In an interview with SVT Nyheter on Wednesday, Minister of Justice Morgan Johansson said that he believes that the responsibility for dealing with defectors from criminal gangs lies with the municipalities - not the state.

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: Morgan Johansson: "The state can not solve all problems for the municipalities"

He rejected the criticism of the government that too little support is given to the municipalities to deal with defectors.

- The state can not solve all problems for the municipalities.

There must be a separate drive from the municipalities and the municipal politicians who govern the municipalities.

Where there is a commitment, where things happen, says Morgan Johansson.

M: "Incomprehensible"

The S-minister's proposal has caused the opposition to react with surprise.

- It is very remarkable and in fact completely incomprehensible that it should take five years for the government to investigate such an important issue.

These programs, to get them in place, it must happen now, says Johan Forssell (M).

He has a completely different view of what role the state should play in the issue.

- The problems with gang crime have grown so great in Sweden that national responsibility is needed.

You can not leave this in the hands of leisure leaders and leisure politicians at the local level, but the state must step forward and both arrange financing and a model that works so that you do not work in several different ways.

SD: "A disappointment"

The Sweden Democrats are also critical.

This is because the government has previously said it wants a national defector program in its 34-point program against gang crime.

- This outcome is a disappointment both for us in the opposition and for the municipalities concerned.

Reinforcement is needed in this area, says Tobias Andersson, SD's legal policy spokesperson.

- Morgan Johansson seems to have changed.

The government has decided that this should be implemented, that was point 33 in the 34-point program, but now they are backing down.

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Hear Morgan Johansson (S) dismiss the criticism of national support.

"The municipalities also have a responsibility themselves," he says.

Photo: SVT