Sweden Democrats MP Göran Hargestam resigns from his role after Expressen revealed a Nazi memorabilia collection in his former office. The collection included Adolf Hitler's books and praise images. The party respects the decision and deems ownership problematic.
Göran Hargestam, a Sweden Democrats MP, announced on Thursday that he is resigning from his role. This follows Expressen's investigation of boxes left in an office building in central Valdemarsvik, which Hargestam sold last year. Per the sales contract, he had six months to retrieve his items, but when the deadline passed, the collection was discovered.
Among the items were two copies of Adolf Hitler's 'Mein Kampf' from the 1930s, a trophy with the eagle and swastika from 1939, a 1941 praise pamphlet for Nazi Germany's war machine, and a photo album with images glorifying Hitler's daily life and dictatorship. Hargestam attributes the collection to a military historical interest and a planned book: 'It is that I have a military historical interest, or I had a military historical interest,' he tells Expressen. He adds: 'My basic idea was that I would write a book that unfortunately I didn't have time for.'
Party colleagues confirm a larger collection at his home. A former colleague tells Expressen: 'It was a whole room completely cluttered with Nazi helmets, swastika flags, books, 'Mein Kampf', medals, and one thing after another.' Another reports that Hargestam himself discussed his long-standing collection.
Hargestam has reported the new property owner to police for unlawful disposition, claiming he was not allowed to retrieve his items: 'That was just a fraction of everything that has been stolen.' The owner is awaiting the legal process and declines comment.
In a comment to TT, Hargestam writes: 'After the media has made a big deal out of this interest today, I have chosen to step down from my parliamentary assignment. My military historical interest should not burden my party, even though I have clean flour in my bag.' He served as substitute in the defense committee and EU council. The Sweden Democrats' press service tells Aftonbladet: 'We respect his decision on this and share the view that it is best for everyone that he leaves his seat in parliament. Regardless of the reasons behind this decision, it is of course problematic for several reasons to own such items.'