In an interview with the Financial Times, Climate and Environment Minister Romina Pourmokhtari (L) said she loved to evade her Säpo guards.
Now she denies that she allegedly did it.
“It is said with a twinkle in the eye,” writes Pourmokhtari’s press secretary Niki Westerberg.
In the interview with Financial Times describes the liberal minister how she usually sneaks out in the evenings, from her bodyguards from Säpo.
– My hometown is a liberal and playful place. Sometimes I go out and dance at Södra Teatern. A 19th-century theater converted into a concert venue, nightclub and champagne bar. Or I go to Reimersholme hotel, it’s a casual bar with mismatched furniture and bad air conditioning but good dancing! I love to slip away from my Säpo guards and go out later, but don’t tell anyone, says Pourmokhtari.
Now Romina Pourmokhtari backs down from the statement which she says is not true.
“She says that it is said with a twinkle in her eye, which is evident when you read the text,” writes Pourmokhtari’s press secretary Nikki Westerberg in a comment to TV4 Nyheterna.
When asked if this means that Pourmokhtari denies that she has escaped from her bodyguards, Westerberg answers “Yes”.
Säpo does not want to comment
Säpo, which is responsible for personal protection, says that they do not want to comment on the statement or whether they know that the minister deviated from his guards.
– We cannot comment on what personal protection activities look like or at what times and events the Government has personal protection. This could compromise the protection. A collective assessment is always made of how the threat picture looks to the person who has protection, says Karl Melin, press manager of the Security Police.
Media Advisor: They’re testing different things
Paul Ronge, media advisor and PR expert believes that the various ministers are testing their communication skills. Recently, Kristersson welcomed French President Macron to Sweden in an attention-grabbing video on social media.
– I thought Kristersson’s greeting to Macron was a little strange. Well, they try different things that can get attention. But Romina is learning that she is a minister and then you have to stay in control.
He also believes that the interview with the Financial Times can be a lesson for the future.
– If she says such things and gets a backlash, she will hopefully learn something, says Paul Ronge.