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Sweden Democrats push for government role amid identity row

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2026-08-17 04:58 UTC → 2026-08-25 15:04 UTC · added ~~removed~~

In late July 2026, the Sweden Democrats, now Sweden’s second-largest party, began demanding cabinet posts ahead of the September election, targeting ministries such as justice, defence, foreign affairs, or finance. Having supported Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s centre-right minority government from the outside for four years, the party's push for power marks a significant rightward shift in Swedish politics. The party’s ambitions have coincided with intense debates over national identity. Migration spokesperson Ludvig Aspling drew criticism for claiming many residents are not “ethnically Swedish.” While leader Jimmie Åkesson defended the party's 2023 programme, which defines Swedishness through citizenship rather than ethnicity, the party's campaign slogan, “We make Sweden Sweden again,” has faced backlash. Critics argue the rhetoric implies that residents with immigrant backgrounds do not belong, suggesting a vision of national cohesion aimed at achieving ethnic homogeneity rather than the traditional welfare-state model. In August 2026, the debate intensified as commentators noted the party seeks to restore a version of the Swedish “folkhem” (people's home) through civic duty and national cohesion. Further controversy emerged following a political video released on August 13 regarding Islamism. Gustav Kasselstrand, leader of Alternative for Sweden, pointed out that Åkesson held a book titled “Stolt jude – om judiskt liv i Sverige” (Proud Jew – about Jewish life in Sweden) during the footage. The Jewish Youth Federation issued a rebuke, accusing Åkesson of using the Jewish minority as “political weapons” and urging the party to stop “exploiting Jews in your political game.” By late August, Åkesson expanded his platform to include climate and religious policy. He dismissed personal concern over extreme European heat, attributing such worries to the “media elite,” and argued against fuel taxes that impact rural citizens.

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