Ulf Kristersson was asked questions during a debate in the Riksdag about when he became aware of the security risks caused by the former security adviser Henrik Landerholm.
What I demand is that the Prime Minister examines himself with critical eyes. It should have rung an alarm bell, says the Social Democrat Patrik Björck during the debate.
Landerholm, among other things, forgot his mobile phone at the Hungarian Embassy and four classified documents at a conference center. The incidents were never reported to the police by the Government Offices, but after the revelation, a preliminary investigation has been initiated regarding gross negligence with confidential information.
"Feel safe with this"
Kristersson says he became aware of the information when the Government Offices' investigation was completed, but does not specify further. He also refers to the fact that the security department handles such issues and that he has no reason to question that work.
I feel safe with this, says the Prime Minister.
The question of when Kristersson was informed is important to get an answer to, as the Prime Minister either was unaware or knew the information without acting, according to Björck.
That's why he dodges the question, because he's not stupid enough not to understand this.
"Became a security risk"
Landerholm is a childhood friend of Kristersson and was handpicked for the position of security adviser, a position he left at the end of January.
The conclusion was, of course, that when a preliminary investigation was initiated, the situation became untenable for a national security adviser, says Ulf Kristersson.
Patrik Björck wonders rhetorically how "the security adviser became a security risk"?
The close friendship with Landerholm explains the failed recruitment, he says.
All opposition parties have reported the Prime Minister to the Constitutional Committee regarding the Landerholm affair, one of the reports concerns the recruitment – a question that was examined by the committee in 2023 without any comments being made. Kristersson mentions this and that Landerholm was previously handpicked by governments both to the right and left for different assignments.
It was the experiences from these different assignments from different governments that led to him being employed as the country's first national security adviser.
Anna Hansson/TT
Niklas Svahn/TT
The Landerholm Affair in Brief
TTTT
The former national security adviser Henrik Landerholm left his position at the end of January after DN revealed that he repeatedly mishandled documents and papers in 2022-2023. The most serious offense is considered to be that he left classified material at a conference center.
Landerholm is being investigated for gross negligence with confidential information and will soon be served with suspicion of crime.
V, S, MP, and C have reported the Prime Minister to the Constitutional Committee, among other things, for how long it took before the documents became public, whether Kristersson's friendship with Landerholm affected the Government Offices' decision not to report the incident to the police, and how the recruitment of Landerholm was handled.
