The announcement comes a day after Dagens Nyheter reported that Kombispel, a subsidiary of A-lotterierna, which in turn is owned by the Social Democrats, is exploiting elderly people through aggressive lottery sales over the phone.
I have no other words to describe this than that it is completely despicable. It should not occur in any business, and especially not in any business that we stand behind, says Tobias Baudin and emphasizes that the party has not approved the sales methods.
The chairman of Kombispel's board has resigned and all members have been asked to leave their posts so that a new board can be elected at an extraordinary meeting.
Ending external sales
Already on Thursday, the Social Democrats announced that they are pausing telephone sales of lotteries. The party now says that it will completely stop selling through external companies. However, they do not rule out future telephone sales of lotteries, but then in their own management.
The problems have mainly been in the telemarketing companies, and therefore the Executive Committee has now decided not to use them in the future, says Baudin.
At a press conference in Stockholm on Friday afternoon, the party secretary turned to those who have been subjected to the sales methods, which he calls unethical.
It is not acceptable. And it has been done in our name, without our knowledge, says Baudin and adds:
I am sorry and furious that our company has failed so in its supervision.
"Natural part"
As early as 2017, DN revealed that the Social Democrats were selling lotteries on credit to already indebted people, thereby driving thousands of people to the Enforcement Authority.
However, completely stopping the lotteries has not been an option, says Baudin to TT.
It has been a natural part of our party since the 1950s, it is our way of financing S-associations throughout Sweden, in villages, in residential areas.
Why should political parties engage in lottery activities?
At the core, we are an ideal association, and many in Association Sweden sell lotteries. It is a way to conduct and be able to finance activities throughout our country.
