Speaking at the week-long political event Almedalen, Åkesson said he was "infernally tired" that others called his party racist. The party leader instead painted his party as one against racism and extremism.

"We agree that extremism must be combated, extremism in all its forms is something detestable to be controlled and with that, one can not be too clear," he said to a mix of applause and boos from the crowd.

The Sweden Democrats have staked their policies in drastically cutting down the number of immigrants and refugees coming to Sweden. During his speech, Åkesson said Sweden was failing refugees.

"It is better to export stability than to import instability," he said.

"It's high time that we change immigration and integration policy at its foundation, that we limit immigration on the basis of asylum and on joining family members, that we place requirements on those who come to our country. Requirements to be able to take care of themselves, requirements to adjust, but also to give them the opportunity to achieve this," he said.

Åkesson also wants to even out the tax for pensioners, so that they do not have to pay more than wage-earners.

"Sweden is, as far as I understand, at least in this part of the world, the only country that taxes pensions in this way, in relation to salaries. It's not appropriate. I can't go to a political meeting without this issue coming up. It's simmering with the pensioners, who see it as deeply offensive. We're listening," he said.

He estimates it would cost SEK 14 billion to scrap the tax on pensioners, and he says that about SEK 4 billion would come partly from a new tax on Swedens biggest banks, and the rest would come from saving money in other areas, like limiting immigration.

As the public drifted out of Almedalen park after the speech, news agency TT reports that a group of people stayed behind, clapping their hands and singing "no racists on our streets".

When asked by the media which party he would most like to cooperate with, Åkesson said he did not want to answer that yet, because it would weaken his negotiating position.

Since the party was elected into Parliament for the first time in 2010, the other parties have made a point of keeping them at arm's length.

Åkesson said that the party has only grown since winning their first seats in the Sweden’s Parliament. He said, "We have entered into Swedish politics to stay."