Åkesson warns Muslim immigration could decide Swedish election

Sweden Democrats leader Jimmie Åkesson warned during SVT’s final party leaders’ debate that Muslim immigration could determine the outcome of the country’s parliamentary election, Swedish public broadcaster SVT reported.

“This could be the first election in Sweden where the Muslim immigration we have had determines the outcome of a parliamentary election,” Åkesson said during a debate on integration.

He claimed that the Social Democrats and Left Party have a strategy of mobilising voters in mosques and Muslim congregations.

Green Party spokesperson Amanda Lind criticised the remarks, saying Åkesson had twice described ordinary Muslims as a problem.

“Ordinary Muslims who go to mosques are not integrated. Ordinary Muslims who vote in a Swedish election are a problem. I think it is a terrible statement,” Lind said.

After the debate, Åkesson told SVT that he believed the Social Democrats and Left Party had gained political power through immigration to Sweden from Muslim-majority parts of the world.

Asked whether he considered it a problem that Muslims vote, Åkesson said he did not object to Swedish citizens voting. He said he was concerned that many people in Sweden held values that, in some cases, the country had abandoned centuries ago.

“I think Islamism is a problem, and if Islamism is going to determine Swedish elections, I become very worried,” Åkesson said.

Asked about the distinction between being Muslim and being an Islamist, he replied that there could be a difference, but that the boundary was not always clear.

Social Democrat leader Magdalena Andersson also criticised Åkesson after the debate, saying his remarks reflected a party strategy of inciting people against others because of their faith.