Several Dagens Nyheter readers express anger over parliament speaker Andreas Norlén taking his wife Helena on official trips at taxpayer expense. The criticism appears in letters published on November 21, 2025. Norlén has previously mentioned his fondness for tomatoes and his wife in public contexts.
Parliament speaker Andreas Norlén has sparked strong reactions among Dagens Nyheter readers for his habit of taking his wife Helena on official trips. In a letter, Olov Törnqvist describes how Norlén can hardly cross a county border without his wife by his side. "Then I can be more myself, says the speaker contentedly", Norlén is quoted, but what the recipients think of this privilege is unclear.
Nahide Hermansson from Skellefteå describes it as a storm of anger among the Swedish people. She compares it to the king and queen, who also travel on taxpayer money, and questions the difference beyond one being elected and the other inheriting the role. J Peter Larsson from Täby sarcastically suggests that if high officials can bring wives or aunts, then 13-year-olds in new youth detention centers should be allowed to bring their mothers.
The background to the criticism links to Norlén's interest in tomatoes, documented in his book "Tomatdagboken". A related DN article mentions criticism of an Instagram post described as "a single tomato scramble". As second in rank after the head of state, the speaker is expected to handle public funds carefully, according to readers. The debate highlights broader issues of transparency in public spending.
Other letters touch on related themes, such as politicians' travels, but focus on Norlén's case as an example of misuse of taxpayer money.