Former Sweden Democrats members hit back: “Linda Lindberg is the real rebel”

The two former Sweden Democrats (SD) MPs who broke ranks in a key citizenship vote have accused the party’s parliamentary group leader of undermining democracy, Swedish public broadcaster SVT reports.

Elsa Widding and Katja Nyberg—now independents after leaving SD—voted against the government’s proposed stricter citizenship rules on Tuesday, prompting sharp criticism from SD’s Linda Lindberg, who called them “attention-seeking rebels.”

Responding to the remarks, Widding told SVT: “It speaks for itself who the real rebel is here. She stands for a parliamentary dictatorship. While all parties expect their members to follow the party line, SD takes it to extremes.”

“The big question is: why do they need so many? Isn’t it enough for [party leader Jimmie] Åkesson to show up and press the button? Linda Lindberg is the real rebel. She thinks the Riksdag should be completely undemocratic,” Widding added.

Both Widding and Nyberg defended their vote, arguing the proposed law—particularly its transitional rules—was legally uncertain and poorly considered. “This is an election stunt by SD. They want to show they’re saving Sweden from an invented migration catastrophe,” Widding said.

She claimed she left SD after experiencing a culture where independent thought was punished: “If you do, you get slandered or thrown under the bus. They’ve treated Katja Nyberg inhumanely. You don’t treat people that way—and then expect loyalty.”

The pair also refused to guarantee future support for the governing Tidö bloc, raising doubts about the coalition’s slim majority. Widding cited concerns over nuclear weapons on Swedish soil and foreign policy, stating: “They have no idea what they’re doing. It’s catastrophic. We have a foreign minister willing to do almost anything.”

Widding and Nyberg denied reports of any deal with the Green Party’s Annika Hirvonen. SVT has sought comment from SD.