- I hope that the state captures its sanity and does not send four people to us, says the chairman of the municipal board in Staffanstorp, Christian Sonesson (M).
TT: But if that still happens?
- That would be cynical.
Then these individuals are used as a bat in the debate.
It is the Settlement Act that governs the distribution of refugees in the country and the Swedish Migration Agency can do nothing but follow the law, emphasizes Guna Graufelds, acting press manager at the Swedish Migration Agency.
- Staffanstorp has said that they do not intend to comply with Swedish legislation and what we say from the Swedish Migration Board is that we are an authority that has Swedish legislation to comply with.
In concrete terms, the instructions are made by Staffanstorp receiving information on where the four quota refugees are to be picked up.
They come by plane from abroad, which country she does not want to say, and they have already received a residence permit in Sweden.
She does not want to reveal in advance what will happen if Staffanstorp refuses.
- Their responsibility is to meet these people, says Guna Graufelds.
Calling for a break
Christian Sonesson believes that Sweden should pause the reception of quota refugees, as a war is going on in Europe.
- As long as there is a war going on in Europe, the biggest refugee crisis since the Second World War, we will not receive non-European refugees, he says.
The municipality has been ordered to be prepared to receive 244 refugees from Ukraine.
During the year, Staffanstorp will also be assigned a total of 36 quota refugees, but earlier this spring, Staffanstorp's municipal board decided on a total stop for quota refugees, which Sydsvenskan was the first to report on.
The decision was pushed through by the Sweden Democrats and the Moderates, while C and S voted against.
- It is the state's decision to bring them here to Sweden, it is a state authority that is responsible for it and I am absolutely sure that the Swedish Migration Board can find four places to live for these individuals, says Christian Sonesson.
"Principles of the rule of law"
The Scanian County Administrative Board has pointed out that Staffanstorp thereby "challenges the principles of the rule of law".
- You choose a law you do not want to follow, says Patrik Åkesson, acting director of public works at the county administrative board.
Patrik Åkesson thinks that it is particularly serious that Staffanstorp chooses to treat people differently, but also that in the long run it may be another municipality that is allowed to take responsibility instead.
- We all realize, we and the Swedish Migration Board, that we can not put anyone on the edge of the pot.
It is not a dignified reception of refugees who come to Sweden - it is not good for the individuals and it is not good for us as a society.