Today’s solution is not long-term

THE ALME MEDAL. The revelation about SD’s troll factory was heavily criticized by the prime minister and the other Tidö leaders.

However, Jimmie Åkesson does not believe that it has impaired the possibility for the party to reach its goal of being in government.

– The solution we have today, where we, as the largest party in the government base, are a support party for the government, is not a long-term solution, says the SD leader.

The Sweden Democrats have launched a post-election analysis to get answers to why the party backed down in the EU elections. The SD leader wants answers to why those who normally vote for SD stayed at home.

– They did not vote for other parties, but they chose that it is not possible to vote. And we know historically that our voters are disinclined to vote in the EU elections in particular. But now it was very significant. And that depends on something. We will find out, he says.

The Sweden Democrats start the politicians’ week in Visby. Aftonbladet meets Jimmie Åkesson for a short interview before he is to speak on stage in Almedalen. The SD leader says he has disturbing sensations in his throat, clears his throat and drinks water.

– Giving a speech in Almedalen is always very special. It feels very festive somehow. So that’s what I’m looking forward to, he says.

Is there anything that you feel you could have done differently in the run-up to the election or the election campaign?

– This election campaign was very little about substantive politics. We know we benefit from talking about our politics. We didn’t quite get that opportunity this time. Then it was also a bad result. That could be an explanation, says Åkesson.

Should have met voters more

He adds that there are always perceptions in a party about what could have been done better. He himself highlights that he would have liked to have been out and met voters more than he did.

One explanation that is highlighted is that your counterattack against Kalla Fakta may have contributed to things going worse, what do you think about that?

– I’m not going to speculate on that, but our post-election analysis will have to examine that.

Jimmie Åkesson has accused Kalla Fakta of conducting an influence campaign by broadcasting his disclosure shortly before the election.

Do you want to somehow limit the possibilities for that type of journalism?

– No, I don’t get into it at all. However, I can have views on doing it.

– They say that we engage in disinformation, which they have not been able to prove. On the contrary, despite a year of infiltration, no examples of disinformation have been found. It does not justify, I think, as a citizen, the method that is used, which is very far-reaching.

Not intending to be a support party

But do you want to somehow limit the possibility of wallraffing?

– No, it’s up to you. I think that in a country where there is so much free media, someone should stop and ask TV4 if it was a reasonable way to act.

Do you think this has hurt your chances of reaching the goal of being in government?

– No, it shouldn’t. A government does not deal with such things. A government engages in substantive politics and implements reforms that are important to Sweden. After all, that work has continued and it will continue during these two years that remain until the next election. After that, it is up to the voters to decide whether we should sit in the government or not.

Continuing to be a support party for the government if the majority conditions are as they are today, is not an option for Jimmie Åkesson:

– After the next election, there is no current solution, but then we are either the government party or the opposition party.

Each party usually releases a piece of news during Almedal Week. SD chooses to launch the school issue as its next major policy area, something that Jimmie Åkesson will return to in his speech that starts at 11 a.m.