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On Monday criticism of the general director of the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, MSB, increased. As the supreme head of the country’s central crisis authority, Dan Eliasson has traveled abroad on vacation amid the pandemic. This despite the fact that the recommendations are to avoid unnecessary travel. The matter has been further aggravated by the fact that he himself claims that the trip was “necessary”, prompting further criticism of him.
However, the opposition in the Riksdag is silent. Probably because several representatives of other parties similarly expanded the rules and recommendations that apply. Instead, criticism of Dan Eliasson is voiced primarily by debaters and leading writers.
The government expects him to resign voluntarily
Judging from the comment fields on social media, there is also widespread popular anger over Eliasson’s actions. This wave of criticism is likely to force Eliasson to step down as MSB chief.
The government expects him to resign voluntarily. If you don’t, the government may reassign you and / or separate you from the MSB assignment. The third alternative is for him to stay as CEO, but then the government must show its confidence in him and right now it doesn’t feel very likely.
Also, it’s hard to see Eliasson being able to act as MSB CEO during the ongoing corona pandemic. His vacation trip and his subsequent comments have seriously damaged trust in both Eliasson himself and in authority. So it’s hard to see how Eliasson will be able to repair that damage during the ongoing pandemic.
It affects the credibility of the boards
MSB is one of the key players in the management of the Swedish crown. Eliasson’s actions affect the credibility of advice and recommendations issued to the public.
On Thursday or Friday, Interior Minister Mikael Damberg (S) will meet with Dan Eliasson to discuss the matter with him. It could be the beginning and the end of Eliasson’s career as head of MSB.
It’s hard to see that Damberg after that meeting can meet the media and the public giving Eliasson full confidence. It would probably lead to a new wave of criticism, and this time not just against Eliasson, but at least against the government.
Disguise the actions of the ministers
If a deeply repentant Dan Eliasson had previously apologized and clad in sackcloth and ashes, his chances of being allowed to stay would possibly increase, but the question is whether even that would be enough.
Otherwise, Dan Eliasson has completely withdrawn from the public eye since returning from the Canary Islands. After the famous declaration that the trip was “necessary”, it has become inaccessible. He has focused on the government and the question of whether he has confidence in his CEO. Eliasson’s problem has thus become that of government as well. And in the long run, trust in government is also at stake on how to handle this problem.
But this not only has negative effects for the government. Attention over the Christmas weekend on Stefan Löfven’s tours of the Gallerian in Stockholm and Morgan Johansson’s excursion to the Lund noon sale, for example, has been completely shunted from media reports.
Now all attention is turned to Dan Eliasson, while the actions of the ministers have been overshadowed. It may be another factor that ultimately seals Eliasson’s fate, and it may also give the impression that the government is acting with action.
