‘Not welcome’: How Sweden’s far right took over Stockholm Central Station | Politics News
Stockholm, Sweden — Neira Tokalija, a 39-year-old therapist, experienced a wave of unease upon seeing campaign slogans of Sweden’s far-right party plastered throughout Stockholm Central Station. Tokalija, who fled Bosnia and Herzegovina with her family as a child during ethnic cleansing operations against Bosniaks, expressed that the sight reminded her of past traumas.
The Sweden Democrats (SD), a party with roots in neo-Nazi ideology, had undertaken a significant campaign at the station, spending approximately $100,000 on posters reading, “If you commit crimes, live off benefits, don’t learn Swedish or misbehave, you’re not welcome.” This campaign emerged just weeks ahead of Sweden’s general election scheduled for September 13, where the SD is polling second and may potentially enter government for the first time if a right-wing bloc secures a victory.
Tokalija remarked that the campaign’s messaging brought back painful memories of historical injustice. “It made me feel like it doesn’t matter how much I try as a second-generation immigrant; I’ll never be Swedish enough,” she stated.
In addition to the Central Station campaign, the SD implemented provocative advertisements on buses in western Sweden, one of which asked, “Do you miss Mogadishu? The repatriation grant will help you get home.” Originally introduced by a Social Democratic government in the 1980s, this grant offers financial incentives for refugees to return to their countries. This year, the centre-right coalition government, in collaboration with the SD, increased the amount to approximately $36,000 per adult.
The controversial bus ads provoked a strong reaction, with around 20 bus drivers of Somali descent calling in sick in protest. In response, the public transport operator Vasttrafik removed the posters for safety reasons, citing risks of workplace harassment and vandalism.
Political commentator Zina al-Dewany highlighted that such campaigns are often designed to provoke public outrage. “SD frequently runs campaigns intended to provoke a bit too much,” she said. However, when faced with backlash, the party claims victimhood. Following the removal of the bus advertisements, SD MP Tobias Andersson labeled the decision as censorship and “election sabotage.”
Throughout the years, the Sweden Democrats have increasingly moved from political pariah status to a more normalized role within Swedish politics. This shift began after the 2018 general election, where a political deadlock led right-wing parties to reconsider alliances. Meetings between the SD and other right-leaning parties occurred, culminating in the October 2022 Tido Agreement, which facilitated the formation of Sweden’s current coalition government involving the Liberals.
In May 2026, a notable milestone was reached when Simona Mohamsson, the leader of the Liberals, announced that her party would permit SD participation in a future government. Mohamsson, known for her anti-racism advocacy, made headlines when she embraced SD leader Jimmie Åkesson following her announcement.
As the SD campaign unfolded at Central Station, many workers in nearby cafes and shops expressed discomfort with the atmosphere it created. One barista, Ester, noted that the campaign’s scale surprised her, while her colleague Aya said it generated “bad vibes” throughout the station. They voiced concerns regarding the government’s focus on repatriation amidst several unrelated scandals that have troubled Sweden’s migration policies.
In February, the Swedish Migration Agency made news when it ordered an eight-month-old boy, born in Sweden, to be deported alone to Iran while his family remained in the country. Around the same time, a policy requiring some teenagers who had grown up in Sweden to leave at age 18 was ultimately suspended in March after widespread criticism.
Amidst the controversy, a man working at the station who chose to remain anonymous reported that public responses to the SD campaign had sparked meaningful debates. He noted that many patrons engaged with SD representatives, often voicing objections to their views on Islam and immigration. Several individuals even made substantial donations to a charity supporting Palestinians during the campaign.
Al-Dewany views the current political landscape with cautious optimism, suggesting that the SD’s focus on immigration scandals may be eroding its support. Polls conducted in late August indicated the SD’s popularity had fallen to 18 to 19 percent, down from 20.5 percent in 2022.
Tokalija, reflecting on her initial experiences in Sweden, described being welcomed with curiosity and warmth. However, she observed a disturbing shift in societal attitudes towards immigrants, who are increasingly seen as “money-seekers.” The current atmosphere pressures families like hers to conform to a singular national identity, stripping away multicultural and religious identities and presenting the stark choices of total assimilation or exclusion—echoes of the fascist ideologies she once fled.
