A campaign letter from the Social Democrats ahead of the election has triggered a storm of criticism on social media after relatives reported that their demented parents had received the letter. In the letter, warnings are raised about the influence of the Sweden Democrats and what it could mean for women exposed to violence — but the Social Democrat top omits all violent crimes that have happened to women within home care services. The appropriateness of sending such a message to pensioners is now being questioned, especially as relatives report recipients have become frightened, anxious, and confused.

Åsa Westlund, chairperson and member of parliament for the Social Democrats in Stockholm County, is married to left-wing columnist Anders Lindberg and is part of the absolute top ranks within the Social Democrats. She has been on the party board since 2003 and was a member of the EU Parliament from 2004 until she was elected to the Swedish parliament in 2014.

The letter that was sent out begins with the words: “I’m writing to you because I am worried.”

Thereafter follows a dark political description of Sweden’s situation, in which the Sweden Democrats are singled out as a direct threat to women exposed to violence, democracy, and the development of society at large. The letter ends with an appeal to consider “what kind of society we will have” — if the Sweden Democrats’ influence increases.

The background to the letter is that several women’s shelters for those exposed to violence have been closed down as a result of stricter requirements for those wishing to run such shelters, in order to weed out unserious operators.

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Among other things, permits from IVO (the Health and Social Care Inspectorate) are required and several other quality assurance measures have been implemented. But in the letter, Westlund (S) depicts it as if it is the SD that has shut down the shelters.

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The letter is reminiscent of Anders Ygeman’s and Peter Hultqvist’s press conference ahead of the 2022 election, where they pointed out the Sweden Democrats as a security policy threat — something that was later ridiculed on social media.

Reactions: “Dirtier than ever”

On Facebook, reactions have been strong after several people stated that their demented parents had received the propaganda letter. It is said to have caused worry and distress among the recipients.

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In the comments, people are furious about the move:

Not a word about the violence in home care

Samnytt has reported on many cases of pensioners who have been subjected to violence in their own homes, primarily by staff within the home care services. Pensioners have been assaulted, raped, threatened, and robbed. Despite this, there is nothing about this terror in the letter that has landed in the mailboxes of people with dementia.

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This has prompted several people to react in various comment sections. One person writes, “Notice that she doesn’t even mention the 400+ elderly who have been violated and even raped by ‘the caregivers’, but is appalled by a review of lax permits for unsuitable people running women’s shelters.”

Another says, “It’s the Social Democrats who have imported these people who oppress their women and children. How the hell can anyone trust this disgusting party?”

Samnytt seeking comment from Social Democrat top

Samnytt has, on several occasions, sought comment from Åsa Westlund (S) regarding her view on the reactions to her letter, why she sends doomsday letters to people with dementia, and why she is silent on violence being inflicted on the elderly in home care. We have not received any response.

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