Kristersson Denounces Orbán‘s Claims of Swedish Collapse as “Shameless lies”
Swedish Prime minister Ulf Kristersson has sharply condemned recent assertions made by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán regarding a purported rise in violent crime committed by young girls in Sweden, dismissing them as “shameless lies.” Orbán’s statements, amplified through social media and referencing a report in German publication Die Welt, allege that Sweden is “collapsing” and has “withdrawn from European civilization” due to criminal gangs exploiting the Swedish legal system by utilizing minors in violent acts.
The escalating rhetoric comes as Orbán faces an upcoming election in Hungary and has a history of criticizing Sweden’s adherence to the rule of law.Die Welt reported that 280 minor girls in Sweden were investigated last year for murder, manslaughter, and other violent crimes, but did not cite a source for this figure.Kristersson characterized Orbán’s claims as a desperate attempt to influence the Hungarian electorate, adding, “No surprise when it comes from a man who dismantled the principles of his own country.”
official Swedish data from the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (Brå) paints a different picture. According to Brå’s recent report on deadly violence in 2024, there were 92 cases of deadly violence reported.Of those cases, 68 involved women suspected of murder, manslaughter, or fatal abuse. This data contradicts the significantly higher number cited by orbán and Die Welt.
orbán’s post included a link to a Die welt article detailing a case involving a 15-year-old girl, and claimed criminal networks are knowingly using Swedish children because of perceived leniency in the justice system. Kristersson’s response underscores the growing political tensions between the two leaders and highlights the potential for disinformation to influence public opinion and international relations.
