‘Not welcome’: How Sweden’s far right took over Stockholm Central Station

Key Points:

• Sweden’s far-right Sweden Democrats (SD), with neo-Nazi roots, launched a provocative election campaign at Stockholm Central Station featuring slogans targeting immigrants, sparking fear and discomfort among minority communities.
• The SD’s campaign included controversial ads on buses in western Sweden urging immigrants to take a repatriation grant to return to their home countries, leading to protests and removal of the posters due to safety concerns.
• Once treated as political pariahs, SD has been increasingly normalized within Sweden’s right-wing coalition, culminating in agreements allowing their participation in government, causing political shockwaves.
• The campaign reignited debates on immigration and repatriation policies amid recent government controversies over deportations, provoking public backlash but also increased support for charitable causes aiding affected communities.
• Despite SD’s strong showing, analysts suggest the party may have reached “peak populism” with recent scandals eroding some voter support, while immigrants like Neira Tokalija express ongoing challenges of acceptance and identity in Swedish society.