STOCKHOLM — Swedish Defense Minister Sten Tolgfors resigned March
29 after weeks of controversy over revelations Sweden planned to help
Saudi Arabia build an arms factory, Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt
said.
“I have today, upon request from Sten Tolgfors, decided to relieve him (of his duties),” Reinfeldt, the head of Sweden’s center-right government, told a news conference.
Hailing the departing minister for his five years on the job, Reinfeldt stressed that Tolgfors had begun hinting months ago he wanted to leave soon but acknowledged that media focus on the ongoing scandal had hastened his exit.
“The probe and the questions around this issue will continue ... and that is of course a good thing,” Reinfeldt said, adding that Tolgfors would maintain his seat in parliament while Infrastructure Minister Catharina Elmsaeter-Svaerd would temporarily take over the defense portfolio.
Earlier this month public broadcaster Swedish Radio said the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI) had secret plans since 2007 to help Saudi Arabia build a plant for the production of anti-tank weapons.
The radio said part of the so-called Project Simoom involved the creation of a shell company called SSTI to handle dealings with Saudi Arabia in order to avoid any direct links to FOI and the government.
FOI director general Jan-Olof Lind said last week he had reported “a suspected crime” following an internal review, and Swedish prosecutor Agneta Hilding Qvarnstroem opened a preliminary investigation into the affair.
Sweden has in the past sold weapons to Saudi Arabia, but classified government documents state that Project Simoom “pushes the boundaries of what is possible for a Swedish authority,” the radio said when it broke the story on March 6.
“I have today, upon request from Sten Tolgfors, decided to relieve him (of his duties),” Reinfeldt, the head of Sweden’s center-right government, told a news conference.
Hailing the departing minister for his five years on the job, Reinfeldt stressed that Tolgfors had begun hinting months ago he wanted to leave soon but acknowledged that media focus on the ongoing scandal had hastened his exit.
“The probe and the questions around this issue will continue ... and that is of course a good thing,” Reinfeldt said, adding that Tolgfors would maintain his seat in parliament while Infrastructure Minister Catharina Elmsaeter-Svaerd would temporarily take over the defense portfolio.
Earlier this month public broadcaster Swedish Radio said the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI) had secret plans since 2007 to help Saudi Arabia build a plant for the production of anti-tank weapons.
The radio said part of the so-called Project Simoom involved the creation of a shell company called SSTI to handle dealings with Saudi Arabia in order to avoid any direct links to FOI and the government.
FOI director general Jan-Olof Lind said last week he had reported “a suspected crime” following an internal review, and Swedish prosecutor Agneta Hilding Qvarnstroem opened a preliminary investigation into the affair.
Sweden has in the past sold weapons to Saudi Arabia, but classified government documents state that Project Simoom “pushes the boundaries of what is possible for a Swedish authority,” the radio said when it broke the story on March 6.
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