Borlänge Tidning, owned by the Bonnier Group, has rejected a debate article from Sweden Democrats’ group leader in Borlänge, Arvid Jaans. The newspaper’s acting editor-in-chief Mikael Hellsten believes several phrasings in the text “cross the line” and demands revisions before publication. Jaans, on the other hand, argues that the newspaper is effectively denying the municipality’s largest opposition party debate space before the election.

Borlänge Municipality describes immigration as an asset on its website and emphasizes that people from different backgrounds contribute to growth and development. As a guiding principle on immigration and integration, the website states:

“People with different backgrounds are the foundation for a dynamic society and create opportunities for creative encounters. An increase in people choosing to settle in both Borlänge and Falun is a prerequisite for the FalunBorlänge region’s growth.”

The Social Democratic leadership has announced its support for the party’s central policy of enforced ethnic mixing. At the same time, the municipality has long been the subject of extensive debate about integration problems, segregation, and exclusion. Not least the area Tjärna Ängar has repeatedly received national attention.

READ ALSO: Borlänge’s Social Democratic Leadership Supports Enforced Ethnic Mixing

Against this backdrop, Sweden Democrats’ group leader in Borlänge, Arvid Jaans, wrote a debate article with the headline “Are We Getting Forced Mixing in Borlänge?”, in which he criticizes the municipal leadership’s housing and integration policy and argues in favor of his party’s repatriation policy.

The article was submitted to Borlänge Tidning but was never published.

Initially Told the Article Was Too Long

According to email correspondence between Jaans and Borlänge Tidning, the initial objection was that the article exceeded the newspaper’s word limit for debate articles. Jaans then shortened the text and sent a new version.

The newspaper’s acting news editor and editor-in-chief Mikael Hellsten then returned with new objections.

Hellsten specifically pointed out phrasings where Jaans claims that the Social Democrats’ standing in Borlänge relies on welfare-dependent people born abroad, with arguments about voting patterns in Tjärna Ängar.

He also objected to the phrasing about “the group in Tjärna Ängar who do not want to learn Swedish, do not wish to work, and remain dependent on welfare” as well as the conclusion that these individuals “literally” have no business being in Sweden.

READ ALSO: Exchange students in Borlänge shocked: “Is this Sweden?”

In an email to Jaans, Hellsten wrote: “The first half up until ‘The veto that Jimmie Åkesson has now presented could be decisive for stopping future plans’ works, but after that I have several comments about phrasing that crosses the line.”

Hellsten: “I Don’t Want to Judge Opinions”

When Samnytt contacts Mikael Hellsten, he dismisses claims that it’s about blocking Sweden Democrats’ opinions. He emphasizes that, as the editor-in-chief, it is his responsibility to ensure all published content stays within legal boundaries.

Why didn’t you publish the article?

– It absolutely isn’t that I want to refuse this debate article. That’s absolutely not it. I want facts behind what he presents there. Ultimately, I am the responsible publisher and I am accountable if something crosses the line.

Which formulations did you react to?

– I think certain phrases are too generalizing. I absolutely do not want to limit opinions from any side, but there are things I think cross the line.

Is it about the risk of, for instance, incitement against an ethnic group?

– Yes, that is one of the things I have considered. I do not want to review anyone’s opinions. That’s not the point—it’s simply about when it goes too far.

Could the article still be published?

– I would happily receive a new version, and then I’ll make a new assessment for publication. We want to include all voices. That’s very important, especially in an election year. But there were a few things in this piece that I thought crossed the line.

Jaans: “What Kind of Freedom of Expression Is This?”

Arvid Jaans argues that Borlänge Tidning has continuously moved the goalposts to avoid publishing the article. First, the problem was said to be the length. When the text was shortened, there were instead objections to the content.

How did you perceive the process?

– It took several days before I got any concrete objections. At first, it was just that the article was too long. Then it was that it went over the line. I can’t interpret it any other way than that they were trying to find reasons to reject it.

What do you think of the criticism of the phrasing?

– I think it’s absolutely obvious how voter support looks in these areas. That I should need to supply statistics for this seems ridiculous.

What do you think about the article not being published?

– What kind of freedom of expression is it if I, as group leader for the largest opposition party, can’t submit an article like this? That’s just weak.

Will you try to submit the article again?

– No, I have published it on Facebook now, and it has sparked a lot of debate there. You have to use other channels then.

The Dispute Concerns Wording on Repatriation and Voter Support

The debate article that Borlänge Tidning refused to publish is mainly about the Sweden Democrats’ opposition to so-called “enforced mixing” of residential areas and the party’s repatriation policy.

In the article, Jaans claims the Social Democrats have for a long time accepted integration problems in Tjärna Ängar because the area is an important voter base.

He further argues that people who, according to him, do not want to learn Swedish, do not work, and remain dependent on welfare should return to their home countries. It is primarily these formulations that Hellsten considers unsuitable for publication in the newspaper’s debate section.

In the last election, the Social Democrats received almost 70 percent of the vote in the Tjärna Ängar area, where people of non-Western, asylum-related backgrounds are heavily overrepresented.

Published Instead by Samnytt

After the wrangling with Borlänge Tidning, Jaans chose not to submit a new version. Instead, he has published the text on social media and turned to Samnytt to have the article published in its original form. Stay tuned.