Ahead of the Swedish Church election, a heated debate has erupted between the Social Democrats and the Sweden Democrats over abortion. SD leader Jimmie Åkesson accuses the Social Democrats of spreading false information, while the Social Democrats argue that SD is using the church election to push their agenda on abortion. The controversy centers around an SD-affiliated group, SDSK, which emphasizes the church's role in the public debate on the right to life for unborn children.
Abortion Debate Heats Up Between Social Democrats and Sweden Democrats Ahead of Church Election
Abortion Debate Heats Up Between Social Democrats and Sweden Democrats Ahead of Church Election
SD leader Jimmie Åkesson accuses the Social Democrats of "spreading false information" about the abortion issue ahead of the church election. "They are campaigning by lying about others," he writes on X. S top candidate Jesper Eneroth calls it unserious. "It's clear that the Sweden Democrats can't handle scrutiny," he says.
"On Sunday, there is an election in the Church of Sweden. 4.7 million Swedes are eligible to vote.
The day before, Sweden Democrats' leader Jimmie Åkesson directed harsh criticism at the Social Democrats.
In a post on X, he accuses the party of engaging in "shady negative campaigning" and exemplifies with one of the party's ads on social media.
The message in the Social Democrats' ad is that "SD wants the church to question your right to abortion."
SD: Independent Association
Åkesson further emphasizes in the post on X that SD, like other parliamentary parties, supports Swedish abortion law.
He also underscores that SD is not participating in the church election. However, one can vote for the association Sweden Democrats in the Church of Sweden (SDSK), formed by church-engaged Sweden Democrats.
"SDSK is an independent association. They make their own decisions and have their own organization," writes SD's press service in an email to Expressen.
"Active Voice in the Debate"
SDSK raises the abortion issue in its election manifesto. The party writes, among other things, that the Church of Sweden should be "active in the public debate on the fetus's right to life."
"As a church, it is of utmost importance to emphasize that all life is created by God and thus has inherent value and sanctity," the manifesto states.
SD's press chief Oscar Cavalli Björkman argues that the statement in the manifesto is far from S's claim in the party's ad that "SD wants the church to question your right to abortion" – which makes the ad a lie, according to him.
"SDSK does not question anyone's right to abortion. They fully support Swedish abortion legislation," he writes in a comment to Expressen.
SDSK themselves also claim that S is spreading falsehoods.
"We believe that the Social Democrats' lie campaign shows an unwillingness to discuss their own church policy. Instead, they choose to spread false claims about others," writes SDSK's top candidate in the Church election, Daniel Engström, and continues:
"For us, it is important to be clear: Sweden Democrats in the Church of Sweden will not push issues about abortion legislation in the church."
S Top Candidate: No Difference
But Jesper Eneroth, a top Social Democratic candidate in the Church election, disagrees.
SD is trying to confuse the issue, he says.
– The Sweden Democrats choose to highlight the abortion issue as one of their prioritized issues in their election manifesto ahead of the church election. That the Church of Sweden should become "a clearer voice in the public debate" for the unborn children's right to life is a very clear signal. They are campaigning on that.
He also does not accept that there could be a difference between SD and SDSK.
– They have a group consisting of Sweden Democrats, called Sweden Democrats, and an election manifesto that, according to their own group leader, is anchored with the party leadership.
The criticism on X from Åkesson came the same day the Sweden Democrats shared an image on their social media with the message "Vote for SD in the Church of Sweden," Eneroth further says.
– I think the big difference is that it feels like SD in the Church of Sweden is like SD in parliament if they thought no one was watching.