Rasmus Giertz
Member of the Riksdag
Assumed office
26 September 2022
Preceded bySara Gille
ConstituencyDalarna County
Personal details
Born (1994-06-03) 3 June 1994 (age 29)
Enköping, Sweden
Political partySweden Democrats

Rasmus Giertz (born 3 June 1994 in Enköping) is a Swedish politician of the Sweden Democrats party who has served as a Member of the Riksdag for the Dalarna County constituency since September 2022.

Biography

Giertz was elected regional leader of the Young Swedes SDU (the youth wing of the SD) in Dalarna in 2018.[1] He later became the regional chairman for the SD in Dalarna in 2022 and stood for the party during the 2022 Swedish general election in the Dalarna County constituency, but was not elected and instead designated as a substitute for Sara Gille. Following the election, Giertz was appointed to the seat after Gille went on maternity leave.[2] He serves as a member of the foreign affairs committee in the Riksdag.

In 2022, Giertz was appointed as a full member of the Riksdag to fill in for Mats Nordberg who died in office.[3]

In 2018, Giertz became the source of some controversy during a public debate when he suggested foreign rapists should be deported while Swedish rapists should "stretch yourself, get a gym card and stop raping women." Giertz later claimed his comments had been taken out of context but were "clumsily worded."[1]

In December 2022, Giertz filed a police statement after being the victim of assault at a pub in Borlänge. Giertz stated a group of men verbally abused their party and later physically attacked him outside. The case was handed over to the Special Prosecutor's Chamber which investigates incidents involving politicians, judges and special officials.[4][5]

In September 2022, Giertz reported that two men had followed and threatened him outside of his home in Falun. A man in his 20s was later charged with harassment against Giertz.[6] In response to the incident, Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention included Giertz's name on a report discussing threats against politicians which found younger elected officials were more likely to be victims of threats.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b Nyheter, S. V. T.; Stenback, Erica (5 September 2018). "SD-ungdom om svenska våldtäktsmän: "Sträck på er och skaffa gymkort"". SVT Nyheter. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  2. ^ "Rasmus Giertz (SD)". Sveriges riksdag. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  3. ^ "21-year-old Daniel Lönn (SD) to the Riksdag: "I'll let it land"". Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  4. ^ "SD top Rasmus Giertz involved in assault outside a pub". Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Member of Parliament: "Was assaulted and beaten by three men"". 21 December 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  6. ^ Nyheter, S. V. T.; Heppich, Martin (8 September 2022). "Rasmus Giertz (SD) was threatened and persecuted in Falun". SVT Nyheter. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  7. ^ "SD politician threatened: Haven't slept in my home since then". 6 September 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2023.


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