Political candidates in Sweden linked to criminal motorcycle gangs ahead of 2022 elections

Ahead of the 2022 elections, it was revealed that 64 political candidates in Sweden had ties to criminal motorcycle gangs. Despite several party leaders disavowing these candidates, some were elected in various municipalities. Notably, Jimmie Åkesson, leader of the Sweden Democrats (SD), recently faced scrutiny after one of his wedding guests emerged as the president of a local chapter of the criminal motorcycle gang, the Comanches. This individual has reportedly been involved in the criminal motorcycle scene for over a decade and has attended weddings of other prominent SD members.

Ulf Fahlén, editor of a recent report on motorcycle gang criminality, emphasized the naivety regarding the influence of organized crime on politics, particularly when such groups have connections within political entities. He highlighted that Comanches is recognized by law enforcement as a criminal organization.

Further, two individuals connected to the motorcycle gang have attended private parties hosted by Åkesson, with images capturing them bearing a loyalty badge associated with Hells Angels. Comanches, a relatively new motorcycle gang in Denmark, established a presence in Sweden last summer and aims to expand its membership.

The Comanches have approximately 170 members in Denmark and between 20 to 25 in Sweden, making them a significant player in the landscape of organized crime in the country, second only to larger gangs like Bandidos and Hells Angels. The existence of such affiliations raises concerns about the potential for organized crime to influence political agendas. The Sweden Democrats have declined to comment on these revelations.