Whistleblower Hated by Town Now Sees Vindication
The whistleblower who exposed Sweden's Bofors weapons scandal was once forced to flee his town. After Russia's invasion of Ukraine, public opinion about defense manufacturing has completely shifted. The man who was hated now sees his warnings in a new light.
Ingvar Bratt exposed a massive weapons scandal decades ago. His revelations cost thousands their jobs at the Bofors arms factory. The town of Karlskoga turned against him completely. People threatened to kill him and forced him to flee his home. For years, Swedes viewed the Bofors factory as a national disgrace. Then Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Everything changed overnight. Now Sweden talks constantly about national defense. Bratt has reconsidered his own views. The whistleblower who was once hated now sees his warnings in a new light. Sweden's security situation transformed public opinion about weapons manufacturing. Defense spending has increased dramatically across Europe. The factory that caused so much shame now appears essential to national security. Public sentiment can shift completely when external threats emerge. This case shows how quickly political realities can change perceptions.