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Sweden election: SD campaign controversy and Russian disinformation
As the Swedish election approaches, the Sweden Democrats (SD) are facing scrutiny over their campaign tactics and the potential for foreign interference. Jimmie Åkesson, leader of the SD, has stated that the party will not provide support votes to the Liberal Party, emphasizing that SD is not a bourgeois party and that the responsibility for the Liberals' survival lies with other center-right leaders.
Controversy has also surrounded SD's advertising. In Stockholm, Jernhusen removed campaign posters from the central station because the messaging was deemed unclear and potentially exclusionary. Similarly, Västtrafik removed advertisements in Skaraborg following protests and sick leaves from drivers with Somali roots who felt targeted by the campaign's content.
Furthermore, reports indicate that a pro-Russian troll network known as 'Matryoshka' is targeting the Swedish election. The network has been spreading fabricated news videos on X that falsely accuse Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson of corruption and claim widespread election fraud. The Swedish Psychological Defence Agency noted that the campaign likely aims to overwhelm media fact-checking resources rather than directly swaying voters.
Entities
Jimmie Åkesson · Matryoshka · Sweden · Sweden Democrats · Ulf Kristersson
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Västtrafik removed Sweden Democrat advertisements in Skaraborg following protests and sick leaves from Somali-rooted drivers. www.dn.se
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Jimmie Åkesson stated that it is not in the interest of the Sweden Democrats to provide support votes to other parties. www.tv4.se
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Jimmie Åkesson clarified that the Sweden Democrats are not a bourgeois party. www.tv4.se
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The state property owner Jernhusen removed Sweden Democrat advertising from Stockholm Central Station because the messaging was deemed unclear and potentially exclusionary. www.dn.se