On Monday, Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer (The Moderate Party) had a meeting on the safety of elected officials with representatives from all parties in the Riksdag. Also, the Speaker of the Riksdag Andreas Norlén, the Police Authority, the Security Service, the Riksdag Administration, and the Government Offices' administrative department participated.
The Minister of Justice invited to the meeting after Carl-Oskar Bohlin (The Moderate Party), Minister for Civil Defense, was harassed by shouting Palestine activists on his way home from the Riksdag last week. Strömmer points out that there are a number of examples of similar incidents that cannot be accepted.
A message from the police is now that they will strengthen their presence around the Riksdag around the clock, according to Strömmer.
Change the law
A dialogue will also be initiated with the Riksdag to see if it is possible to extend the so-called protection area around the Riksdag.
There is also a need to strengthen the legislation, says Strömmer at a press conference after the meeting.
It's about, among other things, giving the police increased powers to change the time and place of demonstrations, if it is deemed necessary for security reasons. The government also wants to investigate criminal liability for persons who threaten or harass others, for example at a demonstration.
Do we think that today's penalty levels correspond to the seriousness of these situations? says Strömmer.
He reminds that Sweden has strong constitutional protection for freedom of expression and demonstration.
No restriction on constitutional protection is relevant, says Strömmer.
Increased personal protection
The Social Democrats' Anders Ygeman thinks that what happened to Bohlin is "despicable", but he means that the problem is bigger than that.
It's not a new problem that elected officials are being harassed, threatened, and persecuted. It has happened to representatives of all parties, all over Sweden and for a long time, he says.
The Social Democrats' demand is that the government come up with a concrete threat picture and action plan on what measures are needed for elected officials to feel safe. Not least in view of the upcoming election campaign. For example, the issue of increased personal protection is something Ygeman wants to raise.
Of course, we should be able to protect our elected officials and the government better, he says.
