Fredrick Federley Eyes Political Comeback Amidst Church Involvement

Fredrick Federley, 47, a member of Sweden's Center Party, stepped down from his political roles following a scandal involving a close associate and found solace in the church during the crisis. Now, he aspires to become a priest and is running in the church elections for the Center Party.

"I have a different perspective on society today than I did before," Federley states.

Federley left all his political roles five years ago but has returned as a Center Party member in the local association in Gagnef and the district board in Dalarna since spring.

In the church elections, he is ninth on the ballot for the church meeting in the Västerås diocese.

He focuses on issues such as the need for better leadership in the Church of Sweden, reducing sick leave among employees, environmental and climate concerns, and ensuring the church acts as a compassionate presence in people's lives.

With his extensive political background, Federley is one of the most recognized candidates in the election. He has served in both the Swedish Parliament and the EU Parliament and was a highly popular member of the Center Party. He also served as the second vice-chairman and was part of former party leader Annie Lööf's inner circle.

But in 2020, everything changed.

"When it becomes about you as a person, you break down."

Left the Church

The revelation that a man convicted of 22 counts of serious child rape had lived with Federley caused everything to collapse.

He left all his roles and withdrew from public life.

Today, he claims much of what was said was incorrect, that he was never cohabiting with the man, but he maintains that he has always kept his door open to those in need of support.

He refers to the incident as "the crash."

"I've always been like a duck, letting criticism roll off me. But when it becomes about you as a person and not your political role anymore, you break down," says Federley.

The crisis he experienced and the support he received from the church led him to reassess a previous life decision.

In the 1990s, he left the church after a debate about strong opposition to same-sex marriage and female priests among the clergy at the time.

"We don't see much of that today, and I think that's good. We now have a majority of female priests."

According to Federley, many young people are turning to the church. The number of confirmands is increasing, and religion has become "a bit trendy."

"There is a renewed religious interest among young people. Partly because these are uncertain times, and I also think it's a reaction to my entire political era that talked about a secular society where everything religious was seen as dangerous," says Federley.

"That's not how it's seen anymore. Rather, people have started to realize that we're doing something wrong when we have it better than ever, yet so many are struggling with mental health issues."

Considering a Comeback

Fredrick Federley says he has also gained a different perspective on society after the crash, particularly regarding the need for pastoral care and the ability to discuss difficult topics like grief, suicide, and loneliness. Needs he believes the church addresses.

However, a party switch has not been considered.

Recently, he has participated in some Center Party events at the national level, including as a delegate at the congress that elected Anna-Karin Hatt as party leader.

"It was a real love fest, and people expressed that they missed me," says Federley.

At the same time, he notes that it's hard to know if he is "forgiven" by his party now.

You only know that when you're tested in an election, he asserts.

Currently, he is contemplating whether to accept a nomination to the Swedish Parliament if someone else nominates him—he has already declined a nomination from Malmö—or to focus solely on municipal and regional politics.

"If I get nominated, I find myself in some kind of moral dilemma: should I follow my calling and become a priest, or should I sit in Parliament if the voters place me there?"

For now, however, the focus is on the church elections.

Fredrick Federley believes that even those who don't attend church should vote.

"You may not have found faith or needed help from the church, but you can do it for all those who do."