Title: S Savages Join Coalition to Challenge Social Democrats’ Control in Botkyrka
Subtitle: Conflict over leisure parks and gang criminals leads to political shift in Botkyrka municipality
September 2022 – In a surprising turn of political events, a coalition is forming in Botkyrka municipality to challenge the long-standing control of the Social Democrats. This alliance is being led by the S savages, a group of nine former Social Democrats who have left the party. Alongside them, the coalition includes the Moderates, Tullingepartiet, the Christian Democrats, and the Center Party.
The roots of this political realignment stem from a conflict that erupted earlier this year over leisure parks and the presence of gang criminals. An external review conducted in 2022 revealed that gang criminals were utilizing the facilities operated by ABF, a popular recreational organization. In response, S-group leader Ebba Östlin decided to halt ABF’s operations at the premises, resulting in controversy and internal differences within the Social Democrats.
Unsatisfied with the response from their own party, nine members of the council, including Marcus Ekman who resigned as chairman of the municipal council, chose to leave the Social Democrats. These former members have now aligned themselves with other political parties to form a united front against their former party’s control over Botkyrka.
The situation escalated when Östlin, who had initially resigned as chairman of the municipal board due to a vote of no confidence, alleged that her removal was part of a coup orchestrated by individuals connected to gang crime. However, her claims were dismissed by those who voted her down, attributing their decision to concerns about her leadership style.
As the new coalition takes shape, the Moderates in Botkyrka have announced a press conference scheduled for 2 pm on Wednesday. During the press conference, the coalition will present their shared political visions and shed light on their plans for the future governance of Botkyrka.
This unexpected development in Botkyrka municipality marks a significant shift in the political landscape as the Social Democrats face a formidable challenge from a diverse coalition. The impact of this coalition and the resolution of the conflict over leisure parks and gang criminals remains to be seen as the battle for control of Botkyrka heats up.