A member of the Swedish Parliament for the Sweden Democrats has resigned from all party positions after being notified that he is under suspicion of child pornography offences. According to several media outlets, the politician in question is Michael Rubbestad, whose signature political issue has been increasing the number of men working in preschool education.
Sweden Democrat profile Michael Rubbestad submitted his resignation to the Swedish Parliament on Tuesday after being informed that he is suspected of child pornography offences. The Sweden Democrats announced the same day that Rubbestad would leave all party assignments. Later, the party’s membership committee also decided to suspend him from the party while the investigation is ongoing.
According to information from SVT, the investigation concerns “child pornography offences at an unknown location in Sweden.” The suspicions reportedly arose following information from the U.S.-based National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which regularly forwards tips concerning suspected child pornography crimes to Swedish authorities.
Rubbestad’s resignation letter. Photo: Screenshot/Facebook
Since the case was registered in mid-April, investigators have cooperated with foreign authorities before Rubbestad was called in for questioning last week and assigned a public defence attorney.
Key Issues: Equality, LGBT Issues and Sex Addiction
In recent years, Michael Rubbestad has held several prominent positions within the Sweden Democrats. At the time of his resignation, he served as the party’s deputy parliamentary group leader and spokesperson on gender equality issues.
Rubbestad has profiled himself on issues relating to gender equality, LGBT rights, and preschool policy, and has argued that sex addiction should be classified as a medical condition. He has also been one of the party’s most visible representatives in efforts to broaden its voter base on these issues, including advocating for the Sweden Democrats’ participation in Pride parades.
“It must be okay to be LGBT+ without being left-wing,” he wrote in a response to RFSL published in Expressen in 2022.
Campaigned for More Men in Preschools
Another of Rubbestad’s major causes has been increasing the number of men working in preschools. In a written question to the Minister of Education in 2021, titled “The Pedophilia Debate and Male Staff in Preschools,” Michael Rubbestad asked how the government intended to act “to increase the proportion of male staff in Swedish preschools” in light of an ongoing debate about pedophilia.
“The most difficult issue highlighted by men is having to deal with being viewed as a potential pedophile and managing the fear, anger, and risks that come with it,” Rubbestad wrote at the time.
Rubbestad is now himself suspected of child pornography offences.
Police have conducted a search of his home and seized electronic devices. Rubbestad has reportedly been questioned but has not been detained. The suspicions remain, and the preliminary investigation is ongoing. The case continues under the supervision of Sweden’s Special Prosecutor’s Office.