Åkesson: “We are perhaps the most Israel-friendly party”

Published 14 October 2024 at 08.08

Domestic. In connection with SVT's party leader debate, Jimmie Åkesson had to face criticism from SKMA, the Swedish Committee against Antisemitism, which singled out SD leaders for antisemitism. Åkesson called the criticism a “party submission”.

Share the article

TwittraShare

Jimmie Åkesson was asked by SVT if SD has the same problem with anti-Semitism as the Left Party. He replied:

– No, we do not have such a problem in our party. We are, I would like to say, also perhaps the most Israel-friendly party in Sweden's Riksdag. That is a party submission, I would call it. In contrast to the general image of the Left Party, which they themselves put in various types of demonstration marches.

Åkesson was also asked if he disagreed with SKMA, which claimed in a report in September that SD is marked by anti-Semitism all the way up at the top of the party.

“Åkesson leads a party that not only has its roots in Nazism, but which even today includes a number of representatives at various levels who have expressed anti-Semitism. Over the years, scores of SD politicians who spread prejudice and hatred against Jews have been exposed in media reviews. The party has been forced to exclude some, but others have been allowed to stay,” SKMA wrote in the report.

– I do not agree with that at all. There is no room whatsoever for that in my party. The examples I have seen, they are rather bizarre examples that have nothing to do with anti-Semitism at all, answered Åkesson.

During the debate itself, Jimmie Åkesson had launched a fierce attack on the leader of the Left Party, Nooshi Dadgostar (V) and accused her party of having “gigantic problems” with anti-Semitism.

SKMA's chairman Ulrika Knutson tells Aftonbladet that she does not understand what Jimmie Åkesson means by “party submission”.

– I don't understand the expression. This is widely documented. It is there for anyone who can read and listen.