Scania's former CEO Leif Östling ended up in windy weather after commenting on immigration from Africa and the Middle East in an interview on a Youtube channel. Now he tells Expressen that he regrets his involvement.

- Yes, it was not very good considering how it has rolls around, says Leif Östling.

In the interview, Leif Östling pointed out, among other things, a nationality that, according to him, had difficulty performing his job at Scania. He also said in the interview that "we have taken in too many people from outside".

Noted in Russian media

According to Expressen, Östling's statement was taken up by, among other things, Russian RT (formerly Russia Today) and the news agency Sputnik, which have been described as President Vladimir Putin's propaganda instrument.

- It was unfortunate. I had no idea it would end up there when I was interviewed. I'm not a friend of Putin, on the contrary. I am very critical, ”Leif Östling tells Expressen.

Was forced to leave the board

The statements in the interview got Scania's management and unions to distance themselves and Östling was also forced out of his assignment as chairman of Södertälje science park.

Leif Östling was CEO of Scania from 1994 to 2012. He was also chairman of the Swedish business community 2016-2017. He resigned from the chair after his acclaimed statements in connection with the so-called Paradise Leak.

Östling was revealed to have millions of assets in the low-tax country of Malta and in an interview with SVT's Mission Review he said "What the hell am I getting for the money?", In connection with his reasoning about the tax burden in Sweden and all the taxes he pays here. The criticism of the statement was massive.