The ECR Group Co-Chairmen congratulate Jimmie Åkesson on the excellent performance of the Sweden Democrats in the national elections.

Prof Ryszard Legutko (Poland) said:

“We congratulate Jimmie Åkesson for leading the Sweden Democrats to this success. The record result for a conservative alliance in Sweden shows that the essential needs of citizens such as security and counter-terrorism, fighting crime and energy safety have been neglected by the left-wing government for too long and that regulating immigration is a legitimate concern.

“Jimmie Åkesson has reformed the Sweden Democrats party and given it the maturity it needs to govern. The Sweden Democrats’ success makes it clear that the concept of conservatism that looks after the well-being of the whole people, and not just after organised interest groups, is on the rise in Europe.”

Raffaele Fitto (Italy) said:

“The people of Sweden decided to put the responsibility of government in Sweden in conservative hands. As a group in the European Parliament, we look forward to working together.

“The biased national media has often portrayed the Sweden Democrats as a threat when it comes to Europe’s external security and internal EU coherence. In reality, however, the Sweden Democrats are the most Putin-critical party from Sweden in the European Parliament. They are atlanticists and support NATO accession.”