Internal criticism of Landerholm in the Moderates, according to sources

Henrik Landerholm’s Berlin stays are criticized internally in the Moderates, according to several sources in the party.

The repeated scandals surrounding the security adviser have fueled criticism.

– There is talk at a high level about the growing problem Landerholm. But no one dares to bring this up with Ulf Kristersson, says a heavy M source.

Ulf Kristersson’s security advisor Henrik Landerholm commuted weekly to Berlin until last summer.

Aftonbladet has revealed that he let the taxpayers also pay for private trips to the capital – something for which he subsequently received a deduction from his salary.

According to sources in the Moderates, the Berlin stays have not been well received in the party.

High-ranking people in the Moderates believe that as a national security adviser you should be on site in Sweden, says a heavy M source.

“Many are frustrated”

Landerholm’s close connection to Ulf Kristersson is also perceived as a problem according to Aftonbladet’s informant.

– It is pure nepotism, which is problematic for a party that puts meritocracy above everything else. The fact that he is Ulf Kristersson’s best friend and the party secretary’s brother means that no one dares to raise the issue. But the irritation is great, says the source.

According to the source, the irritation has been vented as high as at ministerial level and grew during the winter with Dagens Nyheter’s revelation that Landerholm forgot his mobile phone at the Hungarian embassy, ​​as well as the security advisor’s own information that he forgot secret papers at a course farm.

– There are many ministers and ministries who are frustrated with him, says the source.

The office has grown – concern that they will take over

During last summer, the government expanded Henrik Landerholm’s mission. His office at the cabinet preparation was then given responsibility for the prime minister’s bilateral involvement, i.e. the foreign relations that Sweden has directly with other countries.

The budget for Landerholm’s office also grew by 30 percent, from SEK 8.7 million to SEK 11.3 million, between 2024 and 2025. A total of nine people work at the office.

Sources within the government office tell Aftonbladet that part of the responsibility has thus been moved from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UD, to the Cabinet Committee, SB, and a dissatisfaction with the shift in power is now growing among officials.

– Many are worried that SB will take over more and more now that they are growing, says a source.

“I have never traveled privately at RK’s expense”

Henrik Landerholm did not want to appear for an interview with Aftonbladet.

However, he has written a longer email reply in which he confirms that he commuted to Berlin weekly and that some of the business trips would actually have been paid for by himself because they were private.

“All trips are made in the service, but some have not followed the Government Office’s travel guidelines and have therefore been paid for by me. I have never traveled privately at RK’s expense.” he writes on X.