On May 14, Sweden was rattled by revelations of a “troll factory” operated by the far-right Sweden Democrats party. The party used anonymous social media accounts to spread disinformation and attack other political parties, causing controversy and dominating public discourse.
Despite demands for explanations, SD leader Jimmie Akesson lashed out, accusing the left-liberal establishment and mainstream media of orchestrating a smear campaign against his party. This led to criticism from various organizations but did not deter Akesson from repeating his claims in parliament.
The scandal exposed the fragility of Sweden’s political landscape and sparked calls for accountability. PM Kristersson distanced himself from the issue, proposing an unusual alliance with SD, while commentators drew parallels to global political trends.