Swedish crisis chief resigns over Canary Islands trip
TT/The Local - [email protected]
Published: 6 Jan, 2021 CET.
Updated: Wed 6 Jan 2021 16:25 CET
The leader of Sweden's crisis preparedness agency has offered his resignation after being accused of breaking coronavirus recommendations with a trip to the Canary Islands.
The Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) said in a press release on Wednesday afternoon that its director, Dan Eliasson, had decided to step down following a meeting with Mikael Damberg, Sweden's interior minister.
"Eliasson has discussed the possibility of continuing his work as general director. He sees it as difficult given the current [public] response, and feels in addition that this response also makes it difficult for MSB to carry out its important mission," the agency wrote.
Damberg, the release added, "shares this judgement".
The leader of Sweden's centre-Right opposition Moderate Party, Ulf Kristersson, who had called for Eliasson to step down on Tuesday, said the decision was "necessary".
"The person leading Sweden's crisis preparedness operations cannot preach to others that they should abstain from more or less everything and then themselves travel overseas on holiday," he said.
Annie Lööf, leader of the Centre Party, which supports the ruling Social Democrat coalition, said that it was "the only reasonable decision".
"The head of the agency responsible for national crisis preparedness must act as a good example and follow the current recommendation," she said on Twitter.
Enda rimliga beslutet. Myndighetschefen med ansvar för nationell krisberedskap måste föregå med gott exempel och följa de rekommendationer som finns. https://t.co/8iHTHhffT9
— Annie Lööf (@annieloof) January 6, 2021
In an interview with the Expressen newspaper on Saturday, Eliasson defended his trip, saying he believed it had been necessary for him to meet his daughter over Christmas.
"I have avoided an enormous number of journeys during this pandemic, but I felt that this one was necessary," he said. "I have a daughter who is here and who works here, and I celebrated Christmas together with her and my family."
In the press release, Eliasson stopped short of admitting that he had done anything wrong.
"The important this is not me as a person, the important thing is how we as a society handle the pandemic and that all of our focus is on this important task," he said.
"The reason for the decision I have taken is to make sure that MSB as an agency is able to have the best conditions to carry out its important mission."
According to the Dagens Nyheter newspaper, Eliasson had not informed Damberg of his planned trip.
According to the TT newswire, Eliasson has declined further interviews.
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The Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) said in a press release on Wednesday afternoon that its director, Dan Eliasson, had decided to step down following a meeting with Mikael Damberg, Sweden's interior minister.
"Eliasson has discussed the possibility of continuing his work as general director. He sees it as difficult given the current [public] response, and feels in addition that this response also makes it difficult for MSB to carry out its important mission," the agency wrote.
Damberg, the release added, "shares this judgement".
The leader of Sweden's centre-Right opposition Moderate Party, Ulf Kristersson, who had called for Eliasson to step down on Tuesday, said the decision was "necessary".
"The person leading Sweden's crisis preparedness operations cannot preach to others that they should abstain from more or less everything and then themselves travel overseas on holiday," he said.
Annie Lööf, leader of the Centre Party, which supports the ruling Social Democrat coalition, said that it was "the only reasonable decision".
"The head of the agency responsible for national crisis preparedness must act as a good example and follow the current recommendation," she said on Twitter.
Enda rimliga beslutet. Myndighetschefen med ansvar för nationell krisberedskap måste föregå med gott exempel och följa de rekommendationer som finns. https://t.co/8iHTHhffT9
— Annie Lööf (@annieloof) January 6, 2021
In an interview with the Expressen newspaper on Saturday, Eliasson defended his trip, saying he believed it had been necessary for him to meet his daughter over Christmas.
"I have avoided an enormous number of journeys during this pandemic, but I felt that this one was necessary," he said. "I have a daughter who is here and who works here, and I celebrated Christmas together with her and my family."
In the press release, Eliasson stopped short of admitting that he had done anything wrong.
"The important this is not me as a person, the important thing is how we as a society handle the pandemic and that all of our focus is on this important task," he said.
"The reason for the decision I have taken is to make sure that MSB as an agency is able to have the best conditions to carry out its important mission."
According to the Dagens Nyheter newspaper, Eliasson had not informed Damberg of his planned trip.
According to the TT newswire, Eliasson has declined further interviews.
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