Marcus Oscarsson: “Risk of the Nobel Festival collapsing”

This week, the Nobel Foundation announced that the ambassadors of Russia, Iran and Belarus will be invited to this year’s award ceremony, something that has stirred emotions not least among Sweden’s party leaders.

C leader Murrahem Demirok went out early and wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that he “cannot participate in festivities when he knows that there are representatives of a bloody regime sitting in the same premises”.

Nooshi Dadgostar (V) and Märta Stenevi (MP) have also come out and said that they do not want to participate in festivities together with representatives from Russia. And the Liberal party leader Johan Pehrsson has called the decision extremely reckless by the Nobel Foundation. All of them boycott the party because of the decision.

The Nobel Foundation’s declaration

Belarus and Iran have supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and contributed weapons. Last year, the Nobel Foundation chose not to invite the three countries, but this year they are invited to the award ceremony, but not to the banquet.

The Nobel Foundation has justified the decision with the fact that “it is good to also invite states that need to hear how important it is with democracy and human rights”.

– But excuse me, when it comes to having conversations with Russia, Iran and Belarus about that matter, then I probably judge that the train has left the platform a very long time ago. Hundreds of thousands have been killed, injured, tortured and raped by Russian troops in Ukraine. And then to invite them with reference to this explanation, I think it is so stupid that the clocks stop, says Marcus Oscarsson.

“The whole Nobel party can collapse”

Not all those invited have yet reacted to the foundation’s decision and Marcus Oscarsson believes that the boycott may spread.

– I think this could end with a very big scare for the Nobel festivities. Who will be sitting next to Russia’s ambassador at this awards ceremony? he says and continues:

– So the Nobel Prize is so big. It is connected with the image of Sweden all over the world. It’s already making headlines around the world, so this could have a ripple effect. I think they will have to back off from this or the whole Nobel party could collapse.

Jimmie Åkesson invited for the first time

Someone who has also not been invited before is Sweden Democrats’ party leader Jimmie Åkesson. This year he received an invitation, but quickly replied that he did not want to come. He has said he is busy that day. He has also said that decent politicians do not party with these countries.

– After fifty-one years of no, they are now suddenly saying yes to inviting Jimmie Åkesson from the Sweden Democrats. I would also have been busy if I know that you are not really welcome. I wonder what this Nobel Foundation PR department is thinking? We haven’t heard the last word about this Nobel yet, says Oscarsson.