Vänsterpartiet (V – Left Party)
EU RANK: 34 (Tier 2: High Performance)
Vänsterpartiet is a socialist, feminist, and anti-racist party on an ecological foundation, as set out in its party programme adopted in 2024. Led by Nooshi Dadgostar, the party won 6.75% (24 seats) in the 2022 Riksdag election and significantly improved its European Parliament result in 2024, receiving 11.06% (2 seats). The party sits in parliamentary opposition and has historically exerted influence through bargaining on welfare and labour policy and through confidence dynamics in minority government arrangements.
Disinformation and alternative media
Vänsterpartiet does not operate a party-controlled media outlet and is not associated with a conspiratorial or partisan media ecosystem. The party uses mainstream media and its own digital communication channels. There is no documented pattern of disinformation operations or coordinated inauthentic behaviour attributable to the party. Disinformation and alternative-media DMI risk is low.
Foreign influence and external alignments
Vänsterpartiet’s historical relationship with the Soviet Union and international communist movements is a matter of the party’s older identity; the party rebranded from the Left Party Communists in 1990. In the contemporary period (2015–2025), the party’s international alignments are with the European left and Nordic democratic socialist traditions. No documented ties to hostile foreign state financing or influence operations have been identified. Vänsterpartiet has generally been critical of NATO membership, a position that, while a legitimate foreign policy stance, distinguishes it from other Swedish parliamentary parties. Foreign-influence DMI risk is low to medium, with the medium qualifier reflecting the party’s historically distinctive foreign policy orientation on defence and NATO rather than any current documented foreign-state exposure.
Media capture, advertising and public service media
As an opposition party, Vänsterpartiet has no access to state-advertising levers or public service broadcasting governance. The party has generally supported the breadth and independence of public service broadcasting, consistent with its wider political orientation. Media-capture, advertising and PSB-control DMI risk is low.
Corruption, litigation and institutional integrity
No major corruption or fraud cases centred on Vänsterpartiet leadership, elected officials, or its organizational structures have been identified for the period 2015–2025. The party’s most visible legal exposure follows the broader Swedish pattern of municipal-level ethics and procurement disputes involving individual officials. Corruption and institutional-integrity DMI risk is low.
Press freedom, harassment and treatment of media
Vänsterpartiet has not been associated with harassment of journalists, SLAPP-style litigation, or economic pressure on media outlets. Press-freedom and harassment DMI risk is low.
| Dimension | Risk level | Short justification |
|---|---|---|
| Disinformation & alternative media | Low | No party-owned media; no documented disinformation operations; relies on mainstream channels. |
| Foreign influence & external alignments | Low–Medium | Contemporary alignments are with European left traditions; NATO-critical stance is a policy position; no foreign-state financing identified. |
| Media capture & advertising / PSB control | Low | In opposition; no leverage over PSB governance or state advertising; supports PSB independence. |
| Corruption & institutional integrity risk | Low | No major party-level corruption cases in 2015–2025. |
| Press freedom & harassment of media | Low | No documented harassment, SLAPPs, or economic pressure on journalists. |