Top Social Democrat Spreads Disinformation from DN – Accuses Sweden Democrats of Corruption

In an article, Dagens Nyheter writes about the Sweden Democrats’ aid organization Hepatica, with Björn Söder as chairman. The newspaper “reveals” among other things that Hepatica does not meet Sida’s requirements for showing how the money has been used. However, this is a gross oversimplification of the actual situation.

Under the headline “Despite ‘extreme’ risks – the Sweden Democrats’ aid project gets 23 million,” DN writes that the government and the Sweden Democrats promised to clean up Swedish foreign aid, where the flow of money has proven to be anything but efficient. They have also warned of corruption and demanded stricter controls. Some argue that Sida’s role has come to an end and the agency should be dismantled.

The Sweden Democrats’ alternative aid organization Hepatica, which is also funded by Sida money, has so far received just over 14 million SEK and is now set to receive an additional 23 million. At the same time, the newspaper claims that Hepatica does not meet Sida’s requirements to show how the money has been used.

Hepatica’s Secretary General Stefan Dozzi and chairman Björn Söder instead point to Sida as being the obstacle to their work, saying this is the result of activism by the official in charge – a case of outright sabotage.

– It is obvious that the case officer has invented new requirements and repeatedly demanded new information. There have been audits that Sida was supposed to be responsible for, which have not even started. These are clear examples of agency activism, says Björn Söder to the newspaper.

One person who immediately jumped on DN’s “revelation” is top Social Democrat Morgan Johansson, who is making strong accusations:

“Fake news,” Söder fired back on social media, expanding on his arguments in detail and exposing what actually happened. He writes that the activist Sida official did everything possible to delay and sabotage Hepatica’s activities over a three-year period, something for which they have extensive documentation.

The official is said to have a background as a journalist, and the day after Söder confronted him, journalists from DN began contacting both them and the organization’s partners in search of a “scoop.”

DN’s so-called “Sida chief” is actually this very official who for years has issued new directives. The alleged shortcomings concern, among other things, an audit that the official claimed Sida would conduct. It turned out not to have even been started, and since the official got new duties, it’s become clear that documentation and supporting evidence are missing.

According to Söder, the official deliberately delayed payments so that Hepatica’s partners would get tired and turn to other organizations, something that was averted thanks to good personal contacts.

All correspondence, conversation notes, meeting notes, and more are documented. That the official’s journalist colleagues at DN are now trying to whip up a scandal “is nothing but fake news,” writes Söder, who also notes that this case once again shows the activism that permeates Swedish government agencies.

After these events, both Sida’s management and Hepatica agree to try to rebuild trust between the organizations, and Söder hopes they can now finally get down to business and focus on the projects.

Another person who criticizes Morgan Johansson and his remarks is Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa (M). Dousa notes that the system has been changed so that it’s now the same for everyone – a situation the Social Democrats are not used to.

Last year, the annual 68 million SEK that the Palme Center previously received was stopped before the Tidö government made the system fairer.

– In 2024, the government introduced a new model for support via civil society where the same rules apply to everyone. It increases transparency and opens up the application process to more organizations. Within the reformed model, Sida makes independent decisions on how Swedish aid funds can do the most good, Dousa told DN last year.

Subsidies Feed the Party

While the Social Democrats claim to be outraged about the money going to Hepatica, they have had no problem allowing various grants – and lotteries – to fund their own party.

Last year, Samnytt reported how AiP Media, the heart of the Social Democrats’ much-noticed so-called troll factory, has received well over 100 million kronor in various forms of press subsidies.

Since 1992, AiP Media AB has received nearly 123 million kronor in operating support, transition support, and what is now called general editorial support, according to a summary by Samnytt.

At the same time, the combination of press subsidies and VAT exemption is something that should not legally be possible. The conclusion of one review is that they have either received VAT exemption unlawfully or the press subsidies unlawfully.