Emilie Pilthammar, a member of the Sweden Democrats (SD), has issued a public apology for blog posts she published in early January 2022 that sparked controversy. The posts, which resurfaced last week, included remarks suggesting that "the Russian might have been a better solution than the government we have now." Pilthammar now describes those comments as poorly considered and made in a joking tone. She stated on her blog, "If what I wrote has been interpreted that way, then I expressed it wrongly, and I apologize for that."
The backlash led Sweden’s Expressen newspaper to first report on her apology, followed by coverage from SVT. In response, the Sweden Democrats’ membership committee is expected to open a personal case to determine Pilthammar’s future in the party. Magnus Olsson, chair of the committee, told SVT that the process will involve input from Pilthammar herself, her local district, and the municipal association. SVT has attempted to reach Emilie Pilthammar for further comment.
The incident adds tension within Stockholm politics as the Swedish Parliament navigates internal party discipline and public messaging. While no formal Riksdag decisions are tied directly to this matter, the case reflects ongoing scrutiny of political speech in Sweden’s current government policy climate.