secretary | Time in office | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Kent Ekeroth | 2007 – 2017 |
| 2. | Peter Lundgren | 2017 – 2022 |
| 3. | Mattias Karlsson | 2022 – present |
| Parliamentary group leader | Time in office | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Björn Söder | 2010 – 2014 |
| 2. | Mattias Karlsson | 2014 – 2019 |
| 3. | Henrik Vinge | 2019 – 2023 |
| 4. | Linda Lindberg[290] | 2023 – present |
| treasurer | Time in office | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Bo Broman | 2019 – present |
| Spokespersons | Time in office | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Leif Zeilon andJonny Berg | 1988 – 1989 |
| 2. | Ola Sundberg andAnders Klarström | 1989 – 1990 |
| 3. | Anders Klarström andMadeleine Larsson | 1990 – 1992 |
The Sweden Democrats are made up of 16 districts of local party associations with executive boards. Each district consists of a number of municipal associations, which may include one or more municipalities. In municipalities that are not covered by a municipal association, the party organises its members asworking groups instead. The SD also has a centralized national board permanently chaired by the party leader and party secretary and whose other members are elected by the SD's membership base.[291]
Within the SD there is a women's branchSD-Women[292] and an affiliated youth-wingYoung Swedes SDU which was founded in 2015.[293] The SD's first youth-wing was founded in 1993 as theSweden Democratic Youth Association before it was renamed theSweden Democratic Youth (SDU). The old SDU was disbanded in 1995 due to extremism problems before it was reconstituted in 1998. Many prominent SD politicians including party leader Jimmie Åkesson were members of the SDU. In 2015, the SD announced it would expel the leadership of the SDU from the mother party and officially sever ties with it due to ongoing controversies with its members. The party subsequently created the Young Swedes SDU as a replacement.[294][295]
Following the 2010 Swedish general election, the SD created its own security unit which by 2014 consisted of an estimated 60 people. SD states that the unit is intended to handle internal issues within the party, including cybersecurity, to marshal public events and to encourage members to report external threats to the police.[296][297] The SD has argued the security wing is necessary due to threats against SD politicians and highlighted a 2012 report by theSwedish National Council for Crime Prevention which found one in two of every local SD politician had experienced some form of threat, harassment or physical violence, and that SD legislators were statistically twice as more likely to be threatened than members of other parties. SD reported 95 instances of threats or violence against elected officials to the police and Riksdag security in 2012.[297][298]
Since its founding, the SD has published its own newspaperSD-Kuriren which was previously known asSverige-Kuriren and thenSD Bulletin until 2003. Party secretaryRichard Jomshof currently serves as the paper's editor.[299] In 2014, the party also launched an online magazineSamtiden ('Contemporary'). It is currently edited by Swedish economistDick Erixon.[300]
In 2020,Mattias Karlsson, the former group leader of the Sweden Democrats in the Riksdag foundedOikos, a conservative think-tank. Expo has alleged the think-tank to be an "extension of the Sweden Democrats' political project" supposedly also receiving funding from the party[123] although the group itself claims to be non-partisan.[301]
In 2020, the party also helped to launch a web based TV channel called Riks,[302] through their wholly owned online magazineSamtiden, with the ambition that the media channel should not be an official party TV.[303] However, in a 2024 investigatory exposé conducted byTV4’s investigatory branch,Kalla fakta [sv], it was discovered that Riks and the SD are in a close-knit relationship with each other. For example, the exposé showed that Riks rents its office spaces from the Sweden Democrats, and that members of the SD and Riks come into frequent contact with one another, moving freely between each other's offices. Moreover, the SD's communications department instructed Riks to hide any connection to SD before anExpressen interview with Dick Erixon in Riks' offices.[304] In addition to that, the programme showed that the SD's communications department used anonymous social media accounts to artificially disseminate Riks' posts andYouTube videos.[1][2]
According toStatistics Sweden's (SCB) 2017 party preference survey, the Sweden Democrats (SD) have a stronger support among men than among women. There is no noticeable difference in support for the party among different age groups. The support for SD is greater among native born than among foreign born. Since 2014 the SD has substantially increased its support among both foreign-born and foreign-background voters, becoming the third largest party in Sweden also among this demographic by 2017.[305] Sympathies are greater for the party among persons with primary and secondary education than among those with a higher education.[306]
A study byAftonbladet in 2010 found that 14% of SD members were of immigrant origin,[307] which matches the share of foreign-born inhabitants of Sweden, while their vote share in this population group has always been lower.[308] For the 2010 election in the municipality ofSödertälje (Stockholm County), SD was the only party with a majority of immigrants on its electoral list, mostlyAssyrians from theMiddle East.[309] Polling 7.31% (3,447 votes), SD's municipal list inSödertälje got 5 of the 65 municipal seats.[310] Since 2014, the SD has seen growing support from foreign-born Swedish voters, and was estimated to have become the third most popular party for voters of immigrant backgrounds by 2017.[305] In recent years, politicians of ethnic minority and immigrant backgrounds have become increasingly active in the party, with notable examples includingNima Gholam Ali Pour,[311]Kent Ekeroth,Sara Gille[312] andRashid Farivar.[313]
| Preference for SD | May 2014 | May 2017 | May 2018 | May 2020 | May 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All voters | 6.0% | 13.5% | 14.7% | 16.7% | 16.5% |
| Male | 8.7% | 17.9% | 19.7% | 22.8% | 23.3% |
| Female | 3.4% | 9.2% | 9.7% | 10.5% | 9.6% |
| Native born | 6.5% | 13.9% | 15.3% | 17.4% | 17.2% |
| Foreign born | 1.8% | 10.7% | 11.3% | 11.8% | 12.1% |
| Swedish background | 6.7% | 13.7% | 15.2% | 24.4% | 25.1% |
| Foreign background | 2.0% | 12.8% | 12.0% | 14.7% | 14.3% |
| Source: | [306] | [314] | [315] | ||
| Preference for SD and education | May 2014 | May 2017 | May 2018 | May 2020 | May 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All voters | 6.0% | 13.5% | 14.7% | 16.7% | 16.5% |
| Primary education | 9.6% | 17.5% | 19.1% | 23.5% | 21.1% |
| Secondary education | 7.7% | 17.5% | 19.8% | 22.0% | 22.3% |
| Post-secondary education less than three years | 2.5% | 10.4% | 7.8% | 10.0% | 11.8% |
| Post-secondary education three years or more | 1.7% | 4.8% | 6.0% | 6.7% | 6.5% |
| Source: | [306] | [314] | [315] | [316] | |
| Preference for SD and income | May 2014 | May 2017 | May 2018 | May 2020 | May 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All voters | 6.0% | 13.5% | 14.7% | 16.7% | 16.5% |
| Lowest quintile | 7.2% | 11.9% | 14.5% | 13.8% | 13.8% |
| Second quintile | 7.2% | 16.1% | 15.0% | 16.6% | 15.7% |
| Third quintile | 6.2% | 15.3% | 15.1% | 18.8% | 18.8% |
| Fourth quintile | 6.0% | 13.5% | 17.6% | 19.0% | 20.1% |
| Highest quintile | 4.7% | 11.6% | 11.6% | 14.8% | 14.4% |
| Source: | [306] | [314] | [315] | [316] | |
| Preference for SD and socioeconomic group | May 2014 | May 2017 | May 2018 | May 2020 | May 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All voters | 6.0% | 13.5% | 14.7% | 16.7% | 16.5% |
| Unskilled blue-collar workers | 8.9 % | 16.3% | 20.6% | 24.1% | 24.5% |
| Skilled blue-collar workers | 9.5% | 22.6% | 22.1% | 26.3% | 27.8% |
| Lower level white-collar worker | 6.3% | 12.2% | 12.1% | 11.8% | 13.8% |
| Middle level white-collar workers | 2.9% | 8.7% | 10.7% | 12.6% | 11.8% |
| Higher level white-collar workers | 2.3% | 7.2% | 7.7% | 10.7% | 8.3% |
| Self-employed (including farmers) | 6.2% | 16.3% | 17.7% | 24.8% | 23.3% |
| Other businessmen (including farmers) | 12.2% | 21.8% | 16.7% | 27.0% | |
| Students | 3.3% | 6.7% | 12.6% | 6.5% | n/a |
| Source: | [306] | [314] | [315] | [316] | |
| Group/Sex | 2006 | 2010 | 2014 | 2018 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue-collar workers | 3% | 6% | 11% | 24% | 29% |
| White-collar workers | 1% | 2% | 6% | 12% | 15% |
| Businessmen andfarmers | 2% | 4% | 8% | 23% | 24% |
| Male | 2% | 5% | 16% | 22% | 25% |
| Female | 1% | 3% | 10% | 12% | 16% |
| Source: | [317] | ||||
In its early days, the Sweden Democrats was known to associate itself with both native Swedish and wider Europeanextreme-right activist groups and parties.[71][72][73] During the 1990s, the Sweden Democrats began distancing itself from such groups and made connections with the French National Front (FN) andJean-Marie Le Pen through hisEuronat initiative and received support from the FN in 1998 but otherwise the party did not actively seek formal relationships outside of Sweden.[71][72] After the party left Euronat, it became more influenced by the neighboringDanish People's Party (DF) and by the late 2000s said it had ceased regarding the National Front as a role model and instead saw the DF as a sister party.[318] In 2010, party secretaryBjörn Söder published an article disowning the SD's older connections to extreme groups or individuals like Le Pen and said SD was more focused on Sweden's issues over interacting with foreign parties.[319] The party has also been active withincounter-jihad networks, explicitly from 2007 to 2011.[320][321][322][323]
In Europe, SD has had some contacts with the AustrianFPÖ, the DutchParty for Freedom andForum for Democracy, the FlemishVlaams Belang and the now defunct BelgianPeople's Party over the early 2010s.[324][325][326] The Danish People's Party was initially indifferent on collaborating with the SD until 2010 whenPia Kjærsgaard travelled to Sweden to help with the party's general election campaign.[327] Shortly after, Danish People's Party foreign affairs spokesmanSøren Espersen hosted the SD's conference and said both parties would work together in theNordic Council.[328] Before theEuropean election of 2014 there was some speculation that the SD would enter a grouping with other European nationalist parties led byMarine Le Pen. SD politicians confirmed they had had met with representatives from the proposed group but said the talks were informal. The Danish People's Party reportedly threatened to end ties with SD if they joined the group, stating that while they were willing to work with the SD and the Dutch Freedom Party, they opposed inclusion of parties like the National Front and the FPÖ.[329] However, after the election the SD began to distance itself from other European far-right parties and elected to become a member of the more moderateEurope of Freedom and Direct Democracy (EFDD) group with theUK Independence Party. The SD was also active in theEuropean Alliance for Freedom and theAlliance for Direct Democracy in Europe (ADDE) Euro parties with members of theUK Independence Party (UKIP). In 2016, Marine Le Pen stated that the Sweden Democrats were no longer in official cooperation with her party.[330]
In 2015, SD began forging closer relations with the Danish People's Party, and in 2018 announced an official cooperation pact with theFinns Party, which had previously distanced itself from the SD.[331][332][333] All three parties are members of theNordic Freedom group in theNordic Council, though the NorwegianProgress Party has refused to join.[331]
The SD maintained cooperation with theAlternative for Germany party underFrauke Petry's leadership when both parties sat with the EFDD group and were members of theADDE alliance, with Jimmie Åkesson describing the AfD as the SD's "sister party" in Germany during the2017 German federal election. However, Åkesson has since distanced the SD from statements made by some AfD politicians and by 2024 said the AfD was no longer ideologically compatible with his party.[334][335][336]
Since 2018, the SD has been a member of theEuropean Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR Group) and theEuropean Conservatives and Reformists Party and presently sits alongsideBrothers of Italy, the CzechCivic Democratic Party, SpanishVox party, the FlemishN-VA, PolishLaw and Justice, theFinns Party andJA21 from the Netherlands.[337][338] In 2019, there was discussions on whether the SD would join a new group with the Danish People's Party headed byMatteo Salvini'sLega Nord. However, Åkesson said SD was not invited to join a new European Parliament group and would stay with the ECR but suggested this may have been due to his party's reluctance to cooperate with Le Pen and pro-Putin parties in Europe.[339] In 2024, the SD sought to distance itself from Hungary'sFidesz citing what they perceive asViktor Orbán's soft stance on Russia followingits invasion of Ukraine and threatened to leave the ECR if Fidesz joined unless Orbán demonstrated a more pro-NATO and Putin-critical position.[340] However, the Sweden Democrats later softened its stance against Fidesz and said it was open to working with the party in the European Parliament, but maintained it would not cooperate with Alternative for Germany and cast doubt on an alliance with the FrenchNational Rally.[336]
In July 2024, the Sweden Democrats formed the European Parliament 'Nordic Freedom' alliance within the ECR along with theDenmark Democrats and theFinns Party, citing common stances on opposing Russian influence, reducing the EU's intervention into the market, and a desire to participate in governments.[341]
Outside of the EU, SD has had informal contacts with the BritishConservative Party and the USRepublican Party. Individual politicians of the NorwegianProgress Party have also called for more collaboration with the SD.[342][343][344] The SD has also sought to improve and build relations with Israel'sLikud which had previously turned down meetings with the SD due to the party's past.[345] In 2024, the SD and Likud began official cooperation with each other.[282]
During the 1980s and early 1990s, several outspokenfar-right andNazi[60][61][62] advocates were involved with the party.[133][346] It was founded by, among others, the SwedishWaffen-SS veteranGustaf Ekström[60][61][62] and members of both older Nazi andneo-Nazi organisations. In its early days, the SD also had a reputation for attracting biker and skinhead gangs to its rallies before dissociating itself with neo-Nazi and skinhead movements in the mid-1990s. The party had flyers printed by theFrench National Front in the 1998 general election,[347][348] and was financially backed for the 2004 European election by Belgian businessman and racial conspiracy theoristBernard Mengal.[349][350] In the 1990s, the party was a member of theEuronat initiative which was set up byJean-Marie Le Pen before severing ties with it in 1999.[351] However, as part of the moderation process the Sweden Democrats began expelling extreme far-right members from the early 2000s onwards and updated the party constitution to include clauses against racism, extremism and criminal behaviour in 2010. Since the 2010s, the SD has also sought to distance itself from far-right parties in Europe, including turning down an invitation to join an alliance in theEuropean Parliament with the French National Front in 2014 and choosing to ally themselves with more moderate parties during the 2014 and 2019 European elections.[352][353]
Both before and after the2010 Swedish general election all the major parties, including theSwedish Social Democrats and theModerate Party, declared they would not collaborate or work with the Sweden Democrats. The move was described by international pundits as an unofficialcordon sanitaire.[354][355] The policy of non-cooperation was kept in place for the2014 Swedish general election. However, at a local level other parties from the Moderates to theLeft Party have collaborated or voted in favour of SD initiatives.[73] Following the 2018 general election, which saw the disintegration of the centre-rightAlliance, Christian Democrats leaderEbba Busch and Moderates leaderUlf Kristersson signaled an end to the non-cooperation policy and began talks with the SD. The policy of non-cooperation was officially scrapped by the Moderates, Christian Democrats and The Liberals for the 2022 election when all four parties signed theTidö Agreement.[119][120]
The Sweden Democrats have complained about difficulties buying advertising space before elections due to the media banning the party from advertising and have accused media outlets of political bias and trying to censor or limit the party's campaign messages during elections.[356] This has been criticised by free speech organisations in Sweden and abroad.[357] On 16 June 2006,Dagens Nyheter andSvenska Dagbladet decided to stop their boycott.Expressen, however, still[when?] retains a ban on Sweden Democrat advertising.[358] During the2010 Swedish general election, broadcasterTV4 refused to air a Sweden Democrats campaign video which depicted a Swedish pensioner being outrun byburka-clad women withprams.[359][360] TV4's decision was criticized by both free speech advocates and politicians from Denmark, including byDanish People's Party leaderPia Kjærsgaard,Venstre and theConservative People's Party (the latter of whom reacted to TV4's decision to ban the video by calling for international election observers to be sent to Sweden), and by members of the NorwegianProgress Party who called the decision a "violation of democratic rules". The SD subsequently uploaded the video toYouTube where it was viewed over a million times.[361] Swedish political journalist Hanne Kjöller argued that attempts to censor the SD in 2010 by the media and left-wing protest groups ultimately backfired and ended upemboldening their support by giving them more publicity.[362][363][364]
After the Danish daily newspaperJyllands-Posten published twelve cartoons depictingMuhammad and igniteda controversy during the 2005 autumn and winter, the Sweden Democrats gave their unreserved support to the publication with reference to thefreedom of speech. SD stated that it saw no reason why a Danish newspaper should be forced to abide by Muslim rules and prohibitions regarding expression. When the boycott of Danish products was launched in the Middle East, SD launched a "Buy Danish" campaign in support of Danish workers.[365][independent source needed] In 2006 SD enteredthe Muhammad cartoon debate by publishing a cartoon depicting Muhammad on its youth league (SDU) andSD-Kuriren (pronounced[ˈɛ̂sːdeːkɵˌriːrɛn]ⓘ) websites. The cartoon showed Muhammad from behind holding a mirror in front of his face. However, instead of any facial features, the mirror showed only a blank head. The cartoon was captioned "Muhammad's Face" (Swedish:Muhammeds ansikte[mɵˈhǎmːɛdsˈânːsɪktɛ]ⓘ).[366]
The publication attracted the attention of the Swedish government, which informed internet service providerLevonline about the SD's publications. Subsequently,Levonline shut down SD's web page. TheMinister for Foreign Affairs,Laila Freivalds, denied any direct interference. However, at the same time, Laila Freivalds condemned the publication as a provocation.[367][368][369][370] Freivalds then resigned from thePersson Cabinet after being accused of interference with press freedom and lying about such actions.
This event spurred debate on government censorship in Sweden. The Sweden Democrats also had ahate speech charge filed against them due to the posted caricature.[371] Similar hate speech charges were filed against other Swedish publishers who had depicted Muhammad.[366] However, these charges were immediately deemed to be unfounded by theSwedish Chancellor of Justice.[372]
The Sweden Democrats originally planned to publish a set of cartoons in their newspaperSD-Kuriren. However, after the controversy erupted, Jimmie Åkesson issued a statement on SD's website on 9 February 2006, stating that they would refrain from further publications online and in print, due to concerns that publishing might spur hostile actions against Swedes and Swedish interests.[373][374][375][independent source needed]
The shutdown of the Sweden Democrats' websites was reported to theCommittee on the Constitution by theLiberal People's Party leaderLars Leijonborg.[376] SD filed complaints against theSecurity Service (Säpo) and theMinistry for Foreign Affairs with theJustitiekansler andJustitieombudsmannen, alleging that the government's interference was unconstitutional.[377][378][independent source needed] The spokesperson of theGreen Party,Peter Eriksson, also criticised the involvement of theMinistry for Foreign Affairs in the event.[379]
The Sweden Democrats have, among all Swedish parliamentary parties, had the largest share of elected municipal representatives resign since the 2010 elections (27.8%).[380] Many of these resignations were brought on by racist statements or actions by these representatives.[301]
In November 2012, party spokespersonErik Almqvist resigned after he had been caught on tape making racist and sexist statements.[381] In November 2012, parliamentarianLars Isovaara resigned after accusing two people of foreign origin of stealing his bag (which Isovaara had left at a restaurant) and then proceeding to verbally abuse a security guard of a foreign background.[382] Isovaara's replacement in parliament,Markus Wiechel, was found in April 2013 to have referred to a group of black people as "monkeys" in a Facebook comment back in 2011. Wiechel later apologised and stated the comment had been in reference to a video of a tribal witch burning in Africa.[383]
In March 2013, 12 individuals were thrown out of the party for their involvement inneo-Nazi or other extremist movements.[384] In November 2013, parliamentarian and then vice party leaderJonas Åkerlund gained attention for having called immigrants "parasites" during a broadcast on SD's own radio station in 2002, after the recording was publicly rediscovered. In his defence, Åkerlund stated that he only said it to provoke people.[385] In September 2014, the party chairman of the localStockholm branch,Christoffer Dulny was asked to resign from his position after it was found he had previously posted mocking comments about immigrants, calling them "shameless liars" onalternative media sites.[386] He also resigned from parliament on the same day.[387]
In October 2016, a video of the parliamentarian and economic policy spokespersonOscar Sjöstedt laughing atantisemitic jokes was released by a former school friend of his who also accused Sjöstedt of chanting fascist slogans. Whilst at a party believed to have been organized by the neo-Nazi groupInfo-14 in 2011 when Sjöstedt was a member of the SD's youth wing, he laughingly told a story about former co-workers withNazi sympathies mocking Jews and comparing them to sheep. Following an investigation by the SD, Sjöstedt stated that a friend had invited him to the party but he had walked out upon discovering who had organized it and denied expressing fascist statements.[388][389][390] During the same month, the parliamentarian and second deputy party leaderCarina Herrstedt was confronted with having sent an allegedlyracist,antisemitic,homophobic andanti-romanyist email to her then spouse in 2011. The email, which had been leaked from the party's internal servers, for instance contained phrases that named blackfootball players from the teamLandskrona BoIS as "niggers" whilst also picturingRomani people as thieves. The email was meant to be playful and ironic, Herrstedt toldAftonbladet.[391]
Between 2015 and 2016, various members of the party were expelled from the SD for expressing extremist or racist views,[392][393][394] or because of disagreement with the party's shift towardsmoderation andsocial conservatism.[394] In April 2015, theSweden Democratic Youth leaders were also expelled for these reasons,[392][394] and the organisation was dissolved shortly after with the mother party issuing a warning for remaining SDU members to leave the youth wing or be expelled from the party.[394] In December 2016, the parliamentarianAnna Hagwall was thrown out of the party after using arguments associated withantisemitism to argue for a bill that she introduced in parliament intended to reduceconcentration of media ownership in Sweden.[393][395]
In September 2017, a report fromDagens ETC found that 14 former municipal representatives of the party had infiltrated the SD in order to financially support theNordic Resistance Movement,[396][397] a neo-Nazi organisation, throughfinancial transactions,[396][397] memberships,[396][397] or purchases of antisemitic and racist literature or souvenirs.[396][397] In August 2018, 2 members were kicked out due to purchases ofNazi memorabilia online;[398] following the expulsions, Michael Erlandsson, one of the SD's spokespeople,[398] publicly stated that people who "have these types of views and share these types of materials" have no place in the party and that the SD maintains a zero-tolerance stance on expressing fascist views.[398] 14 candidates were expelled from the party as well after being exposed as former members of neo-Nazi organisations.[399] Referring to the latest expulsions, SD leaderJimmie Åkesson declared that the party "works extremely hard to keep clean".[399]
In 2017, Martin Strid, party spokesman inBorlänge, appeared to state at a televised SD rally that Muslims were not "fully human" and humane. Strid's comments were met with condemnation within the SD. Åkesson and SD party secretaryRichard Jomshof described them as racist, with Jomshof stating the SD advocates ideological criticism, but not violating human rights. SD board memberAron Emilsson said that Strid would face a disciplinary meeting for violating the party's code of conduct. In response, Strid said he had expressed himself "clumsily" but chose to quit the party after being given an ultimatum to resign or be expelled.[400][401]
In March 2022, parliamentarianRoger Richthoff was sacked from his role as party defense spokesman and subsequently expelled from the SD and banned by the party from standing as a candidate for them in the2022 Swedish general election after posting controversial comments onTwitter, including sharing a video supporting Russia in the2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine in which severalantisemitic conspiracy theories were presented.[402][403]
Researcher on Nordic nationalismBenjamin R. Teitelbaum described the present day version Sweden Democrats as paradoxical compared to other European nationalist parties on the issues of racism and radicalism among its members. Teitelbaum notes that in contrast to other Nordic and wider European populist parties, the SD differs by having a past rooted in white nationalism and extremism, but in the present day is comparably more proactive in rejecting ethno-nationalism and expelling members who make racist statements to the point where he considers the SD to be on the "softer side" of national-populism.[142] Similar observations were made by British conservative authorDouglas Murray who described the SD as undergoing one of the most significant transformations on the European political right from a party on the fringes that openly pushed extreme tendencies to a more mainstream movement that draws on diverse support.[73] Kateřina Lišaníková argued that out of all the parties in Sweden, the SD was more likely to attract individual members who made extreme statements regarding immigrants but this was a consequence of the SD being the only party in the Riksdag willing to challenge the political consensus on immigration for several years as opposed to the SD itself being an extremist or racist party.[154]
Ashley Fox, leader of theBritish ConservativeMEPs, praised the Sweden Democrats regarding the party's policy decisions on the expulsion of extremist and racist members:[14] "Over the past decade the Sweden Democrats have made progress in reforming themselves, expelling any members displaying unacceptable views or behaviour and diversifying their party base."[14]
On November 14, 2012, Erik Almqvist, in addition to party spokespersonKent Ekeroth and party official Christian Westling were filmed arming themselves with iron pipes before they sought out a confrontation withSoran Ismail, a Swedish comedian ofKurdish descent.[404]
Since the SD's inception, breakaway parties have been formed by former SD members, many of whom were either removed from the party due to controversial actions or resigned after the SD began to ideologically shift and moderate itself.
In 1995, former SD spokesmanLeif Zeilon established theHomeland Party along with other founding members of the SD after Anders Klarström was replaced as party chairman by a less hardline leadership.[405]
In 2001, a major breakaway occurred when the more radical ethno-nationalist faction of the SD's national board and their supporters were collectively expelled and formed theNational Democrats party.[405]
On 18 March 2018,Alternative for Sweden (AfS) was formed by former members of the SD's old youth wing after they were kicked out of the party after alleged ties with extremist groups and for coming into conflict with the mother party. Three SD parliamentarians joined Alternative for Sweden but all lost their seats during the 2018 general election.[406] AfS's policies have been criticised as too extreme by members of the SD such asHenrik Vinge.[406]
The Sweden Democrats came under fire in 2015 for changing their position on profits made by private welfare companies. Before theelection in 2014 they favored having restrictions on the amount of profit that welfare companies could take and use for their own gain. Since the election, they have favored the approach ofthe Alliance parties, that is higher and more restrictive quality standards.[407][better source needed] This has been suspected to be because of extensivelobbying done by the organisationSvenskt Näringsliv among others. The story was discovered by the Swedish newspaperDagens Industri on 14 September 2015.[408] SD has denied all accusations of corruption.
On May 7, 2024, one month prior to the2024 EU elections, theTV4 investigative journalism programKalla fakta ('Hard Facts') premiered a two-part documentary (Undercover i trollfabriken [sv], 'Undercover in the Troll Factory')[409] revealing that the Sweden Democrats systematically used anonymous accounts onsocial media platforms such asTikTok,X andFacebook. The scoop was obtained through the use of thewallraff method where a reporter spent five months as an employee at the previously SD-owned YouTube channel Riks as well as the party's communications department,[410] documenting internal discussions on the party's communication strategies. The documentary revealed that at least 23 anonymous social media accounts were actually run from SD's communications department, spreadingxenophobic content and satirical attacks on opposing politicians from other parties, includingdeepfake videos. According toKalla fakta, posts from these accounts reached 27 million views across social media platforms.[411] SD's head of communication, Joakim Wallerstein, repeated earlier claims that the party does not run any anonymous social media accounts. However, according to Swedish newspaperAftonbladet, internal communication reveals that Wallerstein already in 2012 wanted to include anonymous internet campaigns as part of the party's strategy.[412]
In an official response from the Sweden Democrats' leader Jimmie Åkesson, theKalla fakta documentary was dismissed as a "gigantic, domestic influence operation by the left-liberal establishment".[413] In numerous interviews, SD representatives toned down the content posted on the anonymous accounts as simple satire and humor material.[414] Following the documentary, and the party's response to it, SD received massive criticism from all other Swedish parliamentary parties.[415] The government parties accused SD of not following theTidö Agreement, which contains a clause about showing respect towards other parties. After a meeting on May 16, SD agreed that some of the anonymous accounts' posts went against the agreement and agreed to delete 45 posts. They did not agree to stop running anonymous accounts but said they would use a softer tone towards parties in the Tidö coalition.[416]
He points to a widely-reported study published last month by Swedish research group Acta Publica that claimed to have identified 289 politicians from the largest parties who had expressed views that could be deemed racist or even Nazi.
Paula Bieler, gender-equality spokesperson of the xenophobic Sweden Democrats, says homophobes 'are not welcome in our party'.
För att genomgå en fysisk könskorrigering ska kravet vara psykisk stabilitet.
Vi är överens om vissa inlägg och tonaliteten i dem och att de inte ligger i linje med den respektklausul som finns i Tidöavtalet[We are in agreement about some posts and the tone of them and that they don't follow the respect clause of the Tidö agreement]
Media related toSverigedemokraterna at Wikimedia Commons
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