Sweden Democrats Leaders Defend Former MP Almqvist, Citing PTSD

A documentary podcast from Svenska Dagbladet, "De fyras gäng" (The Gang of Four), details how a group of friends transformed the Sweden Democrats from a fringe party into the country's second-largest political force. The series focuses on four young men who joined the party in the 1990s when it was publicly linked to racism and violence.

“

We knew that if we didn't manage that, it was goodbye, and we would never get in again.

Upon entering parliament in 2010, the Sweden Democrats' leadership was acutely aware of the need to project responsibility and avoid scandals. "We knew that if we didn't manage that, it was goodbye, and we would never get in again," said Björn Söder, then party secretary. The party's early years were marked by a constant struggle to maintain a clean image, with an internal tally reportedly kept of days without a "media catastrophe."

“

We wrote up when something happened that needed catastrophe management at the national level. 'Now we've had a day without a media catastrophe,' then you make a mark. Another day, then you get two marks. It rarely lasted more than three days.

Despite party leader Jimmie Åkesson's 2012 announcement of a "zero tolerance" policy towards racism and extremism, the party soon faced the "Iron Pipe Scandal." Two prominent members, MPs Erik Almqvist and Kent Ekeroth, were involved in an incident where they allegedly acted aggressively and armed themselves with iron pipes after a night out. Almqvist was filmed using racial slurs and derogatory language.

“

Erik was very affected by a conflict-filled life situation with constant threats and violence. Today, one would say he had PTSD. He simply wasn't himself when that happened.

Following pressure, Almqvist resigned his parliamentary seat and party roles but received 3 million kronor from the party to establish a media venture. Now, former party leaders Björn Söder and Mattias Karlsson suggest Almqvist's punishment was excessive. Karlsson stated that Almqvist was "very affected by a conflict-filled life situation with constant threats and violence. Today, one would say he had PTSD. He simply wasn't himself when that happened." Söder added that while he understood Almqvist's reaction after a "boozy night out" upon encountering comedian Soran Ismail, the party had to take measures for its survival that "perhaps weren't entirely fair."

“

Under the circumstances he lived in, I have some understanding for why, after a wet night out, he snapped when he came into contact with Soran. But from a survival perspective for the party, we had to take measures that perhaps weren't entirely fair.