The leader of the Swedish right-wing party 'Democrats', Jimmie Akesson, has found himself in an awkward position after journalistic investigations revealed he had a friendly relationship with the head of a motorcycle club with ties to organized crime. Akesson claimed in a post on the social media platform X that he was only 'slightly acquainted' with the leader of the 'Comanches' motorcycle club, Robert Hidarff, despite having invited him to his wedding earlier this month. This has drawn criticism from the opposition and the ruling right-wing alliance. Despite Akesson's assurances that he was unaware of Hidarff's ties to criminal gangs, the revelation of the two men's relationship has sparked fierce reactions from senior center-right politicians, including Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, who emphasized the need for leaders to be mindful of who they associate with. The Prime Minister's press secretary, Hanna Stromberg, stated: 'Akesson has clarified himself that this person attended his wedding, and if you have other questions, you can ask him.' Meanwhile, the head of the ruling party's youth wing, Douglas Thor, told the newspaper 'Dagens Nyheter' that Akesson's meeting with the leader of the criminal motorcycle club was 'a very unwise act.' Thor added: 'It is clear that Jimmie Akesson was aware of Robert Hidarff's links to organized crime.' These revelations indicate new tensions between the right-wing 'Democrats' party (the second-largest party in the country) and the ruling center-right alliance in Sweden, which came to power under a non-aggression pact with the right-wing party. Despite Akesson's arguments, the Swedish newspaper 'Aftonbladet' claims that Hidarff and the leader of the 'Democrats' party have actually known each other since at least 2016, long before Hidarff took over the 'Comanches' motorcycle club. Additionally, in July, the Expo organization informed the 'Democrats' party that a suspected motorcycle club leader was in contact with the party leadership. The 'Comanches' motorcycle club is relatively new in Sweden but was previously known in Denmark, where it was in conflict with other gangs. Many members of the gang have been convicted of drug and weapon-related crimes. A report from the Swedish research company 'Acta Publica' warns of close ties between Hidarff and several members of the Swedish parliament. Hidarff himself has been convicted of various traffic and financial crimes and has a history with another motorcycle club (Bandidos).
