Right-wing Swedish Democrats slammed as 'security risk' by ruling party

By Leila Nezirevic

LONDON (AA) - Sweden’s ruling Social Democrats said on Friday that the far-right Sweden Democrats pose a security and foreign policy threat to the country.

"Our view is that the Swedish Democrats are a party that has shown untrustworthiness on security and foreign policy issues," Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist told a press conference.

The populist party is the main rival to the Social Democrats, as according to recent polls, they are set to become the country’s second-largest party in parliamentary elections set for Sept. 11.

Anders Ygeman, the country’s integration and migration minister, added that there is no other party “that has that kind of Nazi and racist roots and continues to be revealed with them, time and time again."

Hultqvist stressed that Sweden must pursue an active "responsible and credible security-solid policy" and accused the party of having links to undemocratic leaders, right-wing populist groups, and Russia and authoritarian states.

A week before the war in Ukraine started on Feb. 24, said Hultqvist, Sweden Democrats leader Jimmie Akesson couldn't choose between US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Hultqvist pointed to a Thursday incident when an official at the Sweden Democrats office in parliament sent out an email inviting colleagues to a “celebration” of the 83rd anniversary of Nazi Germany’s invasion of Poland. A party official later said the invitation had been mischaracterized and in fact was meant to honor the Poles.

​​​​​​​Ygeman stressed the danger of the Sweden Democrats, saying they must figure out a way to prevent the party’s influence on an upcoming government, or how to restrict the actions of an upcoming Sweden Democrats government in future or ongoing conflicts.