SD Top Official on Bus Drivers' Protest: "Not Used to Freedom of Expression and Democracy"

Västtrafik is halting the Sweden Democrats’ election campaign regarding the repatriation grant after about 20 bus drivers reported sick in protest against the message, which they consider to be “incitement against a group of people.” The grant, which is part of the government’s policy, means that people who voluntarily repatriate can receive up to 350,000 SEK in support. Now, SD top official Tobias Andersson responds to the criticism.

The Sweden Democrats in Skaraborg have certainly received more reach than the campaign would have gotten just running on the buses. Now, their advertisement has become national news, with the message “Do you miss Mogadishu? The repatriation grant will help you return home” quoted in several of the country’s largest media outlets.

This comes after about 20 Somali bus drivers said they felt offended by having to read the text. Since a perceived offense alone is not a sufficient reason, Västtrafik has instead stated that the campaign—which the company itself had approved—”poses a risk to the work environment and a risk of vandalism.”

At the same time, Västtrafik claims its advertisers should be treated equally, and the transit company asserts that it does not censor political messages. The question, however, is whether in practice the principle is ignored if bus drivers’ feeling of being offended is enough to have a campaign pulled.

Maria Björner Brauer, head of marketing at Västtrafik, states that the bus drivers feel “afraid.” That has been enough for the ads to be taken down.

– The drivers have been afraid of harassment and verbal abuse, Björner Brauer tells national radio.

“Not Used to Freedom of Expression and Democracy”

Tobias Andersson, chair of the Sweden Democrats in Skaraborg and chair of the parliamentary business committee, warns of a dangerous development if bus drivers are allowed to influence the election campaign by refusing to operate the party’s election ads.

He argues that this effectively amounts to a form of election interference when a campaign is stopped in this way. As a comparison, he raises the question of whether postal workers could refuse to deliver the Social Democrats’ election materials to households.

Samnytt asked the SD top official for his take on the bus drivers’ accusations that the party’s campaign constitutes incitement against a group of people.

– I don’t take those accusations very seriously. I understand that some immigrants are not used to freedom of expression and democracy from their home countries. Here, however, they have to accept that not everyone will agree with every party’s message on their election posters, he tells Samnytt.

Photo: Montage by Samnytt. Thomas Harrysson / Västtrafik Press Photo / Facsimile SD

The SD official clarifies that the purpose of the campaign is to inform about the new opportunity for repatriation introduced by the government.

– That doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with the message. In this case, we informed Somalis in Skaraborg about the possibility to return, and it seems the message was received, he tells Samnytt.

The repatriation grant means that people who voluntarily choose to leave Sweden to settle in their home country can receive 350,000 SEK to facilitate their return.