Social Democrats Criticize SD Leader Over Nightclub Scandal

SD MP Rasmus Giertz physically attacked a man in a nightclub, calling him derogatory names, and later lied about the incident during a police interview. Social Democrats' Tobias Baudin reacts to Expressen's revelation:

– It shows a total lack of respect for the responsibilities of an elected official in Sweden's parliament.

Expressen revealed that Giertz, an SD member, attacked a man while shouting insults at a nightclub in Borlänge in December 2022. When questioned by the police, he lied about the incident.

When confronted by Expressen in parliament, Giertz claimed the man he pushed had first attacked him and tried to prevent him from leaving. Upon learning the man was an acquaintance, he changed his story:

– It's possible we were joking with each other.

Baudin: “Not an Isolated Incident”

The actions of the SD member prompted a reaction from Social Democrats' party secretary Tobias Baudin:

– Once again, we see what seems to be the hallmark of the Sweden Democrats. Scandals, conflicts, and a total lack of respect for the responsibilities of an elected official in Sweden's parliament.

– This is very unprofessional behavior, and it's an unprofessional party. I don't think this is an isolated incident. Expressen has repeatedly exposed such incidents.

Baudin continues:

– I understand it's a problem for Jimmie Åkesson to distance himself from the violence and inappropriate behavior in his party. He has had people close to the party leadership involved in similar incidents and has invited individuals with criminal connections to his own wedding.

– I think it's time to ask Ulf Kristersson where he draws the line for taking a stand against the Sweden Democrats. Is there a limit?

SD Refuses to Respond

During the interview with Giertz in parliament, SD's press chief Oskar Cavalli-Björkman stated it was not "serious" of Expressen to question the MP at that moment.

Since yesterday, Expressen has sought a response from the Sweden Democrats' press office regarding the MP's behavior in a nightclub and his dishonesty in a police interview. The party has not responded.

Besides being an MP, Rasmus Giertz is the chairman of SD in Dalarna. In this role, he previously defended his then-party colleague Daniel Lönn, despite Lönn's repeated drunken scandals.

Left Politics After New Drunken Scandals

Lönn resigned from his political duties, including as a substitute in parliament, in March this year after Expressen questioned him and the party about two videos: one showing Lönn being escorted out of a nightclub by security and another where he talks about being in a police drunk tank:

– Damn security guards throwing me into the police car, making me sit in a drunk tank, it was one of the worst things I've ever done. Ah, damn, it was really bad, said Lönn.