The government is under pressure about Anna Kinberg Batra

The government is being pressured in the Riksdag about Anna Kinberg Batra.

This after Aftonbladet’s revelations that the governor has given friends top jobs at the County Board in Stockholm.

– The passive approach shown by the Prime Minister worries me deeply. I expect the government to take measures, says Member of Parliament Peder Björk (S).

Aftonbladet has revealed in several articles how Anna Kinberg Batra hired friends for top jobs at the county board in Stockholm. In one case the job was advertised only through a note at the reception desk – in the other case the job was not advertised at all.

Today, responsible minister Erik Slottner (KD) was questioned in the Riksdag during an interpellation debate.

Riksdag member Peder Björk (S) says that Kinberg Batra’s actions have damaged trust in the county board.

– I am reacting to the establishment of the new position of head of planning for the County Administrative Board in Stockholm. The governor chose to recruit by putting up a notice, one person applied for the job and it was a friend of the governor Anna Kinberg Batra. After that, we were able to read about many more events at the County Administrative Board in Stockholm, says Björk.

A crisis of confidence

Björk enumerated several other information that Aftonbladet has revealed during the review and added that there are several ongoing investigations into Anna Kinberg Batra’s actions, several of which the Justice Ombudsman is handling. He does not believe that the government is acting forcefully enough.

– County Governor Anna Kinberg Batra’s actions at the County Board in Stockholm have greatly affected trust. It risks spilling over to other county administrations in the country and other government agencies. It is remarkable that the Government has spent the last few weeks informing itself instead of taking measures, says Björk.

Björk believes that the government should review the county administrative boards and take measures to stop the turbulence at the County Administrative Board in Stockholm.

“Doesn’t sit like a cuckoo”

Minister of Civil Affairs Erik Slottner has had a meeting with Anna Kinberg Batra, and his state secretary has also had a follow-up meeting.

This is due to the turbulence at the authority, which appeared in Aftonbladet’s articles.

– In the relevant case, the governor himself says that it is a crisis of confidence. Only the authority management can repair that crisis of confidence, says Slottner.

He rejects criticism that the government is not doing enough.

– The government does not remain passive. I don’t sit like some cuckoo boy and receive information. We conduct an active dialogue with the head of the authority concerned. The government’s views and position are very clear in these talks.

When Erik Slottner meets the media after question time in the Riksdag’s chamber, he repeats the message that the government continues to have confidence in Anna Kinberg Batra.

He does not want to know that her background as a moderate weighs into the decision to keep her as governor in Stockholm.

– Absolutely not. I want to be very clear in saying that her political affiliation has nothing to do with it, says Erik Slottner.

Right now, the Justice Ombudsman, JO, Anna Kinberg Batra is reviewing the recruitment of friends to the County Administrative Board. Erik Slottner says that this investigation weighs into the question of trust in Anna Kinberg Batra.

– It is important and we welcome the investigation, so we will see what it comes to. It is clear that a JO review always carries weight.

If it turns out that the JO review concludes that mistakes have been made, how does that affect your decisions?

– I do not intend to predict the events in advance. We’ll take that now and then.