Douglas Thor can probably breathe easier even though the party’s internal investigation saw his actions. The investigation is heavy on tough words, but light on hard recommendations – and will not heal the conflicts within Muf.
The moderates’ internal review of the youth association’s chairman Douglas Thor is probably a bit of a double for the main character. On the one hand, the party’s investigation basically confirms all of TV4’s reporting on the matter: Douglas Thor has started a group chat where he advocated vote buying and member transfers in order to poke Jämtland’s district chairman.
“He should not have started the chat, encouraged to pay membership fees or expressed himself in the way that was done,” write the investigators and state that Thor violated the party’s ethical policy.
“Looks a little apart”
On the other hand, there are not as harsh tones when it comes to consequences. The internal investigation recommends Muf to improve its work when it comes to, for example, bullying and discrimination. It appears a little apart – and will certainly lead to discussion. How harsh criticism can one give and yet only suggest updates to policy documents? The moderates’ party secretary Karin Enström also declined interviews and was content with a written comment, which gives the impression that they want to soften the criticism.
Muf’s chairman, on the other hand, was not slow to take a victory lap in the media. You could be rich if you got a penny for every time Douglas Thor repeated that “no formal errors were committed”. Now Thor wants to move on and put the debacle surrounding Operation Jämtland behind him.
Several districts have already called for his resignation
But the question is whether the members of the youth association are prepared to do this? Several districts have already called for Douglas Thor’s resignation. Many other districts previously said they wanted to wait for the internal investigation before making any decisions. That is precisely why large parts of Muf sit and read what the parent party thinks. A source managed to share his first impression:
“Toothless. Thor has tried to rig an election. It doesn’t really feel like our bullying policy is the problem.”
The moderates’ internal investigation will hardly heal the conflicts within Muf. Continuation will follow.