Opinion Piece: Don’t ignore the alarm bells

It’s impossible to overlook how clear the rise of far-right parties in Europe has been in recent years. Outside of Europe, we can see how powerful seemingly influential countries such as the United States are heading in a troubling direction. Observing Trump’s leadership has led me astonished that so many Americans decided yet again to vote him into office. Unfortunately, leaders like Trump also inspire other political actors, and the consequences of this can be seen in Sweden as well.

The Sweden Democrats (Sverigedemokraterna/SD) were founded in 1988 by individuals with backgrounds in Swedish Nazism, fascism, and militant racism. Not surprising, the party has been associated with extremist symbolism, antisemitism, and violent scandals for a very long time, as well as ties to organizations such as Nordiska Rikspartiet (NRP, Nordic Reich Party), Bevara Sverige Svenskt (BSS, Keep Sweden Swedish) and Waffen-SS veterans. 

From the mid-1990s onward, SD pursued a strategy of normalization, intensified under party leader Jimmie Åkesson. However, this has been a clear distraction from reality. Over the years, information has repeatedly emerged and leaked revealing the party’s continued links to extremist environments. Examples include party representatives financially supporting neo-Nazi organizations, participation in events alongside fascist groups, and repeated scandals involving racist rhetoric and behavior by leading figures. 

While on the topic of so called “leader figures”: In the United States, Trump has praised the U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for its actions in deporting illegal immigrants, even as the agency has relied on ruthless force that has cost innocent people their lives.

Intensive care nurse Alex Pretti was wrestled to the ground and shot dead by ICE agents, while he was trying to help a woman who had been pushed to the ground by federal officers. Government officials claimed he was armed.

Writer Renee Nicole Good, a mother of three, was shot and killed in her car by an ICE agent. Officials claimed she tried to run over the agent with her car.

There is no evidence to support either of these official claims justifying the violence, and note there are recordings of these killings as well as numerous witnesses.

ICE and other federal officers stand at a Minneapolis intersection where protesters had gathered after the death of Renee Nicole Good. Source: BBC.

The pattern of using immigration to divide and mobilize is not only confined to the U.S.; in Sweden, SD employs the same tactics. Much like the Trump administration, SD has built their political project around immigration as a tool for mobilization and division. It’s the party’s core political focus. But despite internal conflicts and numerous controversies, SD has increased its electoral support and became Sweden’s second-largest party in 2022, while maintaining international alliances within European right-wing networks. These results are worrying.

Since 2024, Denice Westerberg (23) has served as the national spokesperson for Ungsvenskarna, the youth wing of SD. In an opinion article published in August 2025, Westerberg wrote:

“We are saying that enough is enough. Sweden needs an independent migration police force with the same strong mandate as ICE in the United States. An authority whose sole task is to locate, detain, and deport people who are in the country illegally.”

Denice Westerberg, national spokesperson for Ungsvenskarna. Source: Aftonbladet.
Photo by Henrik Montgomery/TT.

Don’t make the mistake to dismiss this as “just” the youth wing speaking. This should remind you of where the Sweden Democrats stand and what their vision entails. We cannot ignore these constant reminders of the direction SD wants to take when they idolize leaders who use fear and force to mobilize support. We cannot accept this. Idolizing leaders who cause harm should alarm us all immediately.

Wake up. This is happening right now. These movements are growing in Europe in our own countries. We must pay attention, use our voices and vote to resist fascist and neo-Nazi forces. We cannot wait until it is too late.