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Political Economy

Swedish Prime Minister, Fredrik Reinfeldt criticises his migration Minister, Billström for making statement which other might misconstrued as racist

Tuesday, 19 March 2013
You are running a ministry in the Swedish government and your party's popularity is fading. You have a popular issue in front of you - immigration and the far rights, which is anti immigration, are making headway in popularity. You feel that you could benefit from a slice of that issue by coming up with something controversial - it could boost the popularity of your party. Then it all goes wrong.

Swedish Migration, Minister Tobias Billström's does not look like a very bright man. In the past days, he has made a statement, which in places like the Britain will ignite a very powerful storm. It also shows that the minister lacks tact or strategy. Some commentators have likened him to be some one who lacks the knowledge of what Sweden is composed of today. He made a statement recently that stirred chills down the spin of many and has called for the reaction of the leader of the opposition, Stefan Löfven of the Social Democrats who called his statement "clumsy".

Reinfeldt schooling and Billström (seated) img, Svt

The minister said to the Swedish daily Dagens Nyeheter that people in Sweden hiding illegal immigrants would see their lives complicated. He specifically said that "sometimes we have the impression that an illegal person could be hidden in a home of a nice blonde Swedish lady in her 50-60s who want to help him. But it is not so. Most people live with their compatriots who are not blond and blue-eyed," he says in the interview.

Today the leader of the opposition, Social Democrat, Löfven Stafan reacted angrily and said that the minister has come so low as to grade people in Sweden according to their race. Löfven said on Swedish television today that "it is astonishing how people should be broken down by skin or hair colour in Sweden. That should not happen."

Today Mr Billström's boss the Prime Minister, Fredrik Reinfeldt criticised the Minister for several missteps in recent years and to have deviated from the direction of the Moderate party's immigration policy. But minister apologised but has shown no sign that he plans to resign.

Reinfeldt said that the statements Mr Billström made is highly inappropriate and it's good that he apologised for it.

"He has recently failed a few times and it is aggravating that it has happened on several occasions. Therefore, I have made it clear to Mr Billström that the way to regain confidence goes through that he sticks to the human focus we have on policy and he is working hard to regain their trust, "said Fredrik Reinfeldt.

Löfen and Billström in the background | img, Svt

The prime minister also reacted in response to criticism that the Conservatives seem to have changed their line of migration policy because they have glances at the far right, Sweden Democrats' success. He stressed that the party has not changed direction.

"There is no backtracking. We are standing up for a humane, orderly and legally secure asylum and migration policy," says Fredrik Reinfeldt and rejects allegations that the Conservatives are running double migration policy - one where Tobias Billström may be a little tougher and the other where Fredrik Reinfeldt himself plays down.
"It's not about that. We do not intend to make any changes to our asylum and immigration policy."

The leader of the opposition Social Democrats, Stefen Löfven has reacted earlier by saying how it is amazing that one makes such a statement that alludes to people with different skin colour, hair colour or eye colour had different starting points for their actions.
Löfven confirmed that it is not the first time that Mr. Billström had expresses himself clumsily and Mr. Löfven believes that the government needs to clarify itself where they stand on the issue, although Mr Billström apologized for the statement yesterday.
Löfven refers to Tobias Billström's speech which he said that immigration volumes must be reduced among others.

This what a weak economic out look can cause - a government minister that panics and make bad situations worse for his party.
by Scancomark.com Team

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