A hidden recording reveals how the Sweden Democrats’ EU candidate Dick Erixon participates in the manipulation of an opinion poll about Islam and mosques.
– It is deeply problematic, says Novus CEO Torbjörn Sjöström, who took part in Kalla fakta’s recording.
An opinion poll must reflect the people’s views without being biased or misleading.
But behind closed doors, the politician Dick Erixon (SD) discusses together with the editors of the YouTube channel Riks how the questions in a survey can be manipulated to get more critical answers about Islamism and mosques.
The recording shows that the editors are well aware of what they are doing.
“It has to be formulated in a damn good way”.
“Of course we want to get a certain result”.
“Deeply problematic”
This type of manipulated survey gives an incorrect picture of what the Swedish people think. That’s what Novus CEO Torbjörn Sjöström thinks after taking part in the recorded material.
– You deliberately choose to try to make it a little extra bad by asking the question so that you get the answer you want, not the correct picture.
Kalla Fakta’s investigation reveals that the YouTube channel Riks is part of the Sweden Democrats’ troll factory. Through anonymous accounts, the party spreads information that is about manipulating people’s opinions.
“As you ask, you get answers”
Rik’s editorial team uses a self-recruited web panel. This means that the people who participate in the survey are not randomly selected, but have signed up for it themselves. According to Torbjörn Sjöström, this means that the result cannot be applied to what the Swedish people actually think.
In the hidden recording, Dick Erixon, who is also responsible publisher for Riks, can be heard.
– It is right to think tactically, as you ask, you get answers.
Kalla Fakta has contacted Dick Erixon with questions about the opinion poll via the Sweden Democrats’ press department, but has not received a reply.
The recording comes from the first part of Kalla fakta’s review of the Sweden Democrats’ troll factory. The second part will be published on Tuesday 14 May.
Undercover in the troll factory
The Sweden Democrats have denied the information about a troll factory. Cold facts go undercover and reveal what is happening inside the party.