Andersson Criticizes Kristersson Over Stegrud's Controversial Remarks

The criticism is intense following SD leader Jessica Stegrud's comments about Lawen Redar and Parisa Liljestrand. Now, Magdalena Andersson demands that Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson take a stand against the Sweden Democrats. "SD doesn't consider Lawen Redar and Parisa Liljestrand to be Swedish," she writes on X. Ulf Kristersson responds, "I keep my side clean. Do you do the same on yours?"

In Tuesday's "Aktuellt," Lawen Redar (S) and Parisa Liljestrand (M) debated the Swedish cultural canon. Jessica Stegrud wrote on X: "It's telling that a Swedish-born Kurd and a Persian are debating a Swedish cultural canon on Aktuellt," she wrote.

She later claimed she was misunderstood.

However, the criticism has been fierce. Several ministers have criticized Stegrud. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has supported Parisa Liljestrand.

• What does she really mean? She must answer that question, he tells TV4.

Andersson: Time for Him to Take a Stand

But now the Prime Minister's actions are criticized by the opposition.

In a post on X, Magdalena Anderson, leader of S, writes that he must more clearly take a stand against SD.

"Sweden needs a Prime Minister who leads, not a commentator who speculates. Ulf Kristersson knows exactly why SD writes as they do: SD doesn't consider Lawen Redar and Parisa Liljestrand to be Swedish. It's time for him to dare to take a stand against it," she writes.

The Prime Minister's Retort

Ulf Kristersson immediately responds to Magdalena Andersson.

"I keep my side clean. Do you do the same on yours?" he writes and publishes a picture of SSU leader Moska Hassas wearing a scarf she has been criticized for and has distanced herself from.

When the picture was published, debater Daniel Schatz wrote:

"Why does SSU's new chairman Moska Hassas choose to pose with a Palestinian scarf adorned with the Arabic text 'Jerusalem is ours' and a picture of the al-Aqsa mosque – a slogan rooted in extremist and Islamist circles? And why are Morgan Johansson and Annika Strandhäll standing by her side?" he writes.

Redar: SD Hasn't Left Its Roots

Lawen Redar (S) criticizes Jessica Stegrud's post in an interview with Expressen.

• It shows that the Sweden Democrats haven't left their roots at all, she says and continues:

• The Sweden Democrats have long ideologically manifested that they believe in an open Swedishness. That Swedishness is achievable as a shield against their origin. But this shows that this is just a chimera and a shield.

Are you saddened by this comment?

• No, I'm not saddened. But I would like to say that I want to see a different Sweden than the one the Sweden Democrats express through their representatives.

Parisa Liljestrand earlier today told Expressen that she demands Jessica Stegrud clarify what she means.

• I think with the history of SD, there comes a responsibility to express oneself clearly in such matters. For me, it is still unclear – Jessica Stegrud needs to clarify what she means, she said.

C-Leader on the Respect Clause

Lena Hallengren, group leader for S, also sharply criticizes how Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) handles the matter.

"Kristersson calls it incomprehensible, but what doesn't he understand? For me, it's obvious what SD is doing, and I call it both contemptuous and belittling. Moreover, it's weak and unworthy of a Prime Minister to completely ignore that two debaters were attacked. The reasonable thing would have been to clearly defend them both. But clarity is certainly not Ulf Kristersson's forte," she writes in a comment to Expressen.

C-leader Anna-Karin Hatt tells Expressen that the post shows there are significant cracks in the Tidö collaboration.

• This comment makes it clear that the respect clause in the Tidö agreement only seems to go one way.