The party leader’s debate in the Riksdag was mainly about the escalating spiral of violence and the repeated Koran burnings.
But also about which of the party leaders could remain silent the longest.
It was a fierce atmosphere to say the least between Magdalena Andersson (S) and the Sweden Democrats’ Jimmie Åkesson during the party leader debate.
Earlier in the morning, the opposition, led by the S-leader, had requested an invitation from the government regarding the Koran burnings, as they want to review whether the ordinance can be broadened to also include incitement against ethnic groups.
Something that has been thumbed down by the Sweden Democrats, who generally oppose restrictions on freedom of expression.
“Encouraged and encouraged”
With that in mind, the opposition leader and former prime minister began his speech to the Riksdag by “wanting to speak plainly about the Koran crisis”, and believes that it is about two people who carried out the vast majority of the burnings.
– And both of these have connections to the Sweden Democrats, says the S leader.
She then claims that these have been “encouraged and encouraged” by the chairman of the justice committee, Richard Jomshof (SD), who she believes “has used his platform which is unprecedented in the history of Sweden’s Riksdag”.
– He has explicitly called for book burnings, he has directed hatred towards Muslims worldwide in the midst of a deep, diplomatic crisis, Andersson says.
In conclusion, Magdalena Andersson claimed that the Social Democrats “have warned of the security risk of giving SD power”, and demands that Richard Jomshof be immediately removed from his post.
When it is Jimmie Åkesson’s turn to respond to Andersson’s speech, he begins it with a long art break. He then says he is speechless.
– Here stands Sweden’s former prime minister and talks nonsense. Straight through nonsense, Åkesson began.
“Terribly shameless”
He then went on to say that the S leader’s description of reality is in many ways completely correct, but believes that she is shirking her own responsibility.
– Magdalena Andersson, who has not only been Sweden’s prime minister but also finance minister, takes no personal responsibility whatsoever for how our country has developed during the eight years she has been in power.
– It is so shameful. So terribly shameless and so unbelievably unworthy of a former prime minister and finance minister not to take responsibility in any way for the chaos that has been created in this country.
When the time comes again for the exchange of words between the party leaders, Jimmie Åkesson says that he thinks that Magdalena Andersson is “whining”, and questions whether S has no policy of her own as they only seem to want to depose Jomshof.
Andersson then questions whether Åkesson has forbidden the prime minister to investigate whether it is possible to screw up the legislation on incitement against ethnic groups, whereupon Åkesson says that Andersson is only pushing this issue to appease his own voters.
Andersson then responds like Åkesson with an art break and then claims to be speechless, and in turn accuses Åkesson’s claim of being completely shameless.
At a later time during the debate, the Liberal party leader Johan Pehrson took the opportunity to start his speech with a jab at Åkesson and Andersson.
– We leave the speechless and possibly shameless behind us.