In the ongoing factional dispute within the Sweden Democrats, Henrik Vinge and Mattias Karlsson have pushed through a decision to halt the party’s million-krona subsidy to the Riks channel at the turn of the year. The conflict centers on the party’s view of Swedishness. The funds will instead go to Karlsson’s think tank, Oiko.
This article is based on content that Free Times reported.
The SD leadership plans to halt funding for the media initiative Riks as early as the turn of the year, according to sources familiar with the matter. The deputy party leader is behind the initiative Henrik Vinge and the chief ideologist Mattias Karlsson. The previous plan called for a gradual phase-out through 2028, but now the funding will be discontinued. The money will instead go to Karlsson’s think tank, Oikos, which is simultaneously preparing its own video project from new studio facilities at Engelbrektskyrkan in Östermalm.
Opinions on Swedes are divided
The conflict centers on the Sweden Democrats’ platform and the wording regarding so-called “open Swedishness.” On one side is a faction centered around Jimmie Åkesson, Vinge, Karlsson, and Julia Kronlid, which views Swedes as a cultural and social construct rather than an ethnic group.
On the other hand, there is the group around Riks, which wants the party to more clearly embrace its nationalist identity and oppose what they see as an ethnic replacement of the majority population.
Criticism of Åkesson's Leadership
The Riks faction has support both within and outside the party. The former Moderate Party member of the Riksdag Hanif Bali has criticized Karlsson’s view of cultural Swedishness without ethnic Swedes and written that there are no areas where ethnic Swedes are in the minority but where cultural Swedishness has survived.
Within the Riks circle, there is also growing dissatisfaction with Åkesson’s leadership. The party leader is seen as having delegated so much of the day-to-day work to Vinge that the latter effectively functions as party leader. Critics view both as far too liberal, but argue that Vinge has gone further in abandoning the party’s traditional nationalism.
Mattias Karlsson: ”We need to review our expenses”
Mattias Karlsson, in particular, is said to be dissatisfied with Richard Sörman, editor-in-chief at Riks since 2024. Sörman has repeatedly emphasized the importance of ethnicity in the channel’s broadcasts. Riks is largely funded by the Sweden Democrats. According to Dagens Opinion, the company Rplay received 8 million kronor from the party during the most recent reporting period, which accounted for approximately half of its revenue of 16.2 million.
Mattias Karlsson briefly comments on the decision for Fria Tider: ”The party must review all of its expenses.” At the same time, the Oikos employee Carl Eos, who previously wrote for Riks, has taken a stand in support of Vinge and argued that ethno-nationalism should be put to rest.
THE SWEDISH DEMOCRATS—this despicable, FAKE party. All credit to Riks, but SHUT DOWN THE SWEDISH DEMOCRATS.
I'll keep voting for parties outside the "8-Party Alliance." CHEERS!
I wish I could throw up in the face of J. Åkesson/Expo Karlsson/Vinge!!!!
These people have completely destroyed the Sweden Democrats, and now I’m going to share this with all my friends who have been voting for the Sweden Democrats for years but who maybe don’t watch Frihetsnytt or Fria Tider—they’re in for a shock!!!
As I've said before: I'd rather eat poop for a week than vote for the Sweden Democrats in the future!!!
AFS has been the standard for the past two elections
Just imagine—Karlsson and Vinge have been suspects for a long time.
And a few others, such as Paula, who caused the milk to curdle in the refrigerator
My good instincts and analytical skills are why I never got involved with the SD.
We voted against the 8th Clover this year, and we're not done with it yet.
Åkesson, Karlsson, Vinge, and others must go. “Open Swedishness” is an insult to the hundreds of generations that have, over time, created ethnic Swedes. What the Sweden Democrats are doing now is the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen a political party do. It’s simply a complete lapse in judgment.
I agree with everything above. That said, I’ve never really thought of Riks as nationalist, since there are almost always non-Swedes behind the mic. Trash that’s being boycotted… Sörman can go to AFS instead.