Stockholm – Sweden’s Social Democrats are accusing the current government of obstruction as questions linger over a national security incident involving a top aide. The controversy centers around Henrik Landerholm, the nation’s first security advisor, and allegations of mishandling classified information.
The Social Democrats, led by Jennie Nilsson, chair of the Committee on the Constitution (KU), allege the government is deliberately blocking a thorough investigation into the matter. Nilsson stated Friday that the ruling coalition is using its majority to prevent the KU from examining the circumstances surrounding the security breaches without interfering with ongoing legal proceedings.
Landerholm, a childhood friend of Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, faced scrutiny after a series of security lapses, including leaving a notebook at a radio station, a mobile phone at an embassy, and classified documents at a conference center where they were discovered by individuals with extremist ties. He was acquitted in district court on charges of negligence, but prosecutors have appealed the decision, with a further review expected after the upcoming election.
The KU initiated a political review of the incident while the legal case was underway, pausing the investigation upon the filing of charges. Now, with the initial trial complete, Nilsson is pushing for changes to parliamentary rules to ensure greater transparency and accountability.
Nilsson is proposing a “Lex Landerholm” amendment that would establish a minority protection within the KU. This would allow a third of the committee’s members to request that its staff prepare background materials for investigations, even if a majority opposes the inquiry. “We want to ensure that a minority can commission the secretariat to prepare material for review work,” Nilsson said.
The Social Democrats have characterized the government’s actions as a clear attempt at a “cover-up,” suggesting a desire to conceal the full extent of the incident until after the election. When asked if Prime Minister Kristersson had directed the obstruction, Nilsson responded, “say, but either one acts on someone’s orders, or one seems to have no confidence in the Prime Minister’s ability to cope with such a review.”
The push for greater oversight comes as concerns grow over the potential national security implications of the Landerholm case, which Nilsson described as potentially “the biggest security political scandal ever” in Sweden. The situation underscores the importance of robust checks and balances on executive power, particularly in matters of national security.
