Swedish minister wears t-shirt calling Left Party communists

A Swedish government minister has sparked controversy after wearing a t-shirt equating the Left Party (V) with communism during an internal party training session, SVT Nyheter reports.

Benjamin Dousa, minister for development cooperation and foreign trade (Moderate Party), defended the shirt—printed with the text “V=communists”—as “consumer information.” He argued the Left Party’s policies, including proposed tax increases and skepticism toward private ownership, align with communist ideology.

“In my view, that’s communism,” Dousa told SVT, adding that the party’s program explicitly seeks to “phase out the society we currently live in.”

The Left Party, which removed “communist” from its name in 1990, condemned the move. Party secretary Maria Forsberg called the claim “completely unfounded” and accused Dousa of “increasing division” at a time when Sweden faces serious security challenges.

“This is a very unserious act,” Forsberg said. “In a grave geopolitical situation, people expect ministers to take their office seriously and work to unite Sweden.”

Dousa dismissed accusations of negative campaigning, stating he would welcome Left Party t-shirts labeling his own Moderate Party as “liberal-conservative.”