Social Democrats face police report over alleged influencer payments

Former Swedish Member of Parliament Hanif Bali has filed a police report against the Social Democratic Party (S), alleging improper influence on voting. The complaint follows claims by influencer Eleonore Stokholm that she was offered 150,000 SEK for an Instagram post explaining why she would vote for the party.

Bali argues that while paying for political advertising is legal, offering large sums in exchange for public endorsements and specific voting behavior may constitute the crime of 'undue influence on voting' under the Swedish Penal Code. He noted that such actions, if proven, would be a catastrophe for trust in the Swedish electoral system.

The Social Democrats have categorically denied the allegations, stating they never pay digital creators to express the party's views. In response to the controversy, Minister for Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin has demanded full transparency from the party. Bohlin is calling for the Social Democrats to disclose all agencies and intermediaries used, specific orders placed, and all communications held with influencers to clarify whether any third-party entities were involved in such transactions.