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Anti-immigrant party provides migration court judges

Paul O'Mahony
Paul O'Mahony - [email protected]
Anti-immigrant party provides migration court judges

The Sweden Democrats are to have 20 lay judges in Skåne county court, which incorporates one of Sweden's three immigration courts. The court in question consists of a total of 312 lay judges.

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"We will act according to the rules of the court," the party's press spokesman Jonas Åkerlund told The Local.

He is insistent that the Sweden Democrats' representatives will not take an anti-immigrant stance in the immigration court, despite the party's background in the Keep Sweden Swedish movement.

"No, it is not their mission to do that," said Åkerlund, adding that other parties had no problem separating their ideologies from their work in the county courts.

The party spokesman does not agree that his party is the only one with an anti-immigrant platform.

"That is a matter of opinion. And we think we will have no problem fulfilling our mission in the courts "said Åkerlund.

Christer Folkesson, a Christian Democrat and board member for the National Association of Lay Judges, feels that the matter has been blown out of all proportion.

"We have had a democratic election and we just have to accept the result," Folkesson told The Local.

"There is not really any room for politics in the county court. It is very much subject to prevailing laws."

Folkesson is of the opinion that the media attributes more power to the Sweden Democrats than the party merits.

"These things go in waves. We had a similar party before, New Democracy, which had one good election before falling like a pancake," he said.

"The established parties need to meet the Sweden Democrats head on.

“We need to get our act together and admit that immigration has brought about some problems, while at the same time arguing that the advantages outweigh the negatives and that a humane immigration policy is good for the country," said Folkesson.

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