Stockholm (AINA) -- Two Assyrians were recently promoted to join the central council of the Social Democratic Party (Socialdemokraterna) in Sweden. Yilmaz Kerimo and Ilan Debasso are both prominent members of the vibrant and large Assyrian community in Sweden. Both have also been active social democrats for decades. Yilmaz Kerimo is currently serving his third term in the Swedish Parliament and Ilan Debasso serves as the chairman of the municipality of Jönköping, located in the middle south of the country.

The Social Democratic Party comprises the bulk of the opposition as Sweden prepares for elections later this year.

There are currently four Assyrian members of the Swedish parliament: Yilmaz Kerimo, Ibrahim Baylan, Robert Halef and Metin Ataseven.