It was during the municipal council on Monday that SD's group leader Lars Forsgren made a statement that provoked strong reactions. The Sweden Democrats in Umeå want to dismantle the gender equality committee in the municipality, and during the debate things heated up among the politicians in the room.
The committee has no raison d'être at all. The committee is completely useless, even harmful. You parties in here have an abundance of upper-class people that you have to place," he said during the council.
"Stop – ask for forgiveness"
Marie-Louise Rönnmark (S) reacted strongly to the statement.
–Stop! Ask for forgiveness, she said.
The statement has provoked strong reactions and been widely shared on social media. But Lars Forsgren (SD) stands by the statement even the day after.
"I stand by the spirit 100 percent.
Do you understand that it is outrageous?
Yes, of course it is upsetting to hear that there is criticism of their work, but I stand by my statement.
Will continue to work with gender equality issues
The statement will not lead to any aftermath, according to Marie-Louise Rönnmark (S).
"At first I was terribly upset, then it turned into the fact that we really have to continue working on this.
"The only thing that happens after this is that we will continue to strengthen gender equality issues, it is clear when you as a party put such words on women," she says.
Watch Lars Forsgren call politicians upper-class women and hear the aftermath in the video.