Party secretary for Sweden's Christian Democrats dismissed in 'me too' case
Johan Ingerö, the Christian Democrat policy advisor who helped develop its harder, more populist approach, has been dismissed after he was reported to the police for 'some form of molestation' against a party colleague.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Ingerö said that a close party colleague had recently reported him to the police for "some form of molestation" at a post-election party nine years ago.
"I have not yet seen the [police] report, but from the little information I have received, I know which occasion it concerns and that what is being claimed is not true."
Ingerö's statement ended the questions over why Ingerö was leaving his position with immediate effect less than five months after being appointed party secretary.
In the press release announcing his departure, the party gave no reason for why he was standing down.
"His well-documented ability to communicate and his political know-how have come in very handy," party leader Ebba Busch said. "I want to thank Johan Ingerö for his many years of service to the party and wish him the best of luck for the future."
Ingerö was press chief for the Christian Democrats' former leader Göran Hägglund between 2012 and 2015, when he joined the liberal think tank Timbro, returning to the Christian Democrats as a special policy advisor in 2018, and becoming the party's press spokesperson in 2022. He was appointed the party secretary on October 23rd last year.
Ingerö was a combative presence on Swedish political Twitter in the run up to and aftermath of last year's election, driving his party's line that the closure of the Ringhals 1 and 2 nuclear power stations was the main reason for high power prices in Sweden.
In his Facebook statement, Ingerö admitted to having had an alcohol problem at the time of the party where the incident was supposed to have taken place.
He said that his involvement in an afterparty where "large amounts of spirits were consumed", was partly because at that time he had been "actively abusing alcohol".
"I am writing that because I realise that my past could be held against me, but I have nonetheless not made myself guilty of what has been claimed".
He said his past alcohol problems were not a secret, either to party colleagues, journalists or people in other parties and that he had been sober for eight years.
He said that at the end of January he and his accuser had suffered "a very extensive work-related conflict", and that up until that point they had got on well, taking fika and eating lunch together regularly.
"Whatever the facts, the judgement has been taken that I can no longer carry out my duties as party secretary," he added. "It is of course a great sorry to leave in this way."
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In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Ingerö said that a close party colleague had recently reported him to the police for "some form of molestation" at a post-election party nine years ago.
"I have not yet seen the [police] report, but from the little information I have received, I know which occasion it concerns and that what is being claimed is not true."
Ingerö's statement ended the questions over why Ingerö was leaving his position with immediate effect less than five months after being appointed party secretary.
In the press release announcing his departure, the party gave no reason for why he was standing down.
"His well-documented ability to communicate and his political know-how have come in very handy," party leader Ebba Busch said. "I want to thank Johan Ingerö for his many years of service to the party and wish him the best of luck for the future."
Ingerö was press chief for the Christian Democrats' former leader Göran Hägglund between 2012 and 2015, when he joined the liberal think tank Timbro, returning to the Christian Democrats as a special policy advisor in 2018, and becoming the party's press spokesperson in 2022. He was appointed the party secretary on October 23rd last year.
Ingerö was a combative presence on Swedish political Twitter in the run up to and aftermath of last year's election, driving his party's line that the closure of the Ringhals 1 and 2 nuclear power stations was the main reason for high power prices in Sweden.
In his Facebook statement, Ingerö admitted to having had an alcohol problem at the time of the party where the incident was supposed to have taken place.
He said that his involvement in an afterparty where "large amounts of spirits were consumed", was partly because at that time he had been "actively abusing alcohol".
"I am writing that because I realise that my past could be held against me, but I have nonetheless not made myself guilty of what has been claimed".
He said his past alcohol problems were not a secret, either to party colleagues, journalists or people in other parties and that he had been sober for eight years.
He said that at the end of January he and his accuser had suffered "a very extensive work-related conflict", and that up until that point they had got on well, taking fika and eating lunch together regularly.
"Whatever the facts, the judgement has been taken that I can no longer carry out my duties as party secretary," he added. "It is of course a great sorry to leave in this way."
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