SD leader Björn Söder raged against Pride during the inauguration day in several posts on social media and drew several parallels between Pride and pedophilia.
The play has received strong criticism from several quarters – including within the Tidö parties.
“Contemptuous, undignified and wrong,” writes Foreign Minister Tobias Billström.
On Wednesday, Stockholm Prime was inaugurated with a star-studded event where, among others, the Speaker of the Riksdag Andreas Norlén (M) gave a speech.
Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) drew attention to Stockholm’s Pride week by decorating Sagerska Huset with the rainbow flag for the first time ever. He called it a new tradition.
Söder: “Legitimizes pedophilia”
One person who did not appreciate the Speaker’s and the Prime Minister’s support for LGBTQ people was Sweden Democrats member Björn Söder.
– That the speaker and prime minister legitimize pedophilia is completely unacceptable!, Söder wrote on X, formerly Twitter, in a post that was later removed.
Söder continued to question the speaker and other Swedish politicians, accusing them of supporting pedophilia and involving children in the sexuality of adults.
He also pointed out that he “stands up to defend the rights of gay and bisexuals. But he will never defend Pride”.
“Unworthy and wrong”
Several people reacted to Söder’s outburst. Among others, Foreign Minister Tobias Billström (M).
“Björn Söder’s tweeting is contemptible, undignified and wrong. He owes an apology to all those he is sweepingly accusing of absolutely terrible things.”
Billström also writes what Pride means to him.
“It’s a celebration of everyone’s right to love who they want, and live who they are. It is completely obvious to me, and to the entire government, to stand up for the fundamental values that are part of our free society.”
The Liberal party leader Johan Pehrson also responded to Söder’s post.
“What an incomparable drivel. Intolerance is unswedish. In my Sweden, you can love who you want and be who you are.”