The acquittal of six politicians in Staffanstorp over a controversial decision regarding refugee prioritization remains unchanged, as the prosecutor has confirmed no appeal will be filed.
The time limit for appealing the acquittal of six politicians from the municipality of Staffanstorp expired on Thursday, and the prosecutor, Magdalena Petersson, confirmed via email that no appeal was registered. This case revolved around the Staffanstorp municipal council's 2022 decision, led by Moderate Party chairman Christian Sonesson, to impose an outright ban on quota refugees in favor of prioritizing refugees from Ukraine.
During the trial at Lund District Court, all accused politicians, representing the Moderates, the Sweden Democrats, and the Centre Party, denied any wrongdoing. Five of them supported the proposal for the refugee policy, while one Centre Party member opposed it without formally reserving their position. The politicians argued during the trial that their decision could not be considered illegal, asserting that the municipal council lacked the jurisdiction to make a ruling on the matters of refugee admission. The Lund District Court cleared all six individuals of any charges at the end of January this year.
Despite the acquittal, Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer has expressed intentions to review aspects of the legal framework governing asylum and refugee policies to ensure cohesive and lawful decision-making at municipal levels. This ongoing dialogue regarding refugee policies reflects the complexities of immigration debates within Sweden, particularly amidst the influx of refugees from Ukraine, as municipalities navigate their legal responsibilities and humanitarian obligations.
