Swedish Prime Minister Criticizes Orbán’s Claims of Crime Crisis
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has condemned Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for disseminating “outrageous lies” regarding the state of crime in Sweden, following Orbán’s assertion that the country is on the verge of collapse due to rampant organized crime, reports 24brussels.
In a post on X, Kristersson stated, “These are outrageous lies. Not surprising coming from the man who is dismantling the rule of law in his own country. Orbán is desperate ahead of the upcoming Hungarian election.” This exchange escalated after Orbán released a video attacking the Swedish justice system.
Orbán claimed, “The Swedish government lectures us about the rule of law. Meanwhile, according to an article by Die Welt, criminal networks are exploiting Swedish children as killers, knowing the system won’t convict.” He further lamented, “A country once known for order and safety is now collapsing: over 280 underage girls arrested for murder, families living in fear. It’s heartbreaking. The Swedish people deserve better!”
According to Die Welt, last year, 280 girls aged 15 to 17 in Sweden were investigated for serious crimes, including murder. Contrastingly, the Swedish Crime Prevention Council reports that only 68 girls in that age group were suspected of murder and assault.
Sweden is currently facing a crime wave linked to teenagers being recruited by gangs via social media platforms like Telegram. These minors are allegedly involved in a spectrum of illicit activities ranging from harassment to homicide.
In response to the growing crisis, the Swedish government recently proposed legislation to lower the age of criminal responsibility for severe offenses, such as murder, from 15 to 13 years.
Both Sweden and Hungary are approaching critical electoral moments, with Swedish elections scheduled for September and Hungarian elections set for April. In Hungary, the center-right Respect and Freedom Party, led by Péter Magyar, holds a 7-point lead over Orbán’s Fidesz party, posing a significant challenge to Orbán’s long-standing leadership.
