This weekend, the Sweden Democrats’ leader delivered his traditional spring speech on Långholmen in Stockholm. He addressed topics such as the :censored:6:cdd6bbaa89: situation, the Swedish economy, and this autumn’s election campaign. One specific statement has stirred strong feelings within certain parts of the Sweden-friendly movement.
A large part of the speech was dedicated to criticism of the Social Democrats, whom Åkesson accused of having caused today’s societal problems through migration, criminality, and energy policy. He called Andersson an “original” and argued that her policies lack credibility.
Åkesson also touched on the subject of Swedishness, saying it is not defined by skin color or any other body part.
– Swedishness is our identity. Swedishness is our origin, yes. Swedishness is our history. But Swedishness is also our norms and our values, Åkesson said.
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– Swedishness is our language, our customs and traditions. Swedishness is our culture, our way of life. Swedishness is how we interact with each other, how we relate to our country, to our nature, to the ground we walk on.
– Swedishness is open and welcoming to those who want it, who make an effort, and who show respect. That shouldn’t be so hard to understand, friends of Sweden.
Reactions
The statement provoked reactions from some who argued that Swedishness means much more than that.
“Completely wrong. Being Swedish is a biological fact. Being Swedish is an identity that goes deeper than ‘making an effort and showing respect.’ That doesn’t mean you have to be Swedish to be a good person or a productive part of society,” comments one person.
READ ALSO: Left-wing radical race researcher confirms ongoing ‘population replacement’
“Of course it’s not that simple. It doesn’t matter how industrious, kind, or pleasant a foreigner is — no country can or should take in as many foreigners as possible, at least if you care about preserving your country’s culture and homogeneity,” argues another person.
“Norms and values change and are interpreted differently in Haparanda and Ystad. Yet northerners and Scanians (debatable) are Swedish. If I travel abroad or settle in another country, I’ll still be Swedish. There is no magical land that makes me something else,” is yet another opinion.
“Svenskheten är öppen och välkomnande för den som vill, som anstränger sig och som visar respekt” – Jimmie Åkesson pic.twitter.com/MNEm9BTzHG
— Sverigedemokraterna (@sdriks) May 3, 2026