Sverigedemokraterna's Ongoing Struggle with Antisemitism

Jimmie Åkesson has apologized to Swedish Jews for the racist behavior of the Sweden Democrats in the past. However, he overlooks today's issues.

In his speech at Almedalen, Jimmie Åkesson was clear that several early representatives of the party had made antisemitic statements. The SD leader had pre-read parts of the white paper on the party's history, written by researcher Tony Gustafsson.

Åkesson explained that the reading made him uncomfortable.

– I deeply regret and apologize, personally and on behalf of the party, that there was a time when my party harbored people with antisemitic views.

– A time when Jews in Sweden had rational reasons to view our party with concern and fear, said Jimmie Åkesson, adding that it was 35-40 years ago.

Aron Verständig, chairman of the Jewish Central Council, welcomed the apology.

However, Gustaf Kasselstrand, chairman of the Sweden Democrats' youth league from 2011-2015, did not. Now active in the micro-party AFS, Alternative for Sweden.

“Åkesson's Almedalen speech is truly a display of self-abasement before the Israel lobby. Åkesson seems more loyal to Israel than to Sweden,” wrote Kasselstrand on X.

He further rambled about a “globalist war” in the Middle East. No wonder he was expelled from the Sweden Democrats ten years ago – among other things, for associating with people with Nazi affiliations.

Jimmie Åkesson should be clear that SD still has problems with antisemitic representatives today

It is welcome that the Sweden Democrats allowed a researcher to write a white paper. It is good that Jimmie Åkesson apologizes to Swedish Jews. And the Kasselstrand case is an example that SD is indeed addressing antisemites, at least those highlighted by the media and political opponents.

But Jimmie Åkesson's apology still seems half-hearted. Placing the problems “35 to 40 years” back in time may be convenient for the party leader, but it is not true.

As recently as this spring, MP substitute David Lönn was expelled. Besides ending up in a drunk tank and posing with weapons, he had liked antisemitic content online and followed people involved in the Nordic Resistance Movement.

And before the 2022 election, Expressen revealed that a long list of SD candidates had backgrounds in Nazism and right-wing extremism.

The problem is also larger than just individual representatives. When TV4 revealed SD's troll factory last year, there was a big focus on the party having secret social media accounts. But even more seriously, SD's communications department spread right-wing extremist content through some of the accounts.

Jimmie Åkesson should be honest that SD still has problems with antisemitic representatives today and that the party's proximity to conspiratorial and antisemitic online environments is a risk factor.

Unfortunately, this is not something the Sweden Democrats are alone in within the parliament. But it is all the more important to speak clearly about the problem.