Åkesson called for calm

Published 30 November 2024 at 16.02

Foreign. Israel's war in Gaza is an “existential” conflict for Sweden. This is claimed by SD leader Jimmie Åkesson, who urges voters to calm down when it comes to other issues.

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The Sweden Democrats' party leader gave a very committed foreign policy speech at the party's municipal and regional days in Norrköping on Friday.

During the speech, Åkesson attacked the Swedish government, which he believed should have marked clearly against the ICC's arrest warrant for crimes against humanity regarding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

– I think it is weak from our government, said Åkesson.

He also expressed his party's great support for Israel in the conflict in Gaza, and also said that SD supports Ukraine.

– Both of these conflicts are, in the larger and longer perspective, also existential for us, says Åkesson.

In other matters, Åkesson was more measured. He urged his supporters to accept that illegal immigrants get dental care for 50 kroner even though Swedes have to pay thousands of kroner.

– You don't get 100 percent of your policy through when you get 20 percent of the votes, said Åkesson and promised to continue supporting Kristersson's government.

– We don't need a two-front war, he said.

The Sweden Democrats represent 40 percent of the voter base in Tidöpartierna.

This week SD dropped its demand to introduce a duty to report illegal immigrants, which applies, among other things, to municipalities that provide them with social benefits. After the party bowed down on the issue, an internal debate has flared up where voters criticize Jimmie Åkesson for supporting the government seemingly without demands for policy changes.