Reader accuses Benjamin Dousa of abusing his ministerial office

A Swedish teacher and local Centre Party politician has accused Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa of turning a school visit into Moderate Party campaigning.

Stefan Ögren writes that his vocational upper-secondary school in Värmland takes its civic mission and democratic values seriously. The school had hosted ministers before, he says, with visits focused on its programs and students’ prospects for employment.

“

Most of the time was Moderate election propaganda.

Dousa’s visit last Wednesday followed short-notice planning and brought about 50 first- and second-year students into a prepared room, alongside school leaders and several teachers. Ögren says he was surprised when the minister spent most of the hour promoting the Moderates and criticizing parties that were not part of the governing Tidö cooperation.

“

As a minister, one primarily represents the government and the Swedish people; the party comes second.

The school had expected the discussion to cover the minister’s daily work and official responsibilities. Ögren says only a small part of the visit addressed those subjects. He contrasts the visit with the school’s regular practice of inviting youth wings from all parties represented in the Swedish parliament to an election debate where students can question them.

Ögren says he understands that the Moderates may feel pressure late in the election campaign, but calls the alleged use of ministerial office troubling. He asks whether the approach was planned by the party or undertaken independently by Dousa, and concludes that either explanation does not benefit democracy.

“

I consider it troubling that Benjamin Dousa abused his ministerial office in this way.