The post, which read 'The feeling when it's Friday, day off, and you don't have to march in any parade,' quickly drew thousands of negative reactions, major media reported. Critics described the post as 'tone-deaf', 'historically insensitive', and 'disgusting'. A highly liked comment read: 'If it weren't for the labour movement, you would be working today. Worth thinking about.' Former Social Democrat leader Håkan Juholt wrote: 'No, the Prime Minister should not mock people who gather for an idea they believe in.' Author Alexandra Pascalidou added: 'Mocking those who fight for a better world is tone-deaf and out of touch.' Podcaster Hanna Persson commented: 'The feeling when you piss on the entire labour movement's commitment.' Comedian Kirsty Armstrong also posted a profane response.
Moderate Party press chief Amos Friedman defended the post, saying: 'I think quite a few people recognize that it's nice to eat ice cream when it's warm and the sun is shining. Moreover, it's quite nice not to have to march in a May Day parade where unpleasantries are often chanted.' Rutger Brattström from the liberal think tank Timbro described the reactions as 'petty', adding: 'It's a bit strange that we have a red day that is meant to celebrate a single ideology. That's the odd thing in this context, not that someone posts a picture eating ice cream.'
No, the Prime Minister should not mock people who gather for an idea they believe in.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson addressed the controversy on his way into SVT's party leader debate. He said: 'I ate an ice cream on May 1. I don't think I was alone in Sweden in eating an ice cream in 23-degree heat. That I don't demonstrate on May 1, that can't be a completely unique secret.' He denied the post was a jab at Social Democrat leader Magdalena Andersson, stating: 'I have nothing against them demonstrating. The rest of us don't demonstrate on May 1, we enjoyed spring in other ways. Everyone can celebrate spring in their own way.' When asked about those who were upset, Kristersson responded: 'We have a war in the Middle East and a war in Ukraine, and here people are worrying about an ice cream. Don't they have anything more important to do?' He confirmed that was his only comment.
The picture itself is not new – it was first used in 2022, according to major media. It remains unclear why the Moderate Party chose to reuse the image for this year's May Day post, and whether the post was intended as a deliberate provocation. No official response from the Social Democrats has been reported beyond comments from former leader Håkan Juholt. Political analysts have not yet assessed whether the controversy will affect Kristersson's approval rating.
Mocking those who fight for a better world is tone-deaf and out of touch.
The feeling when you piss on the entire labour movement's commitment.
Motherf*
I think quite a few people recognize that it's nice to eat ice cream when it's warm and the sun is shining. Moreover, it's quite nice not to have to march in a May Day parade where unpleasantries are often chanted.
It's a bit strange that we have a red day that is meant to celebrate a single ideology. That's the odd thing in this context, not that someone posts a picture eating ice cream.
I ate an ice cream on May 1. I don't think I was alone in Sweden in eating an ice cream in 23-degree heat. That I don't demonstrate on May 1, that can't be a completely unique secret.
I have nothing against them demonstrating. The rest of us don't demonstrate on May 1, we enjoyed spring in other ways. Everyone can celebrate spring in their own way.
We have a war in the Middle East and a war in Ukraine, and here people are worrying about an ice cream. Don't they have anything more important to do?
Yes, it's my only comment.