On Thursday evening, the Current Affairs program in Sweden focused on the recent wave of violence in the country. The program featured participation from Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer (M), Jimmie Åkesson (SD), and Magdalena Andersson (S).
During the broadcast, Åkesson expressed his hope for a “fast track” for new legislation against gang crime. He emphasized the need for this legislation to be implemented within a month or a few weeks.
“The crisis insight that you can still see in all parties in Sweden’s Riksdag, unfortunately, it comes far too late, but it opens the way for us to get legislation in place quickly,” said Åkesson in “Aktuellt”.
Åkesson further compared the current situation to a pandemic and stressed the need for quick legislative action to address the issue of gang crime in vulnerable areas.
As an example, Åkesson highlighted the need for a fast track to allow the police to receive assistance from the military and the implementation of visitation zones. When questioned about the potential risks of quickly investigating the issue of cooperation between the police and military, Åkesson stated that the risks of not taking action outweigh any potential risks.
In response, Magdalena Andersson stated that the Social Democrats are prepared to work tirelessly “to get the necessary bills through the Riksdag”.
However, Åkesson expressed his desire for the opposition to not obstruct or hinder the legislation that his party wants to pass.
“If they can help push through quick legislation here and now, that would be grateful, but I don’t see it as necessary to sit down and talk to the opposition in this situation. Now we have to act,” Åkesson emphasized.
In related news, there have been calls to deploy the military against the gangs, with some criticizing the former prime minister’s statements as nonsense. Additionally, a criminologist has claimed that Sweden is now the worst country in Europe in terms of crime.
The issue of cooperation between the police and military has also sparked discussion, with Kristersson stating that he has been called upon as the commander-in-chief.
The wave of violence in Sweden has prompted urgent discussions and calls for quick legislative action to address the issue of gang crime. With different political parties expressing their opinions and proposing various solutions, the government faces the challenge of effectively tackling the growing problem.