The moderates' policy risks the early release of rapists in Sweden

A minor rebellion faced Andy Burnham a few weeks into the job as British Prime Minister. Two police killers were to be released early. The victims' families protested, understandably. Many people joined behind them.

The background is that several British right-wing governments have increased the penalties for all possible types of crime, not just the most serious. At the same time, they did not invest in expanding the prisons. The result was that the correctional service in 2023 was on the verge of collapse. The then Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, called an emergency meeting with the National Security Council. Finally, a special early release program was established.

And in August 2026, two murderers would thus be released.

Ulf Kristersson (M) is working on sending Sweden out on the same path.

Right now, a vile campaign is being waged on social media around last month's vote to scrap the quantity discount – the rule that allows criminals convicted of multiple crimes to only receive the full sentence for the most serious.

The moderates picture their posts with the Nytorgsmannen and claim that with the Social Democrats' policy, he and other rapists would receive shorter prison sentences.

It's a lie.

For those who lower themselves to the level of the Moderates, it is close at hand to state: With Kristersson's policy, Sweden will soon release the Nytorgsmannen and other rapists prematurely.

S agreed with the government to remove the quantity discount for rapes and other serious crimes. What M insisted on was something else: that the quantity discount should not be removed only for serious crimes.

Despite the fact that the Tidö government did not invest what is required to expand the prisons. Despite the fact that the Correctional Service is very clear that it cannot be implemented. By 2040 at the earliest, there will be enough prison places and staff to make that possible.

The consequence of M's policy is, at best, a solid blow in the air - that the volume discount in practice remains for 15 years, until the Correctional Service is expanded. It would be a shame, because it means that the quantity discount will also remain for the serious violent criminals for whom it should be a priority to remove it.

Or you just go the British way - stuffing the prisons full until the Probation Service is on the brink of collapse and a special temporary release program has to be set up.

Yes, that is actually what M signals when the Probation Service's warnings are waved away and the party states that everything must be implemented by 2030 at the latest.

For those who lower themselves to the level of the Moderates, it is close at hand to state: With Kristersson's policy, Sweden will soon release the Nytorgsmannen and other rapists prematurely.

Read more:

DN's editorial board: In what world do Kristersson and Andersson actually live?