Jimmie Åkesson Clarifies SD Stance on Swedish Identity and Open Swedishness
Jimmie Åkesson Sets Party Policy on Swedish Identity Following Internal Party Conflict
Sweden Democrats leader Jimmie Åkesson has intervened in an internal party dispute regarding the definition of Swedish identity, declaring in a 15,000-character article published by expressen.se that the party must strictly adhere to its foundational principle of open national identity rather than ethnic definitions based on bloodlines.
The Ideological Division Between Mattias Karlsson and Richard Jomshof
The internal conflict emerged between two high-ranking Sweden Democrats figures: Mattias Karlsson and Richard Jomshof, as reported by svt.se. Karlsson supports the party line of an “open Swedishness,” where language, culture, loyalty, and identity determine national belonging. Conversely, Jomshof maintains that biological ties and ethnicity hold significance in defining a Swede. This public debate reignited after deputy party leader Henrik Vinge discussed political outreach with individuals of Somali background in the podcast Den sista måltiden, recounting conversations held in Rinkeby. Following public exchanges on social media, several members of the party’s executive board flagged Jomshof’s statements as problematic according to information obtained by svt.se.
Jimmie Åkesson Rejects Ethnic Definitions and Demands Pragmatism
In his expressen.se intervention, Åkesson explicitly rules out ethnic nationalism, asserting that those who believe ethnicity defines Swedishness will achieve nothing. He writes that he does not hesitate to affirm that individuals can become Swedish without being born into the nationality. At the same time, he notes that holding a Swedish passport does not automatically make someone Swedish in a philosophical context. Åkesson differentiates sharply between abstract philosophical debates over national identity and practical parliamentary politics, criticizing members who prioritize theoretical purity over legislative compromise. He argues that with roughly 20 percent of the electorate behind them, the party must negotiate and compromise to secure practical political changes rather than staging symbolic protests from the opposition benches.
Åkesson Issues Ultimatum to Party Members
Following the publication of the article, Mattias Karlsson shared the text on Facebook, thanking Åkesson for drawing a clear line and stating that he would step back from the debate. svt.se notes that Åkesson’s stance delivers a direct ultimatum to party members: those who refuse to accept the official stance on open national identity must leave the organization or face expulsion.