Social Democratic Party faces backlash over lottery sales practices in Sweden

The Social Democratic Party is facing significant internal backlash following revelations about its lottery sales practices. In response to these disclosures, the party’s lottery subsidiary, Kombispel, will cease its telemarketing efforts, according to information reported by Swedish Radio.

On Friday, the executive committee held an emergency meeting after multiple party representatives demanded action from the party leadership. Several members have called for the resignation of Kombispel’s management. The company has employed Effective Communication, a telemarketing firm, to handle its sales operations.

Recent investigations revealed allegations that sellers were instructed to adopt aggressive tactics. Former employees based in Barcelona indicated that the focus was particularly on elderly customers and that important terms, like subscription details, were deliberately withheld.

Since May 2022, Kombispel has been reported 28 times to the Swedish Consumer Agency, with 18 of those complaints specifically related to telemarketing practices. In light of the controversy, the Social Democrats decided to suspend sales activities through the telemarketing company.

This situation highlights growing concerns within the party about ethical sales practices and their impact on vulnerable populations. As the party navigates this crisis, it faces mounting pressure to address both internal dissent and public scrutiny regarding its lottery operations.