Compensation for the Riksbank's participation in the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) financing solution regarding debt relief for Somalia
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
SD argues that the Riksdag previously decided that Sweden would contribute 21 million kronor to write off Somalia's debt to the IMF 1. SD considers that these funds must now be taken from the state budget and paid by Swedish taxpayers because monetary financing is prohibited 1. SD criticizes that the money was sent to one of the world's most corrupt countries to fight corruption 1. SD argues that the amount was significant as it could have been used for respiratory protection during the pandemic 1. SD questions why it was chosen to "bail out" a state despite the risks 1.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Dennis Dioukarev (SD)
Madam Speaker! In May 2020, all parties in the Riksdag except for the Sverigedemokraterna agreed that the Riksbank, on behalf of Sweden, should write off Somalia's debt to the IMF and that Sweden would contribute 21 million kronor for this purpose. Sverigedemokraterna was the only party that opposed us "bailing out" Somalia. But after a debate in the chamber, the red-green government got its way, and 21 million kronor were sent to Somalia despite the risk – which Sverigedemokraterna warned against – that it would ultimately be Swedish taxpayers who would have to foot the bill.
Now we have the answer key in front of us. This is exactly what is happening. The Riksdag "bailed out" Somalia, thanked them for the coffee, and is now sending the bill to the taxpayers.
The question that must be asked is: Why was there no one listening?
For the Social Democrats, it was about, as was also said in the debate, that 21 million kronor was considered a small amount in the context. One can naturally have different views on that, but one must remember that Sweden and the world at that point, in the spring of 2020, were undergoing the deadliest pandemic in modern times. There were major deficiencies in the Swedish crisis preparations. There was a shortage of all kinds of hospital equipment. 21 million kronor would have sufficed for 266,000 respirators of the FFP2 model. Is 21 million kronor a lot or a little? Are 266,000 respirators for Swedish healthcare a lot or a little? Each must decide for themselves.
In addition to this reduction of the purse, the decision from the red-green side was justified by the argument that the money would go to good causes. It was to go to the fight against corruption, it was said. According to Transparency International's corruption index, Somalia was the world's most corrupt country in 2020. And in 2023, it is still the world's most corrupt country.
I do not think I need to state the obvious here, how this sounds. One is therefore sending money to the world's most corrupt country to fight corruption. Naive and stupid is the most diplomatic I can come up with in this situation.
To the matter belongs that these funds should under no circumstances be taken from the state budget, according to the proponents. It is therefore the entire reason why we stand here today again, because it must be taken from the state budget. The ECB says that otherwise it violates the prohibition on monetary financing. In plain Swedish, it means that the bill must be sent to the Swedish taxpayers. It is they who shall pay for the party.
This is strange, because we all in the Riksdag agree that we do not "bail out" banks anymore. But countries, entire states, we can "bail out." There you go!
I assume, Madam Speaker, that I will not receive any clarifying answers regarding this today, but I hope that one can at least report what the money has been spent on. I ask the question straight out: What has the money been spent on?
The deliberation was hereby concluded.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.