The chairman of the municipal council in Höganäs, Péter Kovács (M).
Photo: Private
Louise Stjernquist, group leader for the Liberals in Höganäs municipal council.
Photo: PRESS IMAGE
Israeli forces near the border with Gaza.
Photo: ARIEL SCHALIT / AP TT NEWS AGENCY
Minister of Culture Parisa Liljestrand (M).
Photo: FREDRIK SANDBERG/TT / TT NEWS AGENCY
The decision was taken by the municipality’s culture and leisure administration, despite the fact that earlier this year the municipality recognized the memorial day.
Anneli Sjöborg, head of administration at the culture and leisure office in Höganäs municipality, tells Dagen that the background to the decision is the required security.
– We contacted the police permit unit, but we don’t want six to ten security guards at our events, she tells Dagen.
Municipal council: “Risk of favoritism”
Péter Kovács (M), municipal councilor in Höganäs, has not participated in the decision himself. But he says to Dagen that he understands the decision.
– There may be a risk of associating a memorial day like this with favoring someone in the current conflict between Israel and Palestine, he says.
Furthermore, he believes that the police stated that the security status is different, and that more security is required on site – something the municipality cannot afford.
“It’s tragic – clear as hell”
Opposition politicians in Höganäs, which is governed by an M, KD, C and MP coalition, think the decision is “hair-raising”.
– If you don’t stand up for your values when it’s windy, when the hell are you going to do it otherwise?, says Louise Stjernquist, group leader for the Liberals in Höganäs municipal council.
She doesn’t buy the argument about safety.
– It is clear that they could have secured the memorial day. It’s just about resources.
What signals does a decision like this send out?
– It is tragic. Höganäs has a proud history during the Second World War, where we received white buses and refugees from Denmark. I don’t think you should compare the Holocaust with what is happening in Gaza, with all due respect to what is happening there, says Stjernquist.
Even the Sweden Democrats, who are part of the ruling coalition, are critical of the decision.
– Now is the time when you need to draw attention to the Holocaust the most and stand up for our values. If guards are required for us to be able to protect our democracy, I think it’s worth it, says Christian Johansson, group leader for SD in the city council, to Dagen.
Culture Minister’s criticism
Parisa Liljestrand (M), Minister of Culture, writes in a comment to Expressen that she does not agree with taking a stand in the war between Israel and Hamas if you pay attention to Holocaust Remembrance Day.
“The escalated situation for the Swedish Jewish minority, with increased expressions of anti-Semitism in Swedish streets and squares, makes it even more important, if possible, to honor both those who were affected and their survivors. This is completely regardless of what other opinions you have about the conflict that prevails in the Middle East today,” she writes.
In a comment on Facebook, Peter Schölander (M), chairman of the municipal board, writes that he understands the disappointment and reactions to the decision.
“The reason was the extensive resources that were required this year compared to before, according to the police’s own recommendations,” writes Schölander.
Expressen has sought Peter Kovacs, who declined to comment further.
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