Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson of the Moderate Party has criticized members of his own party staff after a group of employees were heard chanting “we hate Andersson” during a campaign bus trip from Stockholm to Gothenburg on Monday. The chant, sung to the tune of “Genom eld och vatten,” referred to Magdalena Andersson, leader of the opposition Social Democrats.
Kristersson, who said he did not personally hear the chant, called the act “reckless” and said those involved would face direct reprimand. “They will get very clear feedback on this. That’s not how you do it,” the Prime Minister told Swedish media.
When asked whether the incident reflected a wider culture within the party, Kristersson dismissed the suggestion. “No, absolutely not. It was a few individual people, and they will be told that’s not how you do it,” he insisted.
The controversy comes amid heightened debate over political behavior following Sunday’s televised party leaders’ debate on SVT, during which Left Party leader Nooshi Dadgostar faced criticism led by Kristersson—for interrupting opponents and adopting what he described as a “loud-mouthed” tone.
In response to growing tensions, Center Party secretary Karin Ernlund has invited representatives of all political parties to a meeting on how to improve decorum in political discourse.
Kristersson expressed support for the initiative, noting that similar internal discussions are already ongoing. “It is quite obvious that it may be needed. So it’s good that those conversations can include this as well,” he said.
He concluded that the upcoming election campaign should be guided by “mature conversation rather than loudness and mouthiness.”
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