Fear and Controversy: Far-Right Campaigns Take Over Stockholm's Central Station

In a striking display of far-right sentiment, Stockholm Central Station has become a canvas for the Sweden Democrats (SD), a party with neo-Nazi roots, igniting fears among many residents. Neira Tokalija, a therapist who fled Bosnia as a child, found the party's slogans plastered throughout the station deeply unsettling. "It made me feel like it doesn’t matter how much I try as a second-generation immigrant; I’ll never be Swedish enough," she reflected.

The SD's campaign, which cost approximately $100,000, featured provocative messages such as, "If you commit crimes, live off benefits, don’t learn Swedish or misbehave, you’re not welcome.” This initiative, launched just weeks before the September 13 general election, has heightened tensions in a politically charged atmosphere where the party is polling second and could potentially join the government for the first time.

The campaign was not isolated to the station; SD also launched bold advertisements on buses in western Sweden, provocatively asking, "Do you miss Mogadishu? The repatriation grant will help you get home." This grant, originally introduced in the 1980s, was recently increased to nearly $36,000 per adult as part of a coalition with the centre-right government. The move prompted over 20 Somali bus drivers to call in sick in protest, fearing harassment.

Political commentators have noted that the SD thrives on shock tactics, often positioning themselves as victims when their messages are challenged. After the removal of the bus advertisements, SD MP Tobias Andersson claimed it was an instance of censorship and "election sabotage." Meanwhile, the party has gradually been integrated into Sweden’s political landscape, culminating in a landmark agreement in 2022 that allowed them to play a pivotal role in the current coalition government.

As the public grapples with the implications of these campaigns, many express concern about the growing normalization of such rhetoric. Ester, a barista at the station, remarked that the scale of the SD's campaign was surprising, while her colleague Aya noted it created “bad vibes.” Reports of the government's focus on repatriation alongside scandals involving deportations of vulnerable individuals have further fueled public outrage.

Despite the troubling atmosphere, some residents, including a charity worker at the station, witnessed a surge in donations from those angered by the SD's presence. Political commentator Zina al-Dewany offered a glimmer of hope, suggesting that the SD may be reaching a peak in its populism as their voter support appears to wane.

Source: www.aljazeera.com