Political Fallout: Delgado Varas and Riazat Depart Left Party Amid Controversy
Delgado Varas and Riazat leave Left Party amid social media controversy and expulsion threats.
Key Points
- • Delgado Varas and Riazat become independent MPs after leaving Vänsterpartiet.
- • Their departure follows exclusion proceedings and internal conflicts.
- • Delgado Varas faced backlash for an anti-Semitic social media post, leading to calls for her resignation.
- • Experts predict their new political initiative may struggle to gain traction.
On August 24, 2025, Lorena Delgado Varas and Daniel Riazat officially announced their departure from the Swedish Left Party (Vänsterpartiet). The lawmakers will now serve as independent members of parliament following internal conflicts that escalated into exclusion proceedings against them. Their exit stems from tensions surrounding a controversial social media post by Delgado Varas that was perceived as anti-Semitic, triggering significant backlash within the party.
The conflict unfolded when Delgado Varas shared a post alleging that 'Zionist Jews' exercise disproportionate influence over countries through politics and banking. Though a prosecutor opted not to charge her, citing her claim of ignorance regarding the post's implications, party leadership urged her to resign due to repeated incidents of poor judgment. Delgado Varas refused to step down, garnering public support from Riazat, who characterized the party’s handling of the situation as a significant scandal, accusing the leadership of using 'Stalinist' tactics to assert control.
Political expert Jonas Hinnfors believes the departure reflects a broader trend where expelled politicians struggle to forge successful new paths, predicting that the new initiative proposed by the duo will likely be marginalized. Hinnfors noted the lack of viable space for new political movements in Sweden, referencing past examples of politicians from similar backgrounds who failed to gain traction after leaving established parties. Riazat and Delgado Varas aim to form a political alternative, though details remain vague.
Their departure has raised questions about the future of the Left Party as it seeks to bolster its coalition with the Social Democrats ahead of upcoming elections. While Hinnfors does not anticipate this internal strife to notably affect the party’s electoral performance, it may dampen enthusiasm among current members. The context surrounding the conflict highlights sensibilities regarding political discourse and accountability within the modern Swedish political landscape, suggesting potential ramifications for party unity and public perception.