In a debate between commentator Nick Alinia and the Centre Party’s parliamentary candidate Réka Tolnai, the issue of mass immigration was in focus – as well as Annie Lööf’s much-discussed and well-known statement that Sweden could receive tens of millions more migrants. Alinia pressed Tolnai on whether she distances herself from this statement. She answered that neither she nor the party do so.
It was back in 2011 that Annie Lööf, then leader of the Centre Party, participated in SVT Agenda where she said she wanted to make Sweden a country full of migrants from all parts of the world by opening up to large-scale immigration.
– We see that people who want to come here to work and start businesses, but also people who flee war and oppression, should be able to come here, find work, start their businesses, contribute, pay taxes and be self-sufficient, Lööf explained in the studio.
SVT’s anchor Anna Hedenmo then asked how many migrants Sweden could actually receive. Annie Lööf did not have an upper limit.
– It’s completely impossible to say. The most important thing is that we have an open attitude, that we work for free movement and freedom regardless of who you are and what background you have. We should welcome people here as long as they have the opportunity to support themselves or run a business.
A figure mentioned in the studio was 40 million inhabitants.
– Yes, absolutely. As long as people can come here, work, support themselves and start businesses, integrate, I see no problem with this, Lööf explained.
But what happens to what is Swedish? The Swedish culture? The Swedish language, asked SVT’s anchor.
– That is extremely important. We speak Swedish. People who come here speak Swedish.
Anna Hedenmo continued to press Annie Lööf with the question of what happens if Sweden’s indigenous population were reduced to just a few million.
– I object very, very strongly to that description. The nine million who are here are both us who are native Swedes, my grandmother who was born in Canada, my classmates who grew up in Bosnia, Germany, China, and Africa. There are many people who are Swedish citizens and who live here and whom I am very proud to call Swedes, Lööf replied.
Does not distance herself
In a new debate published on YouTube channel Studio 3 between citizen journalist and commentator Nick Alinia and Réka Tolnai, former head of the Centre Party’s youth wing and now parliamentary candidate, the issue was raised again – 15 years later.
Réka Tolnai said that she is not for completely unrestricted immigration, but Nick Alinia responded that her party is. However, Tolnai disagreed and argued that the Centre Party wants regulated immigration.
Nick Alinia stated that in that case, the Centre Party must have totally changed its migration policy recently.
– Yes, there’s a myth that the Centre Party is entirely for open borders, and we are not, she said.
Nick Alinia brought up Annie Lööf’s statement and referred in the debate to the figure of 30 million immigrants. Réka Tolnai dismissed this argument, saying it’s naturally unrealistic for eight billion immigrants to come to Sweden.
– No, but 30 million. Do you or your party distance yourselves from this statement? Nick Alinia asked.
Réka Tolnai initially tried to nuance her answer by emphasizing that the Centre Party has seen some issues tied to migration, but then gave a more direct reply.
– We do not distance ourselves from Annie’s statement, answered the Centre Party’s parliamentary candidate.
@studio3_tiktok What do you think? Watch the whole Duel on Studio 3’s YouTube
Nick Alinia followed up and asked what she thinks about Annie Lööf’s statement about 30 million. At this, the well-known Centre Party profile said she did not recognize the statement, despite it being one of Lööf’s most famous quotes.
Furthermore, Réka Tolnai did not want to distance herself from a scenario where migrants outnumber ethnic Swedes — meaning Swedes would become a minority in their own country — as she does not see that as a realistic risk.
Wants to stop deportations
Réka Tolnai has announced she is running for parliament with the Centre Party in this autumn’s election, where migration policy appears to be her key issue, and she does not want to see any deportations.
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In a campaign post on Instagram, she presented three reasons for being a candidate: she wants to stop “unjust deportations,” ensure Swedes “begin to respect and appreciate immigrants,” and “give children from the suburbs a real chance.”
Anyone who wants to see the full debate between Nick Alinia and Réka Tolnai can find it here: