Anders Lidén resigns as head of Sweden’s Truth Commission amid internal strife

Anders Lidén has stepped down as the head of Sweden’s Truth Commission, a position he held for just over a year. The resignation comes amid differing views on how to proceed strategically within the commission, which was established by the previous government in 2021.

Lidén acknowledged that it became increasingly clear he was not able to bridge the various opinions within the group and felt he no longer had their full trust. As a result, he believed it would be better for another leader to take over.

The commission has experienced significant turmoil, with several members resigning, including well-known Sámi artist Britta Marakatt-Labba and Mikael Svonni even before the work officially began. Recently, members Ulf Mörkenstam and Eivind Torp also departed, alongside the secretary, Jon Dunås.

Despite these challenges, the commission, which consists of a chair and 12 members, aims to complete its mandate by December 1, 2025. The chair, who remains, expressed determination to continue with the work and stated that the remaining members are committed to completing their tasks.

The commission’s primary goal is to investigate the historical policies affecting the Sámi, focusing on assimilation efforts. So far, nearly 300 interviews have been conducted to gather diverse perspectives from Sámi across Sweden, which is critical for suggesting future actions.

The chair emphasized that this work holds significant importance for understanding both the historical injustices faced by the Sámi and their current experiences, aiming to raise awareness among the broader Swedish populace.