Tess Asplund gained international attention in 2016 when a photograph captured her standing with raised fist against hundreds of uniformed neo-Nazis during a parade in the central Swedish city of Borlänge. The image became an iconic symbol of resistance to far-right extremism and sparked widespread media coverage and public recognition. However, a decade later, Asplund reflects on how dramatically Sweden’s political landscape has shifted, describing a troubling normalization of far-right ideology within mainstream society.
Sweden is preparing for a general election on 13 September, with polling indicating that the centre-left opposition holds an electoral advantage. However, the Sweden Democrats, a party with historical neo-Nazi roots, is expected to secure the second-largest vote share, mirroring their performance in 2022 elections. The party has consistently faced accusations of harboring violent extremists and has wielded its political leverage to pursue increasingly restrictive migration policies and anti-Muslim rhetoric. Earlier this year, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson suggested the possibility of the far right entering government directly if his four-party coalition prevailed, marking a significant moment in Swedish political discourse.
Asplund expresses deep concerns about what she characterizes as the mainstreaming of far-right politics and ideology. She notes that a decade ago, public opposition to far-right movements was more vocal, whereas contemporary society appears indifferent or resigned to their presence. The photographer David Lagerlöf of Expo captured her defiant moment, which subsequently circulated globally and earned comparisons to other historical images of anti-fascist resistance. Despite receiving public support and international recognition, Asplund also endured online harassment and death threats.
Examples of the far right’s influence include deportations of young people who grew up in Sweden but failed to meet elevated earnings requirements for migrants, as well as a documented incident in which a Syrian refugee was assaulted. Asplund attributes increased acceptance of far-right narratives partially to media amplification and political rhetoric that blame immigrants for societal problems. She expresses particular dismay at how progressive values historically associated with Sweden—including its welfare state and refugee-welcoming stance established during the era of assassinated Social Democratic leader Olof Palme—have eroded. While acknowledging that many Swedes continue fighting for human rights and against racism, Asplund voices fear that the far right may ultimately prevail in reshaping the nation’s identity and values.
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