New information from Swedish Radio’s investigative program *Kaliber* once again shines a spotlight on the high-profile power struggle within the Social Democratic Party in Botkyrka. The investigation identifies yet another man with ties to serious crime as having been involved in the process that led to the ouster of Ebba Östlin, then-chair of the municipal executive board.
Three years after the contentious conflict, questions surrounding the Social Democrats in Botkyrka continue to mount. The dispute gained momentum after the municipal leadership, during Ebba Östlin (S) decided to close ABF recreation centers following reports of, among other things, links to criminal circles.
A man with a criminal record participated in the nomination
Now it's revealed that Sveriges Radio Kaliber that another man with ties to organized crime was involved in the 2023 change of power. The man has been convicted of several drug offenses, and according to police investigations, his DNA was found on an automatic weapon. He was also among those who nominated Emanuel Ksiazkiewicz, who later took over as the Social Democrats' group leader in Botkyrka.
– I have no idea who this person is, and if I’d been asked whether I’d accept a nomination for someone with those kinds of connections, I would of course have said no, thank you, ", Ksiazkiewicz tells Kaliber.
Östlin Breaks the Silence
Ebba Östlin, who left local politics after being removed from office, is now commenting publicly on the events. She believes the issue concerns democracy’s resilience in the face of influence from criminal networks.
”Because this was never about me. It was about democracy.”, she writes in a post on Facebook.
Östlin believes that the party has not fully investigated the information that has come to light in recent years.
Describes threats during the conflict
In Kaliber’s investigation, Östlin also recounts that she was subjected to threats in the period leading up to the decisive vote. According to her, a man pulled up alongside her car and made a gesture that she interpreted as a death threat.
– And then he raises his hand and pretends to shoot me, she says.
S Rejects Allegations of Infiltration
The Social Democrats in Botkyrka maintain that the party has not been infiltrated by gang members. The party has held this position since the internal investigation conducted following the change in leadership.
– When we look back and review the situation, we can conclude that there was no infiltration. There was no infiltration by gang members, says Ksiazkiewicz.
