- The right of demonstration is very clear, but there are exceptions, whether it is about the national security or to prevent an epidemic. It can't be that much clearer than that, says Åkesson in Aktuellt on Monday night.

Åkesson receives support from the infection protection physician Björn Olsen:

- We actually have a pandemic situation in this country and people need to understand. From that perspective, it is completely insane, I think.

"The government can and should make the decision"

But the police in the West region mean that they did not seem to be able to refuse permission.

"The considerations we have made with our lawyers are boiled down to the fact that it might have been denied, but the lawyers are not clear about this and you have to agree that Swedish police must comply with the law," says Teodor Smedius, commander of the Police Region West.

- If the police do not want to make that decision and are uncertain about the legal situation, the government can go in and make that decision precisely with reference to an epidemic. There is legal support, says Åkesson, who thinks that the Minister of Justice should come to the Justice Committee and explain this.

Cato relies on the police's assessment

Jonny Cato, the Center Party spokesperson for migration issues, agrees that people should not gather in large groups even if the reason is heartfelt, but trust the police to make the right judgments.

- First of all, I have great sympathies with the people around the world who want to show their commitment to this important issue, but we are in the midst of a global pandemic and then it is not reasonable to have larger crowds, says Cato.

You trust the police's assessment?

- Yes, I have confidence that the police handle this situation in a good way based on the country's laws and restrictions, says Cato.