Sverigedemokraterna's Ties to National Socialism Uncovered in New White Book
A new white book details Sverigedemokraterna's historical links to national socialism.
Key Points
- • Sverigedemokraterna's (SD) new white book uncovers historical Nazi ties.
- • The book documents SD's acceptance of members linked to extremist movements.
- • Jimmie Åkesson joined SD during a transformational period in 1995.
- • SD's legacy of xenophobia continues to influence its politics.
A recently published white book by Tony Gustafsson has unveiled striking connections between the Sverigedemokraterna (SD) party and national socialism during its initial years. The nearly 900-page document analyzes the party's history from its founding in 1988 through its parliamentary entry in 2010, revealing that SD accepted individuals linked to Nazi movements and harbored anti-Semitic ideologies.
Gustafsson noted he was taken aback by the extent of this legacy, emphasizing that xenophobia within SD has historically targeted various immigrant groups, including black Africans and, more recently, Muslims. Jimmie Åkesson, who joined SD in 1995, has faced criticism over his association with the party during a time of such transformation, but he has publicly apologized for the party's early antisemitism.
Despite these revelations, Åkesson has not commented on the white book’s findings following its release. Mattias Karlsson, a senior figure in SD, defended Åkesson by suggesting he was young and lacked sufficient awareness of the party's historical context. He asserted that the apology for antisemitism should extend to other communities feeling threatened by extremism tolerated within the party's framework. Gustafsson posited that the party's legacy concerning national socialism is likely to persist, impacting its political trajectory for years to come.