🇸🇪“Shaken, but not stirred” - 2024 Swedish Far-Right Scandals and Outcomes
2024 saw Sweden’s far-right shrug off scandals—from a covert “troll factory” to extremist wedding guests—while galvanising their base. Now they threaten to rattle the fragile ruling coalition.

👋Hey guys, Julien here. The French Dispatch is a reader-supported publication, and both our coverage of current affairs as well as our ability to bring you more news and information on the world around us is entirely funded by paid subscriptions and donations.
If you enjoy reading articles written by high-level experts, then make sure to support the publication by liking, subscribing, and sharing it with your friends and colleagues, and consider taking a paid subscription.
2024 was a tumultuous year for the far-right Sweden Democrats (SD). Two large scandals involving disinformation tactics and another tied to criminal affiliations resulted in widespread attention and many discussions.
Yet, despite the media and public criticism, the SD emerged relatively undamaged regarding electoral support and trust. While seemingly paradoxical, this resilience reflects the deeper dynamics and behaviours of far-right politics in Europe.
The Troll Factory and The Wedding
Kalla Fakta (Cold Facts) , a TV4 channel investigative team, exposed the first scandal. Their reporting revealed a “troll factory” operated by individuals directly linked to the Sweden Democrats.
This coordinated and organised operation was done in order to spread disinformation as well as extreme and hateful rhetoric through fake social media accounts.
The operation was mainly targeting journalists, political rivals, and minority communities as Muslims. The far right campaign aimed to stimulate the SD’s ideological base while discrediting political and other opponents.
The second controversy was about the wedding party of SD leader Jimmie Aokesson. Among the attendees were members of criminal motorcycle gangs and individuals associated with anti-Semitism, racism, and conspiracy theories. The event, rife with questionable associations, ignited a month-long media storm, with newspapers and major platforms publishing daily articles on the scandal.
Damage Control
Despite these scandals, the electoral support for the SD remained stable. There are several explanations and reasons for such development.
1. A Core Base Anchored In Political Tribalism
The Sweden Democrats' core supporters have behaviours similar to football ultrasand hooligans, but they share one key characteristic: strong loyalty irrespective of scandals.
Many dismiss mainstream media as biased, often branding it as "politically correct" and aligned against their interests. This skepticism insulates their allegiance, creating a near-impenetrable shield against media criticism and public outcry.
2. Immigration And Crime: The Priorities
Since 2022, immigration and crime are among more popular and dominating topics in Sweden’s political discourse, and these issues remain important for SD supporters, as seen in other EU member states.
Swing voters and core supporters may disapprove of Aokesson choices or the troll factory revelations, and may have strong feelings about the topic. However, they more or less continue to see the SD as the only party willing to address problems in Swedish society, or at the very least, support some of the party’s policies regarding what they perceive as existential threats to Swedish society.
3. A Tactical Silence from the Right-Wing Government
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and his Moderate Party government avoided much of the criticism of the SD during these crises.
Instead, they maintained a “business-as-usual” approach, reflecting the political reality that their administration depends on SD’s parliamentary support. This tacit alignment with the far-right mirrors a broader European trend, where mainstream conservatives increasingly collaborate with or accommodate far-right groups to sustain governing coalitions.
The European Parliament Elections “Punishment”
The 2024 European Parliament elections marked an unusual setback for the SD, as it did not increase its vote share for the first time in over two decades. The elections were seen as a disappointment for many leading and active members of the SD.
While this result drew internal criticism, it was mitigated by the abstention of “Swexit” supporters—voters ideologically opposed to the European Union who often avoid participating in EU elections. The limited impact of this misstep suggests that the SD’s broader political trajectory remains intact.
Looking Ahead: A Precarious Political Landscape
As Sweden approaches its 2026 national elections, the SD's role in the ruling coalition remains to be determined. Rather than moderating its positions, the party has embraced more extreme rhetoric on immigration, culture, and crime.
This strategy appears designed to energise the SD’s most radical supporters, many of whom view the current political moment as their long-awaited opportunity for influence. This radical posture, however, may destabilise Sweden’s ruling coalition.
The SD’s capacity to withdraw parliamentary support constantly threatens the government’s stability, leaving the country’s political future hanging in the balance.
Thank you for reading the French Dispatch! If you liked what you read, you should like this post and subscribe to the newsletter by clicking/tapping the button below:
And if you’d like to contribute a coffee or two to help fuel my coverage of the wild world of politics, feel free to click on the picture below: