Jimmie Åkesson promises to tighten migration policy further

Several hundred people, mostly teenagers, gathered in Nyköping’s Stora torget to hear Jimmie Åkesson present the Sweden Democrats’ election manifesto. The scene, according to Dagens Nyheter, looked at times less like a political rally than a crowd waiting for a pop star.

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It is an important issue for a large part of the electorate.

The party’s 10-point manifesto puts a fuel pledge at the top. Sweden, it says, should have the European Union’s lowest pump prices. Åkesson told DN that the party would pursue a policy to make that possible by keeping the reduction obligation very low, or eliminating it, and setting fuel taxes at the EU minimum.

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We will pursue a policy that makes this possible. We will keep the reduction obligation very low, or preferably have none at all. There is still a krona or so to save on diesel. We will be at the EU minimum regarding fuel taxes.

Migration remains central to the party’s platform. Åkesson said large-scale immigration had affected every part of Swedish society and argued that many voters see the Sweden Democrats as the guarantor of a responsible policy when those problems are addressed.

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Large-scale immigration has affected every part of society. When those problems are addressed, many voters see us as the guarantor of a responsible policy.

The manifesto’s migration pledge promises to continue the policies introduced under the Tidö cooperation, but Åkesson said the party wants to go further. He proposed converting permanent residence permits into temporary ones, based on an inquiry soon to be completed at the Justice Ministry. He also called for further changes to the benefits system, including reviewing income support for people who do not learn Swedish quickly enough or show sufficient interest in doing so.

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We want to convert permanent residence permits into temporary ones, based on the inquiry that will soon be completed at the Justice Ministry. Another issue is to tighten the benefits system further.