After the two prominent Sweden Democrats Mattias Karlsson and Richard Jomshof argued about the party’s view of Swedishness, Åkesson has now taken a clear position. In a debate article in Expressen, he writes that those who “believe that ethnicity defines Swedishness are getting nowhere.”
He writes that the party’s position is one of “open Swedishness.” This means that anyone can become Swedish if they learn the language, adopt Swedish culture and values, and identify as Swedish, regardless of whether they were born in Sweden or have Swedish parents.
“Start a blog”
“Anyone who thinks differently can leave or start a blog,” he writes.
The debate began when MP Richard Jomshof, a former party secretary, wrote on X on October 9 that one must “dare to acknowledge” the importance of biological ties for a country’s cohesion. Mattias Karlsson, who has long been part of the party leader’s inner circle, in turn warned against abandoning open Swedishness in favor of a more ethnonationalist line.
Åkesson writes that he has seen the party grow from an almost insignificant political movement into one of Sweden’s largest political forces. The success is the result of “political understanding, careful balancing between demands and concessions and, not least, a clear demarcation between what is politics and what is not.”
Criticizes “opinion-suppressing”
“Against that background, it is extremely provocative when egocentric, self-proclaimed guardians of ideas moralize about this and consider themselves to both be and know better,” he writes.
He also criticizes politicians who he believes engage in “general philosophizing and opinion-mongering.”
He concludes the debate article by writing that the party should have high standards and be able to conduct an open debate on ideas, but that it should be a political party with a clear ideological foundation and representatives who understand their mission.
“Openness does not mean that every personal opinion should be elevated to party policy, just as pragmatism does not mean that we should abandon our fundamental values,” he writes.
