Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard defends her use of strong language in a social media post, reflecting frustration over the situation for Jews in Sweden. The post, which called protesters 'beasts', sparked reactions as it was shared during a demonstration outside a Jewish school in Stockholm. The minister emphasizes the importance of free speech while condemning the protest's location. Additionally, she addresses Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's recent critical remarks about Sweden, linking them to Hungary's election campaign.
Swedish Foreign Minister Defends Controversial Remarks Amid Protests
Swedish Foreign Minister Defends Controversial Remarks Amid Protests
Earlier this week, Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard (M) shared a post on X where protesters were referred to as 'beasts'—a 'strong expression', according to the minister.
"But it also reflects the frustration that I and many others feel about the situation for Jews today in Sweden," she says.
The protesters were outside a Jewish school in central Stockholm, which sparked strong reactions. Member of Parliament Mattias Karlsson (M) called the protesters 'beasts', a sentiment shared by the foreign minister.
"These protesters have the right to exercise their freedom of speech, but I also have the right to exercise mine. And I want to express how inappropriate this is," Malmer Stenergard tells TT and continues:
"We already see a terrible polarization in the Gaza issue today, and I do not want the world's conflicts to come to Swedish streets and squares."
"Dragging Sweden into Their Election Campaign"
The demonstration was aimed at a lecture by a soldier from the Israeli army, IDF, and not against the school, which is irrelevant as long as the school is there, the minister argues.
"I do not want Jewish children to be afraid to leave their school."
Another activity on X that made headlines this week is Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's statements about Sweden. In recent days, he has criticized and portrayed Sweden as a dystopia—something Malmer Stenergard links to Hungary's ongoing election campaign.
"They are dragging Sweden into their election campaign, and we do not want to be there."
How harmful is it that Orbán makes these accusations against Sweden?
"I am content to state that it is part of an election campaign, which I can only regret," says the foreign minister.