Swedish reporter infiltrates prime minister’s inner circle without security screening

An investigative reporter for Aftonbladet posed as a volunteer and gained unrestricted access to Fållökna estate, a private foundation owned by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s wife, Birgitta Ed, Swedish public broadcaster SVT reports.

The reporter, Lisa Röstlund, submitted a routine email application and, without any security vetting, spent a day working alongside the prime minister, his wife, and their close associates. During the assignment, she reportedly overheard details relevant to the security of the prime minister and his family. Birgitta Ed also gave her a personal tour of the couple’s private bedroom, leaving her alone among their personal belongings.

Wilhelm Agrell, emeritus professor of intelligence analysis at Lund University, called the security lapse “catastrophic,” telling Aftonbladet that neither the prime minister’s detail nor Sweden’s security service, Säpo, appeared to have basic protocols in place. “It looks completely idiotic,” he said.

The investigation further revealed that some volunteers at the estate had later secured high-level government positions, including one who became an office secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office and another appointed director-general of a state agency. Olle Lundin, professor of administrative law at Uppsala University, warned of potential conflicts of interest, stating that the prime minister “should have recused himself.”

Säpo declined to comment on specific security measures but confirmed it does not oversee protection at Fållökna. In an email to the reporter—copied to Birgitta Ed—estate co-owner Göran Thorstensson acknowledged the deception but dismissed further discussion, writing, “We are not accustomed to people trying to deceive us when they come to Vängården. We may need to tighten our routines going forward, but we have no intention of discussing this with you.”