The multi-storey green facade of the municipal building stands proud in the middle of Tumba's hills. On closer inspection, the building is quite worn and is due for extensive renovation. In a few years it will become a "welcoming place that better supports dialogue, participation and the municipality's working methods", says Botkyrka's website.
Politics in the municipality has rather been characterized by tumult. Instead of "dialogue" and "participation", the municipality has become a symbol of bitter contradictions and partisan political earthquake.
- It feels like everyone is extreme left or extreme right now, says Feras.
He has just been in the Tumba center mall when the weather changes from cloudy to sunny. The temperature rises by probably five degrees. Feras has already voted early and seems concerned about the political polarization.
- I think you should be soft. I didn't vote for the same party as last time, but stuck to the same block. The party I voted for is a little more flexible in terms of cooperation, you could say.
He is not alone in voting early. Botkyrka has had an 84 percent increase in early votes in the days leading up to September 7, according to the municipality. The figure is well above the national average: 30 percent. Among the factors that may be behind it is extensive campaigning by the local parties - but enthusiasm among voters varies.
Henrik Jonsson drives his daughter Aurelia, almost a year old, in a pram some distance away. He describes himself as "fairly uninterested in politics" but at the same time has many thoughts about society.
- It is definitely more polarized now. Either it's Hitler or it's Nooshi Dadgostar. People are damn angry and then you look for extreme solutions. It becomes lord of the flies, he says.
Aurelia's mother Nikola Pirog joins after a few minutes. She is a student and describes her approach to politics as "more relaxed".
- Polarization can be seen everywhere. And you like to avoid talking about politics at school. It derails right away, she says.
In Botkyrka, the debate about gang crime has been particularly emphasized in recent years. Several of the residential areas that the police describe as particularly vulnerable – Alby, Fittja and Hallunda – lie within the municipal boundary. At the beginning of 2023, a political bomb hit the Social Democrats when municipal councilor Ebba Östlin (S) was deposed in what some described as a coup. The sting took place after a sudden influx of new party members - and reports abounded that gang criminals had infiltrated the party. This summer, the SR program "Kaliber" presented new information about gang criminals' connection to the party in the municipality.
The Social Democrats have admitted that an alleged gang criminal had become a member some time before the sting of Ebba Östlin but have continuously opposed the image of "a party that has been infiltrated by gang criminals".
The issue of criminal networks and security engages several people with whom DN speaks.
- I have five children and I don't want them to grow up in a worse Sweden than I did, says Franco Valencia.
He emphasizes the importance of earning a living, citing his background with a parent from Chile.
- Jimmie has had my vote since 2010. I have been called a racist and a race traitor for some reason. But I think about my kids. They should be allowed to grow up in security.
A little further away is Elvira, who at the age of 48 has chosen to quit her job as a welder to retrain. She was born in Poland but will also vote for the Sweden Democrats with reference to the migration policy.
- In Australia they ask a lot of questions. They don't take in just anyone. Sweden should not have more now, she says.
How do you see yourself coming from Poland if Sweden should not take in immigrants?
- I have lived in Sweden for 26 years. I have done my part to earn my status here. I have learned the language and I have my children who were born here. I have adapted.
The Sweden Democrats have so far had relatively weak support in Botkyrka, with just over 12 percent of the votes in the 2022 municipal election - to be compared with the Riksdag's 20.5 percent.
The Social Democrats with 31.5 percent in the last election were in power until the events of 2023 changed everything. The political regime at the time burst when the Center was thrown out by the other cooperating parties: the Social Democrats, the Christian Democrats, the Green Party and the Liberals. Shortly afterwards, there was a mass defection from the Social Democrats when nine members chose to become political savages. The defected members then gathered under the name Oberoende S and in the autumn of 2023 a new political government led by the Moderates was created.
Botkyrka's politics have also been characterized by drama of a different kind. The party Nyans received a lot of attention in 2022 but received representation in only two municipalities, including Botkyrka. Party leader Mikail Yüksel – who was previously active in the Center but was expelled after colluding with the far-right Turkish organization Gray Vargarna – took one of these mandates. SVT recently reported how the party has received criticism for "lack of political commitment" after having only submitted two motions during four years in the council.
Even the Christian Democrats in the municipality have been drawn into the drama since the highly personal KD politician Aday Bethkinne last year described the Pride Parade as a "train of confusion" in a homophobic context. Aday Bethkinne resigned and this spring created the Kristna Familjepartiet, which advertises well around the center of Tumba.
In addition, there is already the Tullinge Party, which for a long time has pushed the issue of breaking the prosperous Tullinge from the rest of Botkyrka.
Several that DN speaks to sigh and shake their heads at the multitude of parties in the municipality - and express something of political apathy.
- Many do not know what to vote for. They might be standing at the ballot box and take something at the last second. It is roughly known that the Social Democrats have been able to rule a country for 50 years. But I have a rather large lack of interest and believe that many people are like me, says Mikael Lundin.
Frida Petters also testifies to a reduced commitment to political issues and refers to the many tricks from politicians.
- I haven't been as active as before when it comes to watching, for example, debates.
He also refers to the fact that politics increasingly seems to be about people and less and less about parties. She is supported by her colleague Ingrid, who also emphasizes how politicians increasingly seem to be attacking each other.
- Yes, what do they want more than just to smear each other? Ingrid asks herself thoughtfully.
