Sweden’s Social Democrats are signaling a divergence in their approach to deportation policies between national and European levels. Domestically, the party supports the current government’s stricter stance on individuals who have received rejection notices for asylum. However, ahead of national elections and despite promising a firm migration policy, the Social Democrats abstained from voting on related measures in the European Parliament. This discrepancy raises questions about the party’s unified position on migration. The move comes as the party aims to appeal to voters concerned about immigration issues. Analysts suggest this could be a strategic decision to maintain flexibility and avoid alienating different segments of their voter base. The abstention highlights internal tensions within the party regarding EU cooperation on immigration matters.