Municipal commissioner Andreas From (S) is stepping down from his position following the heavily criticized deal in which he bought a demented woman’s house while her son was in a medically induced coma in hospital after a stroke. At the same time, continued criticism is being directed at the guardianship board that approved the transaction – where a close party colleague of the commissioner was involved in the decision.

The Social Democratic municipal commissioner Andreas From has announced that he is resigning from his post in Åsele after widespread criticism of the house purchase.

He maintains that he has done nothing wrong and claims that he has not been asked to leave, stating instead that he has the support of his party. He says the decision is a consequence of the hate directed at him and his family.

– There is an enormous storm of hate on social media. Naturally, the whole family is affected, and that’s where I draw the line.

Bought from a woman with dementia – son in a coma at hospital

The deal concerns a house in Åsele that From bought this past summer from a woman with dementia. The sale was carried out via her legal guardian, and the house was never put on the open market.

At the same time, the woman’s son was hospitalized after a severe stroke. He was therefore unable to participate in the decision about the sale.

A realtor’s valuation set the price at 280,000 kronor. But because the property was never advertised, there were no bids that could have raised the final price.

READ MORE: S leader bought house from woman with dementia – never advertised

From claims that the criticism against him is misdirected and that the guardianship board that approved the deal is responsible for the process.

– Yes, I think the discussion has shifted somewhat to making it my responsibility how the whole process was managed. So I feel I have been unfairly criticized for the actions of other parties.

He also emphasizes that his decision to resign is his own.

– No, I have had very strong support from my party, so this is entirely my decision and nothing else.

Party colleague approved the transaction

The final approval of the sale was made by the guardianship board of southern Lappland, which is compulsory when a property is being sold by a person with a legal guardian.

On the board sits Social Democrat Gunnel Jonsson – a close political colleague of Andreas From. She has previously shared the role of municipal commissioner with him in Åsele, and today she sits with him on the municipal executive committee.

Criticized by experts

Two experts in administrative law are critical of her participation in the decision.

Jan Turvall, expert in administrative law at the University of Gothenburg, believes she should have abstained from the decision.

– It’s inappropriate, as it could create suspicion among the general public that the process was not handled properly.

Olle Lundin, professor of administrative law at Uppsala University, also reacts to the situation.

– Now it looks instead as if they are favoring each other. And if there’s one thing we don’t like here in the Nordics, it’s when politicians scratch each other’s backs and grant each other advantages.

The chair of the guardianship board, Center Party member Jon Essebro, says that the responsibility for conflict of interest assessments rests with each individual board member.

– It is up to each member to make an assessment – is it reasonable that I participate in the decision on this matter or not.

Family members outraged: “They went after the vulnerable one”

The deal has also provoked strong reactions from relatives of the family.

Marcus Eriksson, half-brother to the woman’s son Anders Hedlund, is sharply critical of how the sale was handled.

– The people who made this deal are all politicians. Here they’ve gone after the one who is weak.

The family farm has been in the family since the 1940s. When the deal took place, the son was in a coma in the hospital following his stroke and was unable to object to the sale.

Eriksson says if the property had been put on the market, the family could have gotten a higher price.

– People should consider what they think smells rotten.

Refuses to answer questions

Social Democratic board member Gunnel Jonsson has repeatedly been asked about her role in the decision but refuses to comment on the matter.

– I will not discuss anything at all.

After Andreas From’s resignation, the municipality’s vice chairman will temporarily assume the role of municipal commissioner.