The S leader's criticism of the government: Come home from the bus tour

The article reports that tens of thousands of Swedes are stranded in the Middle East because of the war in Iran.

“The Social Democrats' leader's criticism of the government: Come home from the bus tour Tens of thousands of Swedes are stranded in the Middle East because of the war in Iran”

Aftonbladet

It says more than 4,000 Swedes are stranded in Dubai and Qatar, according to TV4.

Aftonbladet

TV4 is quoted as saying that about 20,000 Swedes live around the Persian Gulf.

Sweden is sending an emergency team to Riyadh to help stranded Swedes.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced the deployment on TV4 Nyhetsmorgon on Wednesday morning.

The article presents these figures as reported by TV4 and notes the exact total stranded is not definitive and appears imprecise.

Magdalena Andersson (S), the Social Democrats' leader, criticized the government for doing too little to bring Swedes home and said at a press conference in the Riksdag that "The government's stance seems to be that Swedes should keep their cool."

She cited that "France charters planes and the United Kingdom says it is reviewing all options" and added that "If you have the ability to send people there, it should also be possible to send people home."

Aftonbladet

Andersson demanded more active measures and called on Kristersson to return from his bus tour, saying "We are ready to cooperate on this, once Kristersson returns from his bus trip and is ready to start working."

Party secretary Tobias Baudin also said Kristersson should interrupt the bus tour given the global situation.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, who is on a bus tour on the West Coast, dismissed the Social Democrats' criticism as laughable and told Aftonbladet on Tuesday afternoon that it was 'a very interesting view.'

“The Social Democrats' leader's criticism of the government: Come home from the bus tour Tens of thousands of Swedes are stranded in the Middle East because of the war in Iran”

Aftonbladet

He said the Social Democrats are so Stockholm-focused that they think you should not be on the west coast talking about important things with school pupils, students, and entrepreneurs.

He said they think you should stay in the corridors of the government offices.

He added that the government can and does maintain extensive contact with the Government Offices, saying they have mobile phones and that he talks with Maria all the time about what is happening in Iran.

Aftonbladet reports it tried to reach Kristersson again on Wednesday morning and is also seeking the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard (M).