Question Time

FÖRSTE VICE TALMANNEN

I would like to welcome the ministers. Questions will be answered today by Minister Lotta Edholm, Minister Acko Ankarberg Johansson, Minister Paulina Brandberg and Minister Romina Pourmokhtari.

A question must be of an overarching and general political nature or concern a subject that falls within the Minister's area of responsibility and concerns his/her performance of duties. The question shall therefore not concern, for example, conditions within political parties. Minister Lotta Edholm answers both general political questions and questions within her own area of responsibility.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Fredrik Lundh Sammeli (S)

Mr. Speaker! We live in a very restless time. In Europe, there is war. Few have probably missed that there has been a debate about preparedness over the past few weeks. The Government has, in a rightly high tone, explained and pointed out that municipalities, authorities, the business sector, and not least we citizens must increase preparedness and step up. Everyone needs to step up. But it does not seem to quite apply to the Government.

Before Christmas, the Defense Committee's report Kraftsamling - The Orientation of the Total Defense and the Design of the Civil Defense was released, in which it is written that the ability to sustainably increase the number of hospital beds, particularly for emergency surgery and intensive care, is the single most important part for health and medical care during high alert and in war.

The government warns of war in Sweden and says that the state of preparedness needs to be raised, but the healthcare system cannot count on the government's support and increased funding. In what way does the Minister for Health and Care mean that thousands of alerts in this situation strengthen the healthcare system's ability to handle crisis and war?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Member, for the question! It is necessary that we increase the preparedness.

We know that there is now always a risk that Sweden will also be affected by war in our vicinity or that we ourselves will be attacked. Healthcare alone is a central part of managing total defense. Therefore, the healthcare capacity needs to increase, and therefore the government is allocating special funds for this.

But the members of the board, of course, raise the special situation that the regions have right now as a result of inflation. In that case, it is necessary for the regions themselves to take wise measures, but they must be such that the healthcare capacity can be maintained, that is, the staff who are close to patient care.

I am concerned that healthcare staff are being laid off. There are many things that are not close to healthcare that I think one can consider and discuss in the regions. But those who are close to healthcare, we will need both today and in the future.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Fredrik Lundh Sammeli (S)

Mr. Speaker! 17 of the 19 regions point out that it will be necessary to cut back on healthcare. They are issuing layoff notices and dismissing staff. The healthcare crisis is here, and it is real here and now.

Sveriges kommuner och regioner point out that this is the worst crisis in healthcare since the 1990s crisis. My question is: Why is the government not doing more in this situation, now that we see the healthcare crisis worsening across the entire country? And does the government have a concrete plan for how the healthcare crisis should be stopped? If not, take action!

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! The budget that the Riksdag has decided on means that one provides supplementary funding to the regions that is linked specifically to inflation. The sector contribution is in no way linked to any performance but can be used to pay the costs of inflation, which primarily concerns the pension agreement that the regions have concluded. It is a good pension agreement – it is important to say – but the consequence of inflation is that costs have increased during 2023 and 2024, and therefore one receives a special support. The regions are primarily responsible, but the government needs to support them.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Anders Alftberg (SD)

Mr. Speaker! On November 28, we were reached by the news that the Muslim Cordobaskolan is to be closed following an alarm from Säpo. The students risked being radicalized, and employees and individuals on the board had contact with violent extremism. This is not the first time that Muslim schools have been exposed with Islamist indoctrination, contempt for homosexuals, degrading values for women, and antisemitic views.

In the Tidö Agreement, we have agreed on stricter scrutiny of independent schools with a confessional orientation. This is good and necessary, but Islamism and antisemitism are also a major problem in many municipal schools in particularly vulnerable areas. Most students who hold Islamist and antisemitic values are in municipal schools.

What measures does the Minister intend to take so that our municipal heads take their responsibility when it comes to combating the antisemitism that flourishes in schools in the municipalities?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Statsrådet Lotta Edholm (L)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Member, for this very important issue! It is clear that it is completely unacceptable that our schools constitute an arena for people with extreme views where there is a risk that students are indoctrinated into, for example, violence.

What the government has done recently is, for example, to issue two different supplementary directives to the school safety investigation that has already been appointed. This involves, among other things, reviewing the crime prevention work in schools. We will also review the possibilities regarding extract of records. It is about, for example, improving the possibilities to obtain extracts of records not only concerning violent crime and sexual offenses but also concerning weapons and narcotics trafficking.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Anders Alftberg (SD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Minister, for the answer! This question touches me quite personally, as I myself have worked in primary schools in particularly vulnerable areas for 16 years. I have met both colleagues and students who have been forced to hide their Jewish identity due to fear of harassment. It has become an even greater problem today.

Effort is needed at the national level. We certainly need to get to the bottom of this major problem.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Statsrådet Lotta Edholm (L)

Mr. Speaker! I share that view. It is a major problem with radicalization, extremism, and not least antisemitism in our schools. We must truly do our very best to address this.

I have had meetings with Jewish organizations, and I will have more meetings regarding these very important issues. It is also important that schools receive better tools to keep these people outside the school walls.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Karin Rågsjö (V)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Acko Ankarberg Johansson.

The situation at the emergency department and the medical department at MIMA at Kullbergska sjukhuset in Katrineholm is strained. The unit manager has resigned from the occupational environment responsibility for the employees. It concerns Region Sörmland, which has given notice to 700 employees.

The list showing a cracked healthcare system in Sweden can be long. We have a healthcare system that cannot meet the demands of everyday life, let alone a pandemic or a war. There are no margins.

The government tells the population that we should be prepared for war. We do as well as we can. But honestly, shouldn't it be in the government's interest to have a healthcare system that can meet larger crises and wars?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, member, for the question! It is necessary that we increase the healthcare capacity both in view of everyday life and the Christmas, New Year, and Epiphany holidays, when we have influenza, RS, and covid viruses affecting the situation, and in view of the risk of an armed attack.

All these situations require increased healthcare capacity. That is why we have a special support to increase healthcare capacity. It is also the reason why we have a different situation this year. Already in December, the regions were informed about what proportion of the large state grants they would receive for their own region.

But it needs to be reminded: For quite many years, the regions have increased the number of employees who do not work in close proximity to healthcare. Vårdförbundet's own magazine, Vårdfokus, has followed this closely. One can see that more are being employed who do not work in close proximity to healthcare. And if we are to prioritize the core activities, it is clear that it is the healthcare staff, who work in close proximity to healthcare, that we should prioritize.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Karin Rågsjö (V)

Mr. Speaker! The crisis we have can hardly be explained by the fact that we have too much administrative staff. The Swedish Medical Association is sounding the alarm. The Swedish Association of Health Care Professionals is sounding the alarm. Kommunal is sounding the alarm. And the government is crying out about an increased threat of war and about us preparing at the individual level. We have a healthcare system that absolutely cannot accommodate this, not even, for example, an extremely severe influenza wave.

The state has apparently abandoned its responsibility for society. You pass the responsibility onto us citizens and lean back and let the healthcare crisis spiral out of control. How can KD, which is a healthcare party, buy that?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! The reason we are adding resources is that we must strengthen health and medical care - this despite having directly elected politicians with taxing rights and who, according to our Swedish order, have the responsibility for healthcare. The Government considers it necessary to provide special support as a result of inflation but also to provide early notification regarding which funds they have to use. Not least Region Sörmland needed that notification before Christmas so that they would know which funds they could count on during the entirety of 2024.

But it is not insignificant which staff one saves? It is healthcare staff who are to remain in the health and medical care.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Christofer Bergenblock (C)

Mr. Speaker! The Tidö parties' proposal to charge for the use of interpreters within healthcare, together with the proposed disclosure law, has been among the things that have been criticized the most, not least from doctors and nurses. Above all, the criticism has concerned that many will likely choose to opt out of the possibility of having an interpreter, which threatens both the work environment and patient safety.

Now, a new report from Semantix shows that it will also be a bad economic deal for municipalities, regions and the state - partly in the form of increased administrative costs, and partly in the form of mismanagements and treatment injuries.

My question to Minister Acko Ankarberg Johansson is: Is it not now time for the government to scrap this extremely poor proposal?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, member, for the question! I want to begin by pointing out that today there are far too many occasions when patients do not receive the interpretation they need. That is the situation today. It is children who have to interpret for their parents. It is siblings who have to help. That is the most common situation today. We have a shortage of authorized interpreters, which are necessary for the patient – for reasons of privacy and with regard to patient safety – and of course for the profession. We therefore have a situation today that is not good.

Regarding the proposals that are now to be investigated, it is about whether these should be subject to a fee, but also about how access to an authorized interpreter should be strengthened. The question is in an investigation. We will return to the question when we have a proposal from the investigation and when it has been on consultation. After that, the government will make its assessment.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Christofer Bergenblock (C)

Mr. Speaker! It is interesting to hear that from the government's side, one sees the problems that exist with the interpreters today and that there is an investigation into a proposal which, if implemented, will further complicate the possibility of obtaining an interpreter. Reality rhymes very poorly with what is being investigated.

Then we all in this chamber know that this is a commissioned job from the Sverigedemokraterna that the government is forced to carry out. But isn't it time to scrap the proposal at once? It is an incredibly bad proposal.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Member, for a supplement! All proposals, regardless of who they come from, need to be investigated so that a basis can be established. The proposals are tested from each respective area. Where do they fit, and where do they not fit? In health and medical care, patient safety is the cornerstone. And it will be an important question for the investigation to see how it works there.

But even today we have fees in healthcare. That is how the situation looks. Fees change continuously. Right now, there are many regions that have raised their fees quite a lot. It may also lead to problems – perhaps one or another does not seek care. I therefore share the view that it has consequences to impose fees on things.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Elin Söderberg (MP)

Mr. Speaker! I turn to the Minister for Climate and Environment. For the climate in the real world, it is not emissions in a certain year that matter, but how much is emitted in total. The government is increasing greenhouse gas emissions very significantly, and I have tried to find out exactly how much.

In the government's budget, it states that emissions will increase by 6 to 10 million tons by 2030. But that information does not correspond with the graph in the budget. Therefore, we have asked the minister's department to disclose how much the emissions increase. They have refused to share this.

The Riksdag's investigation service has calculated that emissions are actually expected to increase by approximately five times as much as has been stated in the budget. My question is: Why have you stated an incorrect figure? Is it a mistake? Or is there a desire to mislead when it comes to how large the actual climate damage is?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Member, for the opportunity to clarify a very interesting question, namely how one calculates forecasts for how much emissions will increase based on political decisions!

I do not know if there is any particular reason why Elin Söderberg chooses to point out that the Government Offices, and thus state officials who count and work according to Sweden's laws, would have hidden and manipulated figures while the Riksdag's investigation service would have found a correct figure.

These are difficult questions. It is a forecast of how much different political decisions affect emissions that do not yet exist. Take fuel prices as an example! How does it affect the amount of car driving? It is difficult to make such forecasts. And there are reasons why forecasts look different at agencies, at the Riksdag's investigation service, and at the Government Offices. But there is no one in the Government Offices who is trying to hide anything or who is trying to mislead the Swedish people.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Elin Söderberg (MP)

Mr. Speaker! This is about forecasts. They are difficult to calculate, but they have been calculated. A figure has been stated up to 2030. But the actual figure from now until 2030 is, therefore, about five times higher than the one that has been stated. It is a matter of whether the government should be clear about whether it is accounting for how much higher the emissions are expected to be in the year 2030 specifically as a result of the government's policy, or if it actually wants to openly report how much higher the total cumulative emissions will be up to and including 2030 as a result of the government's policy. It is, after all, the sum of emissions over time that determines how much worse the climate crisis becomes and how much worse the Swedish people are affected by the climate crisis.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

Mr. Speaker! This is truly an interesting part of the climate policy. How does one make such a forecast in the best way? The only thing I can point out is that we, from a political side, have in no way stepped in and directed how emissions are calculated in Sweden. We base our assessments on the authorities' data and on proper calculations. We follow the procedure, and we try in the best possible way to make forecasts for how our political decisions affect the emissions that are subsequently generated.

The calculations presented to me are clearly and distinctly based on all the major emission-impacting decisions that are made. This applies, for example, when large industries transition or other things that can be clearly accounted for from the companies' side. These are included in the authorities' underlying data, which ultimately also end up with the government.

This is, therefore, a task that is very serious, and it is in no way something that one misleads the Swedish people with. I regret the serious accusation.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Josefin Malmqvist (M)

Mr. Speaker! A new study indicates that the honor oppression in Gothenburg has doubled since 2018. More than one-third of the respondents state that they are either restricted in their right to their sexuality or choice of partner or are subjected to violence by relatives. Every third girl in grade 9 states that she lives with norms of virginity.

Honor oppression and honor norms restrict girls' and boys' right to live in freedom in Sweden. For far too long, honor oppression has been allowed to spread, and it must now face the collective force of society.

My question to Minister for Equality Paulina Brandberg is therefore: What measures is the government taking to combat honor-based oppression in Sweden?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Statsrådet Paulina Brandberg (L)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Josefin Malmqvist, for this very relevant question!

When Fadime spoke in the Riksdag just over 22 years ago, she pleaded with the audience not to turn their backs on the marginalized. We can state that it is precisely what we have done. In Sweden, we have engaged in some form of part-time feminism. Equality has prevailed for some, but incredibly many girls have not had any real opportunity to control their own bodies, sexuality, or choice of life partner. Even boys have been restricted.

The government is now taking a large number of measures, because we will not accept this. We need to reverse the development partly through legislation, where we increase the penalties and ban, for example, cousin marriage and several other phenomena that occur in a context of honor, and partly through a major knowledge lift so that the laws we decide on also have a real effect.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Josefin Malmqvist (M)

Mr. Speaker! We know that harmful stays abroad are a way to exercise honor oppression in Sweden today. Already today, it is possible to issue a travel ban, for example, if there are suspicions of child marriage or female genital mutilation. We see, however, that the legislation today is not quite sufficient. There are more forms of honor oppression that we would need to have the opportunity to limit through travel bans.

What is the government doing to ensure that the legislation regarding travel bans covers more forms of honor-based oppression in Sweden today?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Statsrådet Paulina Brandberg (L)

Mr. Speaker! It is true that it is a real problem. The current legislation is good in intent, but it is not sufficient.

Last week, the government therefore decided on a referral to the Council on Legislation regarding an expanded travel ban. This shall cover more, actually all, situations where LVU for a child may be applicable. It also covers trips for conversion therapy and re-education trips for boys, this is so that we can obtain a broader protection so that we can save and protect more children and young people.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Kjell-Arne Ottosson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! The Species Protection Ordinance is very relevant for those of us living in forest counties. During the autumn, the Hyttsten family became national celebrities precisely because the Species Protection Ordinance is blocking a generational transition on their family farm. They are therefore unable to afford it because they cannot fell the forest they had intended to.

In December, I was in Jämtland and visited, among other places, a sawmill in Krokom which during the autumn had stood still for several days because they did not have timber to saw. The Nature Conservation Ordinance had put a stop to expected logging.

I know that the government is working on the issue, and therefore I want to ask the Minister for Climate and Environment when we can expect to see a change in the Swedish over-implementation of the Species Protection Ordinance.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

Mr. Speaker! Thanks to the member for a very important question!

From everything we see in newspapers and in letters of protest and other things from citizens, we notice that this is something that affects the way we can manage our forests in Sweden. We also know that it is sometimes a bit difficult for countries to understand each other's situations when designing EU legislation such as regulations.

In Sweden, we have a way of managing the forest which we know has contributed in the long term to us having more forest in Sweden. This is something that we need to ensure, in different ways, that people gain greater insight into from a European side. Tomorrow we will be visited by the commissioner, and we will speak about, among other things, these issues. We must also ensure that our authorities and county administrative boards in their application have good insight into that we in Sweden manage the forest in a wise and sustainable way, and we shall continue to do so.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Kjell-Arne Ottosson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Today, the so-called responsibility for investigation lies with the individual forest owner, which requires enormous biological knowledge from all forest owners.

Since the last parliamentary term, we have a decision in the Riksdag that the responsibility for investigation shall lie with the state. In the work that takes place, will we also see a change in that issue so that the responsibility for investigation is placed on the state and does not lie on every individual forest owner?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, again, to the member for this question!

Without going into too much detail about the whole thing, this is an issue that often comes up when we talk about the problems with the implementation of EU legislation in Sweden for all the forest owners and forest managers we have. We are, of course, looking at the issue, but I do not have the opportunity to precede announcements of how the government will handle this at that level yet.

We have a good understanding that this is a problem, and during this mandate period, we will handle the issue in the best possible way.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Lina Nordquist (L)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Acko Ankarberg Johansson.

I believe that all of us humans have the same needs. At the same time, I am convinced that those who have a disability or problems with their health have much worse conditions and opportunities to have these needs met.

Here, above all, people with serious disabilities and perhaps unusual and rare health conditions themselves say that their everyday life, and often their entire lives, are very negatively affected by the society we have built today.

During the previous parliamentary term in opposition, the Minister and I fought to get a national strategy for rare health conditions in order to be able to give these people the same opportunities as we others. Now, finally, I know that the Minister is in the process of making this a reality.

My question is therefore: What can persons with a disability or a specific health condition and their relatives hope for?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, member, for the question!

It is very common to have a rare disease. But the rare disease one has is something very few people have, and when one seeks care either for that specific disease or for something else, many report that they do not receive the response they can expect because the healthcare staff cannot have knowledge of all rare diseases and their consequences for other things.

Many report that one is even almost turned away from healthcare and has difficulty finding their way. It is a situation that neither healthcare providers nor patients should have. We therefore need to strengthen the possibilities, the coordination, and the knowledge so that all patients, regardless of where they live, can encounter a healthcare system that is also prepared to receive people with rare diseases.

This is going to require a lot, and therefore we have given a mandate to Socialstyrelsen to initiate the work on a strategy. Since earlier, work has been ongoing to review medicines for rare diseases. These are two parallel tracks, but both are equally necessary.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Lina Nordquist (L)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Minister, for the answer!

I meet many people, and the government minister surely does too, who feel that the patient association they belong to can tell so much about this, so let it therefore not become a desk product!

My follow-up question is: What does the timeline look like for this work? Will there be opportunities for the large organizations to include their knowledge in the work?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! We have already started that. The work actually began with a larger gathering for all patient associations, researchers, politicians, regions, and others – those who are already working with the issue today. We gathered everyone together, and all their opinions are the starting point for the work. It is important to start from those who have a rare disease and those who work with the group today and see shortcomings and a need for coordination and improvements.

We therefore started with a large workshop where we gathered everyone together, and we have received very many comments. These comments are the basis for the strategy that is now to be developed.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Ewa Pihl Krabbe (S)

Mr. Speaker! I direct my question to Minister for Education Lotta Edholm.

Too many students are left without a school library. Therefore, it is pleasing that all students will be granted the right to staffed school libraries. School libraries contribute to language development, information literacy, and reading ability, and they level the playing field between students. The school libraries are also a pedagogical resource for the entire school as well as improving and deepening the children's study results.

In 2022, there were a total of 937 full-time positions staffing school libraries, according to the Royal Library's statistics. It is also not uncommon to share one's position between several schools.

Naturally, a significant expansion of the number of training places for librarians will be needed, and it is estimated that at least 1,300 new positions are required.

What does the planning look like to meet the need for trained librarians?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Statsrådet Lotta Edholm (L)

Mr. Speaker! I thank you for the very important question.

We are now making a major commitment from the government and the Riksdag's side on staffed school libraries. The legislation that comes with this will enter into force next year, and it will give municipalities and school administrators an opportunity to plan. At the same time, a major financial commitment is being made on fiction. Reading is one of my most important issues as School Minister; there are indeed major problems with literacy in Sweden among our children and youth.

Of course, more librarians are also needed. In recent years, we have seen that the number of training places for librarians has increased, and I foresee that we will see an increased demand and thus likely also more places.

I hope to have a dialogue with the universities that organize librarian training because this is an enormously important issue.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Sara Gille (SD)

Mr. Speaker! On January 21, this coming Sunday, it will be 22 years since Fadime was brutally murdered by her own father. This year she would have turned 49, but her life ended at the age of 26.

Unfortunately, we have not learned the lesson regarding the honor-related violence that affects many. The number of unreported cases is large. Often, preliminary investigations are dropped because crimes could not be proven, often it is one's word against another's, and the threat of violence makes it difficult to find witnesses. It is a cruel and despicable culture that does not belong in Sweden, nor anywhere else.

My question goes to Minister Paulina Brandberg: What concrete measures is the Minister and the government prepared to take so that what happened to Fadime and many others will not continue to happen?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Statsrådet Paulina Brandberg (L)

Mr. Speaker! I thank the member for an incredibly important question. It is important that we talk extra much about these issues just this week.

In my previous work as a prosecutor, I have worked with precisely these issues, and I know how difficult they are and how hard it is to get people to testify. These are problems where we are dealing not with one perpetrator and not with one crime victim, but with collectives and clans, that is to say, many involved persons. Then our measures must be adapted accordingly.

As I have said before, we must work much on prevention, and we must notice and map the extent and direct the efforts accordingly. But we must also ensure that we get better legal processes. There, I believe much lies in a knowledge enhancement so that the adults who meet these children can participate in legal processes and that the justice system receives enough resources to handle these very complicated crime investigations. It should not be crime-free to commit that type of crime in Sweden.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Andrea Andersson Tay (V)

Mr. Speaker! The Energy Charter Treaty is an international agreement that includes investor protection which enables foreign companies to sue the countries that are members of the treaty. Lawsuits can be filed if countries decide to phase out fossil energy or fossil extraction.

In 2022, a British company was awarded 210 million pounds in damages by Italy because the country had prohibited oil extraction in the Adriatic Sea. Italy has now left the energy charter treaty, and nine other EU countries have also announced that they intend to do so. The EU Commission proposed last year that the entire EU should leave the agreement. The Swedish government has, however, not given any clear statement on where it stands, even though it should be a simple decision to leave an agreement that so clearly stands in the way of the climate transition.

I have the following question for the Minister for Climate and Environment: Does the government intend to work towards Sweden and the EU leaving the Energy Charter Treaty?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

Mr. Speaker! I thank Member Andersson Tay for, as usual, bringing wise questions and interesting aspects to the climate transition.

As far as the energy treaty is concerned, it is as the member points out, namely that the Swedish government has not announced how we stand on the issue. I will not be able to give any information today. But I will take the issue with me and discuss it with my department.

However, I can state that it is of great importance that we are careful about how we approach the systemic changes that it fundamentally entails to transition. How do we ensure that we can, on good grounds, transition not only the lifestyles of private individuals and others who must adapt to a reality where we stop global warming, but also, to the highest degree, how our companies shall act and relate to climate legislation and decisions that are made, and the transition in the way one extracts resources and raw materials? It is a very relevant question.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Malin Björk (C)

Mr. Speaker! I direct my question to Minister Romina Pourmokhtari.

In Svenska Dagbladet i veckan, we could read that every fourth used electric car sold in Sweden goes for export. Now, Trafikverket warns that the green transition is threatened more than before, especially as the government's policy for road traffic is based, in principle, almost exclusively on electrification.

The Centre Party has previously proposed both temporary export bans for environmental cars and increased incentives to keep the cars in Sweden through an environmental car bonus for used cars as well as reduced congestion taxes and parking fees. This would radically increase the proportion of environmental cars that stay in Sweden.

What measures will the government contribute, Minister for Climate and Environment, to keep the electric cars in Sweden?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

Mr. Speaker! I thank Member Björk for the question.

It is a fundamentally positive and healthy thing that we have so much movement in our world, especially in Europe, that we have a large exchange between different countries. This applies to people who move across borders, work in other places, study and contribute, as well as goods and services that also flow between our countries.

Regarding what different ways to encourage electrification in Sweden, the government has a lot of policy, which I would gladly tell you about. But since time is short and I must stick to the question from the Member, I can only point out that my reflection is that the price of used electric cars in Sweden is falling. It is something that contributes to them staying within Sweden's borders. We know that there is a large movement of sales not only in the new car market but also in the market for used cars. We consider it positive to continue to have high costs for dirty cars and lower prices for the clean ones.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Katarina Luhr (MP)

Mr. Speaker! The forest is important for many Swedes, and one of Sweden's environmental goals is that future generations shall have healthy forests with a rich biodiversity. Unfortunately, we see a negative trend for biodiversity in Sweden, and when SLU analyzes red-listed species, it is seen that land use in the form of forestry and agriculture is what affects the most species negatively.

The management of the Swedish forests has long been on the agenda, and what I understand is that the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will come to Stockholm tomorrow to discuss Sweden's position on the issue.

I hope and believe that we agree that measures are required to halt the ongoing loss of biodiversity in Sweden and that the protection of our forests is an important part of this.

How does the Minister for Climate and Environment believe Sweden should work to protect our forests and biodiversity moving forward?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

Mr. Speaker! Thanks to Member Luhr for the question!

This is very interesting for Sweden from many perspectives. The member highlights that biological diversity is an extremely present part of the whole. It is also the opportunity Sweden has to contribute to carbon sinks, not just for Sweden's part but for the whole of the EU's part, through the large amount of forest we have in our fantastic elongated country. Two-thirds of our country consists of forest. It is a fantastic resource that we shall utilize in a wise way that does not harm the biological diversity.

In the government, we are very favorably disposed towards the idea of stewardship and the way the forest has been managed for some time now. Those who own the forest also see a profit in safeguarding biodiversity, so that contributing to the forest owners themselves wanting to protect their forest is a very good way for us to preserve biodiversity.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Malin Höglund (M)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister for Health Acko Ankarberg Johansson.

Welfare crime has spread and is now found throughout Sweden, from north to south.

During my first year as a member of Parliament, I have listened to a number of different stories about how people who should have received care have not received it and how money has ended up in criminals' pockets. The stories have been about social assistance paid out to people who are not in need of it, about people who received building permits after pressure, and about people with disabilities who have been granted hours but have not received the help they need.

Money has ended up in the wrong pockets, quite simply, but those who are entitled to support shall receive it. How is the government now working to curb the welfare crime that has spread across Sweden?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, member, for the question!

Criminals should not exist in the welfare system. We must fight all crime, but when one uses the welfare system to wash black money white and finance their own activities, it has gone completely wrong.

This has been ongoing for a longer period; therefore, we have many measures today.

A large part of this is healthcare, which I am responsible for. There, the regions have full opportunity to control who one enters into agreements with and to follow up on them, but one has not succeeded so well because one does not receive all the information one needs. One does not have access to information; one does not have confidentiality-breaking provisions. We therefore need to strengthen laws so that one can co-operate registers and do much more in many ways.

We have a long series of investigations underway. For example, this summer we started work on obtaining a common catalog of all healthcare and care providers in Sweden. With that as a starting point, one can eventually cross-reference when something is found to be wrong and to detect errors.

Yesterday, I received the final report of the Treklöver Investigation, which comes with proposals regarding pharmacies.

We must work on many fronts to stop criminals from entering the welfare system.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Gudrun Brunegård (KD)

Mr. Speaker! This week, as we have heard, violence and oppression carried out in the name of honor is being highlighted on the occasion of the anniversary of the tragic murder of Fadime Sahindal.

The oppression and control take many different forms. For example, a woman can be forced to undergo a virginity check. In connection with this, a certificate of virginity is issued. A woman who has had sexual intercourse can undergo a virginity procedure to appear as a virgin on the wedding night and in this way uphold the family's honor. This form of oppression occurs in many cultures.

An effective way to protect these girls and women is through legislation, and the government and coalition parties agree to criminalize this. An investigation proposes criminalization of innocence checks and innocence interventions, but not when it concerns the issuance of certificates of innocence.

How will the government proceed with this so that there is no gap in the legislation for the protection of these girls and women?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Statsrådet Paulina Brandberg (L)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, member, for the question!

The norm of innocence is enormously strong in a context of honor, and the question of women's and girls' sexuality is central when it comes to honor issues.

Just as the member points out, we within the government cooperation together with the Sweden Democrats are in complete agreement that this with innocence certificates, innocence checks and innocence operations is something that has no place whatsoever in Sweden and that we need to take measures against.

The Government has received an investigation of just these parts and referred it. These are proposals that are currently being prepared within the Government Offices. We will subsequently return with the Government's position.

I want to be extremely clear about how harmful this is. Regardless of how we land in terms of legislation, it must be crystal clear that Swedish society shall in no way contribute to upholding the myth of the hymen or put further pressure on girls to bleed on their wedding night.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Serkan Köse (S)

Mr. Speaker! During 2023, 65 people died at Swedish workplaces, which is the highest number in over a decade. Among these tragic events, the elevator accident in Sundbyberg the week before Christmas stands out particularly, where five construction workers lost their lives. Further deaths occurred at the end of last year at workplaces such as Northvolt in Skellefteå and in an accident in Örnsköldsvik. This year, three people have already lost their lives at work. It underscores a continued danger in the work environment, especially within the construction industry.

Despite increased efforts and inspections from the Work Environment Authority, we can state that deaths within the construction industry are a recurring problem. We Social Democrats propose that a crisis commission be established to thoroughly analyze and address the underlying causes of these tragic events.

My questions to Deputy Minister for Employment Paulina Brandberg are whether the Minister shares our view on the construction industry's specific risks and whether the Minister will consider our proposal to establish a crisis commission for the construction industry.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Statsrådet Paulina Brandberg (L)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, member, for the question!

Yes, last year was an incredibly dark year with 65 people who went to work but never came home.

I absolutely share the view that the construction industry is one of the industries that is particularly affected. In that case, it is of course logical that in the government's work on how we can reduce death tolls, we look particularly at these high-risk industries, where the accident rates are highest.

In view of this, I have called in representatives for the parties and employer organizations within the industries that are most affected to listen to which measures can actually work in those specific industries to bring down the death tolls. I also want to ask the employer organizations how we can get employers to take greater responsibility in these issues, because we can never accept it as a normal situation that so many do not come home to their families and their loved ones after the end of the working day.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Martin Kinnunen (SD)

Mr. Speaker! The criticism regarding how water management functions in Sweden has been widespread. This is one of many issues that the previous Social Democratic government has neglected.

The implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive is Sweden's largest water project of all time and has had a major impact on the country's municipalities, agriculture, and power production. The criticism regarding how the work is functioning has been great. The issue has been investigated, but not much has happened.

The Sverigedemokraterna's view has long been that responsibility is too dispersed today, that one does not manage to weigh different interests against each other, that water issues need to be organized in the same way as other environmental issues, and that the water authorities can therefore be abolished.

My question to the Minister for Climate and Environment is therefore how the government views the organization of water management. Is it an issue that the government is actively working on?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you to Member Kinnunen for the question!

It is, as the member mentions, obvious that there is criticism regarding how water management is organized. Possibly it is a criticism that does not get as much space in the media when it comes to the work that this government is carrying out, but it is absolutely an issue that we are looking at. We see that water management must be efficient and purposeful. We see that this criticism exists.

I also believe myself that it is possible to find better ways to organize the work and the decisions regarding how water management is carried out. We have, therefore, initiated a project at the ministry regarding this, and we will investigate what should be changed so that the management functions better. Elaborated, anchored processes and a purposeful organization are needed if we are to succeed in achieving a sounder, better water management.

This is not a simple question, and we need to ensure that this becomes good before we go before the Riksdag with proposals on what needs to be done that leads to real changes and improvements.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Helena Storckenfeldt (M)

Mr. Speaker! To manage the green transition, we will need approximately twice as much clean electricity. Everything that can be electrified, and all types of power generation will be needed for us to succeed. Nuclear power is particularly important with its stabilizing effect and ability to deliver clean electricity when it is needed and where it is needed.

My question to the Minister for Climate and Environment is therefore how the government is working with this issue. What is the government's plan to get important investments started to build up nuclear power in Sweden again?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

Mr. Speaker! This is a completely crucial issue for Sweden's climate transition. If one zooms out a bit and looks at where Sweden is in its transition and perhaps compares it with other countries' transition work and work to reduce their emissions, one sees that what is most relevant for us in Sweden to succeed in reducing our emissions significantly even in the future, and for the reduction not to stall now, is precisely the need for quantities of clean electricity.

We know that we have a giant steel industry that accounts for 11 percent of Sweden's emissions and that can eliminate those emissions if they have large amounts of clean electricity. We know that we have an agriculture and a transport sector that are ready to transition but lack large amounts of clean electricity. It is therefore absolutely crucial that we succeed with this. Therefore, the first thing I did on my first day of work at the Government Offices was to remove the prohibitions that existed against new nuclear power in Sweden. In addition to that, we have also produced an extensive action plan.

This is an issue that this government will refuse to let go of until we have succeeded in tackling what Sweden needs in order to continue the transition.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Magnus Berntsson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Historically, hospitals in Sweden have been the core of healthcare, and this system has repeatedly been criticized for its inefficiency. To address this problem, a transition was initiated in 2018 with the goal that primary care should instead constitute the base and the hub of care, with a focus on good and close care. During the period 2019 to 2023, the country's municipalities and regions were allocated 28 billion kronor in state funds to support this transition.

Despite this significant financial investment, progress has been minimal, which has been noted in the media over the past few days. Expert agencies such as the Health and Social Care Inspectorate, Ivo, note that hardly any noticeable changes have occurred, and they emphasize that it is ultimately the patients who are affected.

My question to the Minister for Health and Social Affairs is therefore: If 28 billion in state grants do not produce the desired effects, does the government see other possible measures to accelerate the work?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I truly wished that we had come further. It is better for the patient to have it coordinated and with continuity and to know who is their fixed doctor contact and fixed care contact, not least for all those with chronic diseases. Furthermore, in economic terms, it is more efficient to coordinate the care for the patients.

We have not come that far, but I want to say that we have many good examples. We must ensure that they are introduced broadly and throughout the entire country so that all patients have good and close care. The government is making changes moving forward, and we will increase the support. Today, it is 3 billion for just good and close care, and it is an additional 300 million to rural areas in special support. We increase by an additional half a billion in 2025 and continue thereafter.

We will also transition to regulation-based support. Today, it is an agreement that is voluntary. We will work in a different way in order to increase the oversight for the patients' sake.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Johanna Haraldsson (S)

Mr. Speaker! It is important that young people who get their first job have a basic understanding of the rules of the labor market and of what rights and obligations they have in the workplace. But in the new curricula for social studies in upper secondary school, which the government decided on shortly before Christmas, it has been chosen to remove the parts that would mean that students should learn about the labor market, labor law and the work environment, and about the different roles and importance of the labor market's partners for social development.

In what way does Education Minister Lotta Edholm mean that young people should gain knowledge about their rights and obligations in the labor market when the government is now removing work life knowledge from the upper secondary school's curriculum?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Statsrådet Lotta Edholm (L)

Mr. Speaker! It is naturally an important question. When one makes changes to the curricula, it is done from the context that exists. It can happen that, for example, there is a very high amount of content congestion—which is something many teachers point out—while at the same time one wants to include new parts in the curricula.

We have now appointed a curriculum investigation. It will primarily deal with the subject plans for primary school but also review how the subject plans have functioned in upper secondary school. We are getting a completely new upper secondary school that will come into force in about a year and a half. This will be seen as a unified whole.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Carita Boulwén (SD)

Mr. Speaker! The Moderates and the Liberals have moved forward with a proposal for a new gender identity law which means that it shall become easier to change gender in the population register without medical investigation or diagnosis. It shall then be possible to have two different genders simultaneously, one biological and one legal. This is a proposal that we in the Sweden Democrats consider to be reprehensible.

We see a sharply increased number of young people, especially girls, who are diagnosed with gender dysphoria where the majority have other psychiatric comorbidities. Studies have shown that 80 to 95 percent of children with gender dysphoria before puberty outgrow the diagnosis in puberty. Children and young people with mental health problems risk not receiving the care they actually need with this proposal.

My question to the Minister for Health and Social Affairs is: How does the Minister view the risks and consequences that individuals can be affected by with this proposal that children and young people themselves should be allowed to determine their gender without a medical investigation or diagnosis?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! The issue is being handled by the Riksdag and is no longer on the government's table. We in the government could not reach an agreement, so it is now up to the Riksdag to make a decision.

I believe it is necessary to view adults differently than children. Children should be surrounded by extra protection and safety. When one is an adult, one can make different decisions than one can make when one is a child. It is also important to maintain contact with health and medical care. One may need different kinds of support, not just to directly enter a changing treatment, a transition, but also other things because one has a comorbidity.

For me, it is essential that the 18-year age limit exists but also that one has contact with health and medical care. But it remains to be seen what decisions the parties in the Riksdag will make. After that, the government will, of course, handle the issue in the appropriate manner.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Adrian Magnusson (S)

Mr. Speaker! Platform work is spreading across the Swedish labor market, and it is affecting more and more social sectors. It is work characterized by poor conditions. Many are forced to have their own equipment, for example their own bicycles or similar, the working hours are uncertain, the wages are poor, and as an employee, one finds oneself in a particularly vulnerable position many times. This has been witnessed in literature, newspaper articles, podcasts, and in many other different places.

Insurance covering so-called ordinary employees does not apply, illness can lead to the phone stopping ringing and the occupational health responsibility that the employer usually has does not exist. Nevertheless, this is many times the only source of income for those who work in this type of work.

I want to ask Minister Brandberg what she thinks about this type of work spreading across the Swedish labor market.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Statsrådet Paulina Brandberg (L)

Mr. Speaker! Our labor market is changing, and it perhaps changed at an extra high pace during the pandemic, when our lifestyles changed and we thus saw new forms of work spread out and escalate in the Swedish labor market. It is important that all workers in Sweden, regardless of in what form one performs their work, have a safe and secure working environment with good working conditions.

Within the EU, trilogue negotiations are currently underway regarding the so-called platform directive, which targets exactly this type of worker and ensures their protection, against the background that this is something we see more and more of, not only in Sweden but in the entire EU. Sweden's position is, of course, that we await the outcome and see what happens with this directive. Then we will see what measures we may eventually need to take in Swedish legislation as a consequence of this.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Michael Rubbestad (SD)

Mr. Speaker! My question also goes to Minister for Equality Paulina Brandberg.

During the recently concluded Christmas period, a time when schools are closed and children are more isolated, the risk increases that children in Sweden are taken abroad without permission and subjected to serious crimes such as, for example, genital mutilation or forced marriage. The school, which often serves as a safe place for many children, is as is known not available during the break.

This situation is a consequence of previous governments' immigration and integration policies, which have been characterized by a lack of responsibility and unclear guidelines. The result is that the children now have to bear the burden of these political failures.

To address this very serious situation, effective cooperation between schools, border police, and social services is needed. The legislation needs to be reviewed, and the penalties for those who commit these crimes need to be toughened. Furthermore, it is crucial that knowledge of these issues permeates the work of all those who interact with children daily.

Against this background, how does the Council of State and the Government plan to act to stop these crimes against children and ensure that the necessary competence is present among those who meet our young people?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Statsrådet Paulina Brandberg (L)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Member, for an important question! There should be no empty school desks, as there are today after every school break; that is absolutely correct. This is something we must act for.

As I have mentioned earlier during the question period, the government decided last week on a referral to the Council on Legislation regarding an expanded travel ban, in order to be able to protect more young people. But we also see that the existing legislation on travel bans has not been applied to the extent that I might think it should have been applied. We must check what this is due to.

One explanation is that there is still a great deal of ignorance and also an apprehension to tackle these issues among some of the actors who are to apply this legislation. We need to carry out a major knowledge lift.

We must also focus specifically on the school. The Government has tasked Skolverket with strengthening the systematic work against honor-related violence and oppression. I hope and believe that this is a piece of the puzzle so that the legislation we have can be applied to a greater extent.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Jytte Guteland (S)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Pourmokhtari.

Today, the EU's climate council announced that the member states are doing too little to reach the agreed climate goals. Sweden has historically pursued an active climate policy, both in Sweden, in the EU, and globally. During our time in government, very much happened. We got a climate law in place in the EU and laid the foundations for the entire climate package, and the Swedish government pushed forward for the new industrialization.

A just climate transition is needed so that ordinary people feel security. This government, backseat-steered by SD, has broken this trend and instead started with increased emissions.

I and we Social Democrats have many times asked the Minister for Climate Action what she intends to do to change this and have been told that the answer will come in the climate action plan. It was presented shortly before Christmas, and it turned out to be empty barrels - and they just rattle, as is known. There were investigations here and there, and the climate ambition was put on the back burner.

I would therefore like to ask: What does the Minister intend to do to meet the goals by 2030?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

Mr. Speaker! The member himself mentions that this question has been asked many times. I have also answered it many times, with much of the work that the government carries out. I am happy to repeat it.

What this government is doing is, firstly, that we are delivering the largest climate and environment budgets in budgets that this government's basis has had passed. If we look at 2022, which is the only year when the climate and environment budget was larger than the one that this government has now delivered, we see that it was not the red-greens who got their budget passed. We are therefore delivering more money to climate and environment than the red-green governments have done previously.

What we have also done is that in the EU, during our time in government, we concluded Fit for 55, the historical climate package with as many different legislative pieces as there are. One can be grateful that it was this government that got to come in when it was not only talked about, but also how we are to manage the climate crisis. That is done with more electricity and with much of the work that is ongoing in Sweden to electrify.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Malin Larsson (S)

Mr. Speaker! The Government itself assesses in its budget for 2024 that the national milestone targets for the ESR sector for 2030 and 2040 cannot be reached with existing policy instruments without additional measures being needed to reach the targets. Today we can also read that the EU's climate council urges the member states to hurry up.

The government has now presented its climate action plan, which lacks effective measures to reach the transport sector goal for 2030. When the government now pursues a policy that increases emissions, in conflict with the framework, I want to ask the Minister for Climate and the Environment: Who will bear the cost when Sweden is forced to buy emission allowances, let the forest stand, or in the worst case, pay fines to the EU because we do not reach the goals by 2030? Is it the forest owners, the farmers, the industry, or the citizens?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Statsrådet Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

Mr. Speaker! Let me begin by mentioning that this government is not breaking climate policy frameworks or Swedish laws, but is working entirely in accordance with everything we have worked out. We have worked out many different climate goals in Sweden's Riksdag. Last time I checked the facts, I saw that the previous government did not succeed in reaching all climate goals and solving the climate crisis. Such rhetoric is, therefore, misleading to say the least and quite problematic.

But let me return to the subject: how we shall work in different ways to achieve the short-term climate goals. This government is delivering more money than ever for the restoration and recovery of wetlands. This government is making a historic investment in charging infrastructure so that we will have an electric-powered transport fleet, not just in Stockholm, Gothenburg and perhaps Malmö, but in all of Sweden. We are also working properly to secure market introduction support and other measures that ensure even the heavy vehicles switch to electric power.

There we have a third of Sweden's emissions. Another third comes from industry, where we need a lot of electricity. This, not least, is something this government handles much better than the previous one.

Question time was hereby concluded.

Question Time

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)