Swedish Minister Faces Scrutiny Over Son’s Links to Extremist Groups

Sweden’s Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy, Johan Forssell, has confirmed that his teenage son has associations with white supremacist movements, a revelation that has sparked a debate about parental responsibility and political accountability. Forssell, who has previously been a vocal critic of political extremism and a proponent of increased parental oversight in cases of youth involvement in crime, stated that he was unaware of his son’s activities until contacted by the Swedish security service (Sapo) a few weeks prior to the public disclosure.

The anti-racism watchdog Expo brought the issue to light, identifying the individual as a “close relative” of an unnamed minister and noting their involvement in the far-right. Forssell clarified that the individual in question is his 16-year-old son. He emphasized that his decision not to disclose this information immediately was driven by a desire to protect his son’s privacy as a minor, rather than to shield his political career. “This has not been about protecting me as a politician, but about protecting a minor,” Forssell remarked to Swedish broadcaster TV4, drawing a parallel to the challenges many parents face in monitoring their children’s online activities.

Expo’s report detailed alleged collaborations between the minister’s son and a member of the neo-Nazi Nordic Resistance Movement (NMR), as well as involvement with two other extremist groups, including alleged recruitment efforts for one. Forssell maintained that his son’s activities were primarily confined to social media and that he is not under criminal investigation, according to information provided by Sapo.

Following the revelations, Forssell shared his perspective on social media, describing “long and important conversations” with his son, who he says is now “deeply remorseful” and has ceased all contact with the groups. Forssell characterized the matter as a “closed chapter” for his family.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has publicly backed Forssell, expressing his continued confidence in the minister. Kristersson commended Forssell’s actions as those of a “responsible parent” discovering their child is involved with undesirable elements. However, the government, a center-right minority coalition, faces accusations of hypocrisy and a lenient approach to combating extremism, particularly in light of its cooperation with the Sweden Democrats (SD), a party with historical ties to neo-Nazi sympathizers. The opposition Left Party has announced its intention to summon Minister Forssell before a parliamentary committee after the summer recess to address the matter further.