Expressen's investigation shakes the Left Party. Nine candidates have been removed from electoral lists after reports of Hamas tributes - while interviews show that several of them can barely hold a conversation in Swedish despite running for political office
Several candidates for the Left Party have been removed from municipal electoral lists after an investigation revealed that people linked to the party participated in celebrations of Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, according to an investigation by The Express. The information has sparked reactions in Swedish politics and raised questions about how parties vet their candidates before elections.
According to Expressen's investigation, several people who are now candidates for the Left Party participated in an event in Helsingborg on the day of the attack. During the gathering, participants handed out candy, children were dressed in military-like clothing, and slogans in support of the attack were used.
This is despite the fact that the party leadership under the party leader Nooshi Dadgostar distanced themselves from Hamas and labeled them as terrorists.
Reaction: Must recognize Israel for citizenship
The revelation has prompted political opponents to demand answers from the Left Party.
Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M), Minister for Civil Defense, criticizes the Social Democrats for possibly governing with V if the Red-Greens win the parliamentary elections this autumn. Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard (M) described the information as offensive and serious. Other representatives have also called for more clarity on how candidates are vetted before being nominated for political office.
The Christian Democrat Member of the European Parliament Alice Teodorescu Måwe, which is notorious for its fanatical support for Israel, uses the revelation to demand that a condition for Swedish citizenship should be to recognize Israel. She also claims that the view of Israel reflects the view of ”democracy” and ”freedom of expression”.
Several candidates interviewed in Arabic
One thing that emerges is that several of the candidates in question barely know Swedish, even though they are standing for a Swedish party in a Swedish election. When Expressen contacted them, the interviews were conducted entirely or partly in Arabic.
About the candidate Tamam Hashan writes the newspaper: ”Although she is a candidate for the Helsingborg city council, she has difficulty expressing herself in Swedish. She therefore conducts the interview in Arabic.”
When Expressen reached the candidate Nidal Hejjo the newspaper stated that she too preferred to conduct the conversation in Arabic. According to the article, the reporter first had to explain that the party she represents had described October 7 as an act of terror.
About the candidate Serin Tamim writes the newspaper: ”The interview is initially conducted in Swedish, but we switch to Arabic to make it easier for her to express herself.”
The Malmö politician Nils Littorin, who represents the Malmölistan party and has a background in the left, is not impressed.
- You can have whatever opinions you like about Israel and Palestine, but the minimum requirement for a politician in Sweden should be to be able to speak Swedish. It is remarkable that people who seek the confidence of the electorate cannot even conduct an interview in Swedish, he tells Freedom News.
Nine candidates eliminated
According to the newspaper, nine candidates have been removed from municipal election lists around the country following questions from the Express. The revelation has led to demands for answers from the Left Party and to a broader discussion about candidacies, background checks and the trust of those seeking voters' mandates to make decisions in Swedish municipalities.
The incident is expected to continue to be an issue for the party during the 2026 election campaign.
The bloody history of the Communists means that we still have to ban them from operating.
For security reasons.
And, as you know, safety always comes first.
NYANS & VP, same stool.
HOSTILE PARTIES both of which should be banned.
Teodorescu is not a normal person who believes that one should recognize the terrorist state of Israel as a state in order to become a Swedish citizen.