Sweden Democrats Face Internal Turmoil as Members Spread Conspiracies and Defect

The Sweden Democrats (SD) are currently experiencing internal challenges as multiple party members face controversies and defections. Birgitta Jansson, an SD politician in Skurup, has been publicly spreading conspiracy theories on Facebook, asserting claims such as the Earth being flat and the moon landing being fabricated. Lars Nyström, the SD group leader in Skurup, responded by stating that members must individually take responsibility for their opinions when they fall outside municipal politics. This follows revelations that Barbara Åberg, a former SD municipal council member in Skurup, was involved in far-right and pro-Russian online groups, further stirring concerns about some members' affiliations.

Simultaneously, Sara-Lena Bjälkö, an SD member of the Swedish parliament since 2022, has decided to leave the party to join the Christian Democrats (KD). Bjälkö publicly emphasized her long-standing good relations with KD at both the national and local levels and cited the party’s family-oriented policies as reasons for her switch. Despite her defection, she will not formally join KD’s parliamentary group.

Adding to the party’s internal difficulties, a prominent SD politician in Sjuhärad has been barred from serving as a lay judge at Borås Tingsrätt due to a prior conviction for driving under the influence. The politician plans to appeal the decision. Fredrik Jonasson, chief judge at Borås Tingsrätt, noted that candidate conduct is always reviewed before appointments are finalized.

These developments reflect ongoing friction within the Sweden Democrats, marked by controversies involving members’ public statements, problematic affiliations, and political realignments.