Ahead of Sweden’s general election, the influence of the far-right Sweden Democrats on the country’s political discourse has sparked concerns among immigrant and minority communities. The party, which has supported the centre-right government of Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, has leveraged its position to shape policies on migration and crime while promoting rhetoric that links immigrants and Muslims to societal problems.
Imam Kashif Virk, who launched the Ask-a-Muslim campaign in 2017 to counter anti-Islamic narratives, noted that extremist parties have fueled public fear about Islam. Meanwhile, polling ahead of the election indicates the centre-left opposition holds a narrow lead, though recent weeks have seen the gap narrow. Should the ruling coalition retain power, the right has indicated it would offer ministerial posts to the Sweden Democrats for the first time.
Those affected by the party’s influence report that Sweden’s political climate has grown hostile toward non-citizens. A Lebanese-born nurse described feeling dehumanized by far-right rhetoric, while Kenyan nationals expressed concerns about their long-term future in the country despite years of residence and employment. One immigrant described considering financial safeguards in their home country as a precaution. Others noted a sharp reversal from 2015, when thousands of Swedes welcomed Syrian and Afghan asylum seekers at Stockholm’s central station.
Policy changes have reflected the shift in national conversation, with refugee quotas reduced from 5,000 to 900 annually and new provisions allowing revocation of residency permits under broadly defined criteria. Organizations like Refugees Welcome Stockholm have seen their funding and public influence decline significantly. Observers working on interfaith and immigrant integration initiatives report that positions once confined to the political fringe have become mainstream discourse, suggesting structural changes to Swedish society that may persist regardless of the election outcome.
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