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Several politicians, including Stefan Löfven, Morgan Johansson and Magdalena Andersson and the head of government, Dan Eliasson, have been criticized in recent days for not following restrictions during the pandemic in various ways.
On Sunday, the foreign policy spokesman for the moderates and Ängelholm Member of Parliament Hans Wallmark wrote on Facebook that he visited Las Palmas over the Christmas holidays.
A confession and an apology: I have also been to Las Palmas on weekends. The wife is down there and has worked from there. I came down with medicines and we celebrated Christmas together “
He continued the post with, among other things:
“Given the sacrifices of all the other Swedes, there are many reasons to consider with good reason that I should have given up. I have not consulted my party leadership or anyone else about this trip in advance.”
The Swedish Public Health Agency and the government have repeatedly asked Swedes to refrain from unnecessary travel.
Safer in Gran Canaria
Hans Wallmark’s wife is Susanne Wallmark, University Director of the University of Malmö.
He says that after a vacation trip to Las Palmas during the fall break, he saw the opportunity to work from there as well. Since the end of November, he has been on site and working remotely.
Therefore, he has made repeated round trips during the fall and winter.
– We have a small apartment here, or what I also call winter accommodation, and I made the assessment that I could travel safely and the infection situation was much better here, he says.
– I felt safer being in Gran Canaria and my boss approved it.
Did you have any reaction to the decision?
– No, not really. It felt like a wise decision before the Christmas break. I can work just as well from here, seven days a week.
Students have been forced to study at a distance since the beginning of the pandemic and the university grants business trips restrictively in the current situation, do you see any risk that the decision will provoke reactions in your role as head of government?
– Everything can be misinterpreted, but we made the assessment that here it was less dangerous. I don’t know people here, I’m alone. It is also not a business trip.
Trips home canceled
Susanne Wallmark also says that she had three trips home booked to make sure she could go home if necessary.
The decision to work from Las Palmas can also change.
– If there is a debate that it is wrong, it may be that it will get home faster, he says.
