COPENHAGEN (Danemark) — A no confidence vote in parliament on Tuesday by Sweden’s justice Minister over rising crime was narrowly defeated. The ballot had threatened to overthrow Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson’s minority government. This is as Sweden jockeys to join NATO amid fierce opposition from Turkey.
Amineh Kakabaveh is a Kurdish-Irani-born lawmaker who saved the government. She’s a vocal critic for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoan and was a member of an armed Kurdish militant organization who supports the Kurdish cause.
Turkey, a NATO member with a blocking vote, has opposed Sweden’s and Finland’s bids to join NATO during Russia’s invasion in Ukraine. Erdogan accuses two Nordic countries, including Finland and Sweden, of supporting militant Kurdish groups such as the Kurdistan Workers Party (or PKK), which is a terrorist group by the European Union. This group has been fighting a long, bloody insurrection within Turkey.
The right-leaning opposition received 174 votes in Tuesday’s vote in Sweden’s 349-seat parliament. This was one less than the required 175. Kakabaveh had abstained and there were still 174 votes in opposition to Justice Minister Mogan Johansson. There were 97 votes for him, 70 abstentions, and eight absentees.
The leader of the Social Democrats, Prime Minister Andersson, stated that her government would resign if the no confidence vote is approved. Sweden will hold general elections on September 11.
Sweden has seen an increase in organized crime activity in recent years. There have been several gang-related shootings at major cities like Stockholm, Goteborg, and Malmo. The right-wing populist Sweden Democrats called for the no confidence vote last week. They claimed Johansson had allowed Sweden to “become a gangster nation.”
Kakabaveh (51), said that the justice minister deserved a second term.
“I know Morgan Johansson is an honest politician who cares about the rule and law. Before Tuesday’s vote, she stated that she does not trust the opposition. Kakabaveh emphasized that Johansson was successful in fighting violence against women, such as so-called honor murders.
In an interview with Swedish news agency TT, Turkey’s Ambassador to Sweden Hakki Emir Yunt stated that the PKK had ties to some lawmakers in Sweden who allegedly support Turkey by taking a stance towards Ankara.
He said, “I can mention Amineh Kasabaveh because she had an agreement to support the Social Democratic Party,”
Kakabaveh’s November vote enabled Andersson to become the first woman prime minister of the country.
She stated that women were only allowed to vote, but not elected to the highest offices of democracy. Feminism is about women and girls being whole people with the same opportunities as men.
