On Monday, the government’s spring amendment budget was presented, which according to Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson (M) contains the most important priorities in the grim times prevailing in Sweden. According to Mikael Damberg, the Social Democrats’ fiscal policy spokesperson, the chance was not taken to correct the mistakes made last fall. – The government makes a number of wrong path choices. It doesn’t seem like you have a plan, he says. In tonight’s 22 broadcast, Mikael Damberg and Elisabeth Svantesson met for a debate about the budget. According to Damberg, the government has no plan on how to deal with the economic crisis in the country – and that it is schools, healthcare and households that will be hit hardest by the budget. – We have a welfare crisis that is beginning to deliver. 17 out of 21 healthcare regions are in deficit. There is also talk that this could be a disaster for the school, so it is clear that we are in a serious situation. Many single households also find it difficult to put food on the table, says Damberg, who believes that the government’s budget is “lost”. Svantesson: We take responsibility Elisabeth Svantesson, for her part, says that the government takes responsibility both for those who are worst off and for the budget that was presented last autumn. – I see more that we have eight lost years behind. What we are doing now is to take responsibility, both for those who are worst off and for the budget we put in last autumn where we support households, lower fuel taxes, increase travel deductions and ensure that municipalities and regions get twelve billion more this year. It is a historic addition, she says. Svantesson believes that the government made the investments it saw as necessary last autumn, but that now it must also be held back so that inflation does not continue. – Because then households, municipalities and regions will be hit even harder, she says. See the debate in its entirety in the player above.
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