Jessica Stegrud's comments during a debate on Sweden's new cultural canon have sparked significant backlash from government ministers. Her remarks about the ethnic backgrounds of the debaters have been labeled as provocative and unclear, prompting calls for clarification. The incident has highlighted tensions within the ruling coalition and drawn criticism from both government and opposition leaders.
Government Criticizes SD Leader's Controversial Remarks
Government Criticizes SD Leader's Controversial Remarks
Jessica Stegrud's post has not been well received. Several government ministers have reacted strongly to the SD leader's comments during the SVT debate between Parisa Liljestrand (M) and Lawen Redar (S) about Sweden's new cultural canon.
Reactions to the SD leader's post about Parisa Liljestrand (M) and Lawen Redar (S) are intense.
During Tuesday's Aktuellt, 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 wrote on X that she was misunderstood, and in a text message to Expressen, she stated:
"There is no judgment in the word 'telling.'"
However, several ministers from the government, with whom the Sweden Democrats collaborate, are still critical of the post.
Backed Up
Culture Minister Parisa Liljestrand wants Stegrud to clarify what she meant by calling it "telling" that a "Swedish-born Kurd and a Persian" debated the new cultural canon.
She is backed by several ministers.
"Two women with immigrant backgrounds are debating how we can create a stronger community in our Sweden. What kind of comment is this? Behave," writes Education and Integration Minister and Liberal Party leader Simona Mohamsson on X.
Migration Minister Johan Forssell (M) wants Stegrud to elaborate on what she meant, he writes in a text message to Expressen.
"I think Jessica Stegrud needs to answer the culture minister's very justified question. It is a strength for our country that people from other parts of the world have come here because they share our values, want to be part of our culture, and contribute to our society. If Stegrud also meant that, she should have no problem clarifying it."
Carl-Oskar Bohlin: "Honey Trap"
Minister for Civil Defense Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M) writes in a longer post on X that Jessica Stegrud's post is one of SD's "honey traps" that, through deliberate ambiguity, aims to provoke reactions.
"You claim power, you are part of the power. Then you must always start with the question: How does my action contribute to building the nation better?" he writes and continues:
"Deliberate ambiguity with the aim of merely provoking is not the way forward if you ask me. And no, I don't expect you to admit that was the purpose, but I believe there is room for improvement going forward."
To TV4, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) says he finds Jessica Stegrud's post incomprehensible.
– I say just like Parisa Liljestrand, what does she really mean? She must answer that question. I think Parisa did an excellent job yesterday. Does she mean that Parisa should not be involved in discussing these issues because of her background? What does she mean? Speak clearly, says Ulf Kristersson to TV4.
S-Criticism Against Kristersson: Weak
Sharp criticism also comes from the opposition. On X, Magdalena Andersson writes:
"Sweden needs a prime minister who leads, not a commentator who speculates. Ulf Kristersson knows exactly why SD writes as they do: SD does not consider Lawen Redar and Parisa Liljestrand to be Swedes. It's time for him to dare to take a stand against it."
Lena Hallengren, group leader for S, sharply criticizes how Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) handles the matter.
"Kristersson calls it incomprehensible, but what does he not understand? To me, it is obvious what SD is doing, and I call it both contemptuous and belittling. Moreover, it is weak and unworthy of a prime minister to completely ignore that it was two debaters who were attacked. The reasonable thing would have been to clearly defend them both. But clarity is certainly not Ulf Kristersson's strong suit," 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.