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🇸🇪 Sweden /Elections & Politics

Liberals are the guarantee of the Sweden Democrats’ mass deportations, DN editorial says

From Dagens Nyheter · () Swedish

Translated from Swedish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Opinion Named sources Context piece
  • A Dagens Nyheter editorial argues that the Liberal Party’s cooperation with the Sweden Democrats marks a break with its former liberal identity.
  • The writer criticizes the Tidö government’s record on aid, climate policy, labor migration, deportations, civil liberties and welfare.
  • The editorial says Liberal leader Simona Mohamsson now presents her party as a vehicle for voters seeking Sweden Democrats, Moderates or Christian Democrats policies.

Sweden’s Liberal Party no longer resembles the Folkpartiet that once took pride in defending individual freedom and opposing extremism, Dagens Nyheter editorial writer Max Hjelm argues.

Hjelm focuses on Liberal leader Simona Mohamsson’s embrace of Sweden Democrats leader Jimmie Åkesson and her statement that the two parties now share a “community of values.” In a Sept. 2 DN Debate article, Mohamsson described the Tidö government as “the most liberal in modern times” and criticized earlier Liberal leaders.

community of values

· Simona MohamssonThe Liberal leader’s phrase describing the party’s relationship with the Sweden Democrats.

The editorial sharply disputes that claim. It contrasts the current government with the Bildt government of the 1990s, which Hjelm says dismantled state monopolies, and with the Alliance government, which expanded opportunities to come to Sweden for work, promoted employment and introduced marriage rights for gay people.

the most liberal in modern times

· Simona MohamssonMohamsson’s description of the Tidö government, which the editorial challenges.

Hjelm lists what he calls the Tidö government’s achievements: cuts to foreign aid and climate policy, tighter labor migration rules, deportations of teenagers with established lives and families in Sweden, restrictions on freedom of assembly, reduced benefits for people most in need, and calls for people to report on others. He also accuses the government of allowing the Sweden Democrats to spread suspicion and hatred in public debate.

The editorial recalls an earlier Liberal tradition associated with Bengt Westerberg’s opposition to xenophobia and Jan Björklund’s promise not to give nationalism power. Hjelm says that tradition has been replaced by a party presenting itself as the guarantee that Åkesson can become a minister and that the Sweden Democrats can carry out mass-deportation plans. He cites Mohamsson’s statement on the television program Aktuellt: “If you want Sweden Democrats policies, Moderate Party policies, Christian Democrat policies, then you should vote for the Liberals.”

If you want Sweden Democrats policies, Moderate Party policies, Christian Democrat policies, then you should vote for the Liberals.

· Simona MohamssonHer statement on Aktuellt about the policies Liberal voters can expect.
About this summary

Originally published by Dagens Nyheter in Swedish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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