“The Sweden Democrats are not a party like everyone else. The party's background in right-wing extremism and the actions of its representatives in the present shows a lack of respect for the basic principle that all people are equally worthy and equal - regardless of skin color, provenance or religion. "

This is how the Nobel Foundation justifies its decision not to invite SD to this year's festivities - a formulation that has lived for a number of years.

"It is the Board of the Nobel Foundation that has chosen not to reconsider the decision that was made ten years ago," says press officer Mikael Östlund.

"Has taken a stand"

TT: Is it not possible to develop the reasoning anyway, given that the party in most of the polls is equal in size to the Social Democrats?

- The Nobel Foundation does not sit and analyze parties based on opinion polls, but you have once taken a position on how you look at that party. When you possibly have reason to reconsider it, you do it.

On December 5, the list will be released of those sitting at the salute table and other details about the festivities.

TT: Is China's ambassador invited?

- I actually have no knowledge of it at all. And if I had, I would not have said anything before December 5 either, says Östlund.

Academy back

Previously, as many award winners have never been present as this year - three from each scientific category and two from literature. This complicates things at the saloon table. But who gets married, or if an extra chair is squeezed, is unclear.

Last year, the Swedish Academy had a withdrawn role in the festivities, with a set literature prize hanging over it. This year they have instead awarded two prizes and are back.

- Of course, they have their representatives at the banquet and also at the awards ceremony. Last year, they had no role either at the awards ceremony or at the banquet as representatives of the award-winning Academy, but there were still invited people who sat in the Swedish Academy, says Mikael Östlund.

The Swedish Democrats' press chief Henrik Gustafsson comments on the Nobel Foundation's decision in an email to TT:

“It is certainly true that we do not share their views on people, which is the recurring argument as to why Jimmie Åkesson is not welcome. For example, we would never get us to invite ambassadors from dictatorship states as they do year after year ”.