Sweden’s Muslim-Focused Nyans Party Loses Council Foothold as Leader Blames Mosque Campaigning

Sweden’s Muslim-focused Partiet Nyans is set to lose its remaining municipal foothold after a sharp electoral setback, with outgoing leader Mikail Yüksel claiming mosques helped redirect Muslim voters towards established left-wing parties.

In Botkyrka, where Nyans entered the municipal council in 2022, the party was on approximately 1.5% with 51 of 53 districts counted – below the 2% threshold required for representation. Yüksel announced his resignation on election night.

Nyans was founded by Yüksel in 2019 and campaigned heavily on issues concerning Muslims, minorities and residents of immigrant areas.

It received 0.44% nationally in 2022, making it Sweden’s largest party outside parliament, and initially secured three municipal seats.

Yüksel points to mosques

Yüksel has attributed part of the party’s decline to Muslim voters moving towards the Left Party and Greens.

Speaking to Swedish outlet 100%, he claimed mosques had “indirectly” encouraged people to vote for the two parties in an effort to defeat Sweden’s right-wing governing bloc.

Yüksel said he had personally seen Social Democratic ballot papers distributed at mosques and claimed Green and Left Party ballots had also been handed out by people working or volunteering there.

He also described material outside mosques that ranked political parties according to how favourable they were towards “Muslim life”.

Those are Yüksel’s claims and observations. They do not independently establish that Swedish mosques systematically directed worshippers how to vote.

The electoral movement he describes is nevertheless visible in some areas. Swedish reporting noted that Nyans lost substantial support in immigrant-heavy districts including Rosengård and Rinkeby while the Left Party made gains.

Nyans may shed its religious identity

Yüksel now wants the party to change direction after his departure.

Swedish Christian newspaper Dagen reports that he believes his successor should broaden Nyans beyond its existing electorate and remove the religious label that has become attached to the party.

The change would represent a significant shift for a party that established itself as an electoral voice for Muslims and minorities.

Nyans has also attracted controversy over its positions and candidates. Ahead of this year’s election, SVT described religion and integration as central areas of its campaigning and recalled previous criticism over statements regarded as antisemitic and conspiratorial. The party leadership previously responded to some controversies by expelling candidates.

Its setback leaves two separate questions.

One is whether a political party built substantially around Muslim-interest politics can establish a lasting electoral base in Sweden.

The other is where those voters go instead.

Yüksel’s answer is that many have moved towards established parties on the left – and that political activity around mosques helped them get there.

Sources

• 100% – Yüksel on mosque electoral activity
• Dagen – Yüksel calls for Nyans to shed its religious label
• SVT – Nyans set to leave Botkyrka council