Swedish parties divided on elite boarding school’s future after abuse revelations

A Swedish parliamentary party has called for the immediate closure of Lundsberg boarding school following an investigative report by public broadcaster SVT that exposed systemic violence, racism, and hazing at the elite institution in Värmland.

The Left Party’s education spokesperson, Isabell Mixter, demanded the school be shut down “as quickly as possible,” arguing that Sweden’s Schools Inspectorate should intervene. “If they lack sufficient authority, we are prepared to propose legislative changes to enable it,” Mixter stated. She questioned why the agency had previously accepted Lundsberg’s written action plan after earlier inspections and called for a broader review of national boarding school regulations. The party also proposed introducing a lex Maria-style mandatory reporting system for schools to simplify reporting misconduct.

The Social Democrats echoed the criticism, with spokesperson Anders Ygeman stating the government must direct the Schools Inspectorate to investigate Lundsberg and similar institutions. “If the school fails to meet legal standards, it must ultimately be closed,” Ygeman said, adding that his party seeks to streamline the process for shutting down non-compliant schools.

The Green Party’s Camilla Hansén argued Lundsberg has failed to reform its “unhealthy school culture” and should voluntarily cease operations if it cannot ensure student safety. “The boarding environment makes students particularly vulnerable—they live separated from their families and depend entirely on the school for security,” Hansén said, calling the documented abuses “completely unacceptable.”

Center Party spokesperson Niels Paarup-Petersen stressed that while his party does not oppose boarding schools in principle, the allegations demand action. “It is unacceptable for Swedish students to face violence, crime, and degradation,” he said, criticizing the Schools Inspectorate for “failing in its duty” and urging increased resources for oversight.

The Sweden Democrats’ Patrick Reslow acknowledged “fundamental problems” at Lundsberg, given recurring warnings, but stopped short of backing closure. “If the school continues receiving public funding, its leadership must definitively address hazing and similar issues,” he stated.

Christian Democrat spokesperson Mathias Bengtsson condemned the abuses as “grave” but declined to support a boarding school ban, insisting existing regulations must be enforced. “All threats and harassment must be condemned, regardless of where they occur,” he said.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson of the Moderate Party, when questioned by SVT, deferred to legal processes. “My demand is the law’s demand: schools must comply with regulations. Police should investigate crimes, and the Schools Inspectorate should handle regulatory breaches,” he said, adding his government would not launch a special inquiry into Lundsberg.

SVT’s three-part documentary The Heirs, which concluded this week, featured testimonies from students, former staff, and parents detailing persistent hazing, racial discrimination, and physical abuse at the school. The Schools Inspectorate previously closed Lundsberg in 2016 following similar revelations, though it later reopened after submitting a corrective plan.