The restrictions for the culture and events industry during the corona pandemic have previously been criticized by artists, organizers and politicians alike. Critics say that the corona rules hit culture particularly hard and that it is unfair to have a limit of 50 people in the audience for cultural events, while for example restaurants and bathhouses can receive hundreds of guests.

Leif Pagrotsky, Minister of Culture of the Social Democratic Government between 2004 and 2006, is now entering the debate. In an interview in Dagens Nyheter, he says that he understands the criticism of the rules.

- I understand the frustration that you have nowhere to turn and that it has been very quiet. The messages that the authorities give in different directions are incomprehensibly inconsistent, he tells the newspaper and continues:

- It is not possible to understand the authorities' tolerance, passivity and shrug when it comes to congestion on buses with 100 people, while there is a total ban on sitting 50 people in the Globe or at Ullevi. And I have not seen anyone try to explain it.

Understanding of Amanda Lind

As the news of this autumn's audience restrictions for the cultural industry has lingered, criticism of the current Minister of Culture Amanda Lind (MP) has grown stronger from several quarters during the summer. Leif Pagrotsky understands her difficult situation.

- The cultural sector does not have many others to turn to when there is a crisis and it characterizes relationships. That is why it is also very ungrateful to be Minister of Culture: on the one hand, the sector is very dependent on one's decisions, and on the other hand, the demands and expectations are high and sometimes unrealistic, he says.

Amanda Lind has previously promised to inform the cultural industry as soon as possible with measures to help the industry run its business despite the prevailing pandemic.