Sweden Democrats, Party With Neo-Nazi Roots, Tries to Soften Its Image

  • Sweden Democrats are seeing defections to new far right group
  • Party could emerge as kingmaker after September election

Jimmie Akesson

Photographer: Julia Reinhart/NurPhoto via Getty Images
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The anti-immigration Sweden Democrats may have shunned some of its more extreme members, but the party with neo-Nazi roots is still far from being welcomed by the establishment.

While SD is poised to become a kingmaker in September’s election, potentially winning close to 20 percent, interviews with the center-right opposition leaders on Tuesday revealed the group will still need to make a cleaner break with its past to be welcomed as an ally.