SD should have been promised millions of Diana Janse – page changed decisions
Support for party-related organizations-so-called PAO-is a special assistance that Sweden has had since the 1990s. It goes to independent organizations with close links to Swedish parliamentary parties.
Through a special program, they receive money from Sida to work with democracy development in other countries. Previously, the requirements have been clear: to support the development of democratic parties, gender equality and a representative political system. It can be about supporting sister parties for example.
But the Swedish Democrats’ applications have repeatedly been rejected – according to Sida due to lack of quality. This has meant that the party’s Hepatica Foundation until 2023 has not received any money.
After the timer regulation Access was changed, so that part of the support would be distributed based on the Riksdag’s mandate. But Sida has continued to deny Hepatica multimillion amounts for not fulfilling SIDA’s quality requirements.
Projects that have previously been denied money have been to educate a country’s population in its history and to support a television channel.
Sida has repeatedly asked Hepatica to come up with project plans that meet the requirements.
DN has taken part of documentation from a meeting between Sida and Hepatica on March 26. It shows that Björn Söder, who is chairman of Hepatica’s board, expressed that he has had several talks with the secretary of state, and that she said that Hepatica should receive the money that Sida has denied. It is about almost SEK 14 million.
According to information to DN, Söder has said, among other things, during the meeting with Sida that the SD Foundation has a direct line to the Secretary of State.
During the same meeting, March 26, which would initially be about how Hepatica could change its project plan, Björn Söder should also have attacked an officer on Sida.
After the meeting, a unit manager writes a service note with the heading « Notes regarding personal attacks on employees ». It shows how Björn Söder should have said that the manager « throws gravel in the government’s machinery », that the manager is an activist and that Sida must replace him. It is also documented that Söder says that he has expressed his criticism of the SIDA officer directly to the Secretary of State.
Sida stands first But in his decision on hepatica. In an email to the Foundation on May 13, an administrator writes that Sida will not change its interpretation of the rules regarding party -related organizations.
But something then happens.
On May 14, Director General Jakob Granite sends a text message to Diana Janse, where he writes: « Take care of the PAO question, will be good. »
Janse responds with a thumbs up.
The day after, according to E -mail conversations that DN has taken part in, so Jakob Granit has had a meeting with several on Sida. According to the internal e -mails, the Director General has made it clear that the press from the political leadership to pay money to Hepatica is very large, and that Sida needs to review the interpretation of the requirements, so that it becomes broader and enables Hepatica to get all its proposed projects approved, and all money paid.
On May 20, he then sends a letter to the Swedish Democrats’ foundation.
Director General Jakob Granit, who previously backed the officials’ assessment and the decision to reject money to the SD Foundation, gives green light for a broader interpretation. It is now possible to pay almost SEK 14 million to the Hepatica of the Swedish Democrats.
Only eight days later, the other parties’ foundations receive an e -mail from Director General Jakob Granit that the interpretation has changed.
DN has searched Björn Söder, Diana Janse and Jakob Granit for an interview.
The Director -General chooses to answer our questions in writing.
Have you been exposed to pressure from the Government Offices or from a political point of view in the Hepatica case?
« No, I have not been exposed to pressure, but have been aware that a crack in the dialogue with hepatica has been how the strategy is to be interpreted, » Granit writes.
What role did contact with State Secretary Diana Janse or other political actors in the decision to reinterpret the strategy?
« Just as for all authorities and general directors, it is obvious for Sida and me to have a dialogue with the client, » writes Jakob Granit.
Why did you send a text message to Diana Janse where you write: « Take care of the PAO question, will be good ».
« It was a receipt to the Secretary of State that Sida actively handled the implementation of the PAO strategy, even in the parts where the preparation was stuck. The State Secretary, like me, had been noted that there were outstanding issues to solve so that all party-related organizations could take part in the mandated support, » Jacob writes.
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