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full screen Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard (M) ran out of a debate in the Riksdag on Thursday after someone threw something down from the podium. Photo: Riksdag/TT
The group leaders of the Riksdag parties had a meeting today about the tomato attack against the foreign minister in the Riksdag last week.
“I have today discussed issues of security in the Riksdag with the parties’ group leaders,” says Speaker Andreas Norlén to TT.
A bag of tomatoes and onions was thrown at Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard (M) during an interpellation debate on Thursday. The bag landed a couple of meters from her. During Monday, the group leaders in the Riksdag had a digital extra meeting to talk about security.
“I take a serious view of what happened in the chamber last week, it was unacceptable and anti-democratic,” says Speaker Andreas Norlén in a written comment to TT.
“It goes without saying that members and ministers should be able to feel safe in the Riksdag house. There is ongoing work within the Riksdag Administration on the current security issues and we will continue the discussion at the regular group leader meeting next week,” says the speaker.
The Riksdag administration is now following up and analyzing the incident to see what can be done about disturbances in the stands.
“It is too early to say what possible changes the follow-up and analysis may bring. It needs to be discussed and anchored and collaborated with others,” says security manager Niklas Åström to TT in a comment.
He says it is difficult to guarantee that events like Thursday’s will not occur and that he cannot give details about the security work.
“We place a high value on the public being able to take part in what happens in the chamber,” says Åström.