Question Time

FÖRSTE VICE TALMANNEN

I would like to welcome the ministers. Questions today will be answered by Minister for Employment and Integration Mats Persson, Minister for Social Affairs Jakob Forssmed, Minister Niklas Wykman, and Minister for Rural Affairs Peter Kullgren.

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 relates to his performance of duties. The question shall therefore not concern, for example, conditions within political parties. Minister for Employment and Integration Mats Persson answers both general political questions and questions within his area of responsibility.

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

Adrian Magnusson (S)

Mr. Speaker! 45,000 young people are registered as job seekers with Arbetsförmedlingen. According to SCB's labor force survey, 24.4 percent of young people between 18 and 24 years old are unemployed. It is a very high figure, one of the highest in the entire EU.

This cannot be seen as anything other than a failure. Unemployment is destructive and harmful both for the individual and for society, but among young people in particular, it must be seen as especially harmful. In addition to making it impossible for young people to, for example, sign a rental contract, unemployment means that one never gets to experience the freedom that a salary deposit into a bank account represents, despite everything. This causes young people to lose hope.

It is society's responsibility to give young people a sense of freedom and an atmosphere of hope. What does the Minister for Employment say to all those young people who are unemployed at this moment?

Question Time

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

Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Mats Persson (L)

Mr. Speaker! Thanks to Adrian Magnusson for a very well-formulated and pertinent question.

Being a young person, getting your first foot into the labor market and getting that sense of community it gives to sit in a breakroom and chat with your colleagues - and the feeling of making a difference and being able to grow as a human being, and not least earning money so that one can stand on one's own feet - can never be overestimated.

We can have seminar exercises on whether youth unemployment in Sweden is 25 percent or 9 percent, depending on how one defines it, but that is not the important thing in the question. The important thing in the question is that we need to do more so that more young people have the opportunity to enter the Swedish labor market.

The government takes this very seriously. We have a large arsenal of measures that now mean we are offering educational opportunities. Next year there will be 120,000 places in vocational training which create many opportunities for young people.

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

Adrian Magnusson (S)

Mr. Speaker! It is pleasing to hear that the Minister for Employment considers this an urgent issue and that he takes it very seriously. The Minister for Employment concluded his presentation, or what one should call it, by mentioning a concrete measure. That is good, but with this number of unemployed young people, significantly more measures than the one the Minister for Employment mentioned here will be needed.

This is a question that is very serious. Can the Minister for Employment mention any further measures?

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

Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Mats Persson (L)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Adrian Magnusson, for your great commitment to this issue!

I believe that this is primarily about two parts, of which education is one. More must pass upper secondary school, and more must be given the opportunity to acquire the right knowledge. One must also have the opportunity to undergo a vocational education that leads to a job where one learns on the job. Education is absolutely crucial for more young people to be able to enter the Swedish labor market.

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

Clara Aranda (SD)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister for Social Affairs Jakob Forssmed.

The debate about the so-called apathetic refugee children seems to have fallen silent now. We have previously received testimonies from people who are adults today and who have chosen to step forward and tell how their parents forced them to act apathetic.

Doctors, caregivers, and police have testified to obvious simulation and manipulation where children have repeatedly been used as a tool for a permanent residence permit in Sweden. Children have thus, during a protracted and painful process, been forced to live as unconscious and bedridden with tube feeding. They have lost a normal life, their schooling, and everything that entails.

Both the National Board of Health and Welfare and the medical profession have a great responsibility in this. I want to ask how the Minister views the need to investigate to what extent this type of crime has occurred and what routines the government is working with to prevent children from ever being exploited in this way again.

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

Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I thank the member for the question.

An extensive review has been conducted over the last few years regarding the situation we had with apathetic refugee children a large number of years ago. It is very good that those types of reviews and follow-ups are being carried out. I assume that judicial authorities can also do work regarding this to the extent that crimes have been committed in this context and they are not time-barred.

It is always important to develop healthcare and elderly care so that it is constantly based on the best possible evidence and data, and so that any measures implemented are supported by guidelines and other sources. It is, of course, a continuous task regarding different groups. In particular, the activities in psychiatry need to be developed in many different ways. There are elements of coercion and other things within psychiatry, and we have ongoing assignments to Socialstyrelsen to review how one uses the best possible methods and can reduce the use of coercion, for example. It is a continuous task.

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

Clara Aranda (SD)

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

The government has previously shown that it is not afraid to tackle difficult issues, and I believe that one must be a bit more specific here. There is much we could discuss regarding how things should be done and what we need to do regarding this. I want to say, therefore, that the Sverigedemokraterna stand ready to continue working on this important issue. It is incredibly important that these children receive the redress they deserve and that we ensure that something similar can never happen again. I hope that the Sverigedemokraterna, together with the government, can continue to work and focus on this issue.

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

Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

Mr. Speaker! This is one of many pressing issues concerning children and young people. It is a matter of us constantly developing our knowledge regarding these types of issues in order to be able to offer children the best possible care and to be able to ensure that their rights are upheld, regardless of the situations they find themselves in.

It is an important task that we, among other things, carry out at the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs.

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

Kajsa Fredholm (V)

Mr. Speaker! The National Food Agency has concluded that 800 fewer people per year would die of cancer if Swedes ate less red meat and processed meat products. They will present these new dietary guidelines at the beginning of next year. Rural Affairs Minister Kullgren said in an interview on SVT recently that one also needs to take a preparedness perspective into account, but the National Food Agency maintains that this has already been taken into account.

My question to the Minister for Rural Affairs is: Does Minister for Rural Affairs Kullgren not trust her own agency, in this case the Swedish Food Agency?

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

Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I thank the member for the question.

The government gave a fairly clear mandate to the National Food Agency after the Nordic nutrition recommendations were presented. In these issues, we wanted a broader perspective and a broader scope where one also takes into account the preparedness perspective, but also which foods we have naturally good conditions to produce in Sweden.

The National Food Agency has continued to work on this, as is expected, and has recently completed a consultation round on its proposal for dietary guidelines. The agency is now analyzing the comments received.

Parallel to that, it is clear that we are also looking at whether the assignment we in the government gave has been followed up. If we conclude that it has not been done, we will have to consider giving other assignments.

But it is important to have a broader picture when talking about cost. If we have no food on the table, it will have enormous health consequences.

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

Kajsa Fredholm (V)

Mr. Speaker! I thank you for the answer.

I would also like to take this opportunity to ask another question. Can the Minister promise the Swedish people that the grazing requirement will not be removed and that our Swedish dairy cows will be allowed to continue grazing outdoors?

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

Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! In that matter, we have just received an investigation which will be sent out for consultation, which I look forward to. After that, the usual processes will be carried out. I cannot promise anything about this in this situation.

However, I can promise to continue working so that we have a strong food production. I hope that we will be able to reverse the negative development regarding milk production in Sweden and that we will see more, and not fewer, dairy farms in our beautiful country.

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

Stina Larsson (C)

Mr. Speaker! With Christmas approaching, there are a lot of expectations in the air. Swedish-produced food is important for the Swedish Christmas table. To get the right conditions for the future would be a really great Christmas present for all of Sweden's farmers.

High up on my and the Center Party's wish list is now an updated food strategy. We need a clear and well-filled strategy that provides clarity and strength to the entire food chain from farmers to consumers. Now we have waited long enough.

My question to Minister for Rural Affairs Kullgren is: When can we expect to receive this long-delayed food strategy? Will we perhaps get a glimpse of it before New Year, or will we see it first under next year's Christmas tree?

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

Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I thank you for the question.

It has been a very important task to update the food strategy, which now has over eight years on its back. It was received very well in the industry by our farmers and other actors within the food chain. But unfortunately, we have seen that the effects have been far too few, not least at the farm level. Therefore, we decided to initiate a process with a food strategy 2.0. It is now quite a while since I stated that we wanted to get both the budget bill and the total defense bill finished and get parts of the Defense Preparation's parts before we presented an updated food strategy.

I do not think that Stina Larsson needs to wait until next year's Christmas tree.

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

Stina Larsson (C)

Mr. Speaker! We are therefore getting no clear information regarding the date. But expectations are growing the longer the time passes.

What will the strategy then contain? I have just been at a lunch seminar on food and research. A great breadth within food policy was desired. The same applied to climate adaptation and the availability of water in agriculture. Cooperation between different political areas is required there.

What will the minister do when the strategy is ready, so that it actually makes a difference and is as broad as required?

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

Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! It is not the case that we are waiting for the food strategy to be completed before we act. What farmers themselves highlight as the most important parts are profitability and the regulatory burden, which is too heavy. In that regard, we have commissioned investigations, and we have also already had investigations presented. On the profitability side, we have worked through the budget, and we are strengthening the common agricultural policy with just over three hundred million, which goes to Sweden's farmers. The food strategy is important, but we do not wait for it to be in place before we act.

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

Emma Nohrén (MP)

Mr. Speaker! My question also goes to Minister for Rural Affairs Peter Kullgren. I shall, as usual, speak about fishing. We have already discussed fishing today in the committee. At that time, it concerned the West Coast. But almost three months ago, the decision regarding the Baltic Sea was made.

I asked a question during the question period one and a half months ago about how the government intends to handle the decision that was actually taken. At that time, it was the minister's party colleague, Minister for Energy and Business Ebba Busch, who chose to answer the question, even though she did not have to answer general policy questions at that time. She called it a "catastrophic decision." The government was not satisfied, but it was too early to say how they would proceed to mitigate the result of the negotiations.

It has thus been one and a half months, and now in December the quotas are distributed. My question to the Minister for Rural Affairs is: How does the government intend to utilize the national opportunities available to mitigate the effects of what Ebba Busch called a catastrophic decision?

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

Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Ebba Busch also stated that it would have been even more catastrophic if we had said no in that situation. This is important to point out. I can take on that role, because no one else usually does. Sweden's participation lowered the quotas significantly compared to the starting position and what the other Baltic countries wanted.

Sometimes one gets the impression that the poster politics in this issue is more important than the currents in the sea. That is not the case for me and the government. It is extremely central that we keep the quotas at as low a level as possible. It is true that we would have liked to see even lower quotas than what now became the result. But during all the years that Emma Nohrén's party ruled, they never succeeded, not even once, in landing with quotas at the lowest level in the scientific advice. We did that now. Had they succeeded with that at that time, perhaps we would not have such a strained situation in the Baltic Sea as we now de facto have.

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

Emma Nohrén (MP)

Mr. Speaker! I request to remind the Minister that the situation did not look like that in the Baltic Sea during that time. There was also a reporting error, which made the herring stock appear to be much better during the time we were in government.

The fact remains - we have this decision, regardless of what the government has voted for. It became 108 percent more in the central Baltic Sea when it came to herring and sprat. You in the government have said that you will return with how this decision should be handled. That was also what Energy and Business Minister Ebba Busch said you would do. Now it is December, and the quotas are to be distributed. How will the government do this?

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

Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! The quotas have gone up and down very much over time. But Miljöpartiet will not get away from the fact that the previous government never managed to land on what is called F-lower within the scientific council's range. You cannot dodge that in any way. Yes, we wanted more. But in a historical perspective, it is still a significantly better negotiation than what was previously done.

We have submitted a marine environment bill with many measures. We have opened up the entire toolbox for the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management.

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

Boriana Åberg (M)

Mr. Speaker! Since the previous S and S-MP governments shut down four nuclear reactors, southern Sweden has been plagued by both high electricity prices and insufficient capacity. Companies are prevented from expanding, and households are terrified by the electricity bills. When it is cold, Sweden imports dirty coal power from the continent.

That is why the Tidö government's announcement regarding the expansion of nuclear power was very welcome. Skåne and the rest of the country need cheap, reliable, and fossil-free electricity. The weather-dependent power sources, sun and wind, require base load power that stabilizes the system when it is dark and when it blows too little or too much. Therefore, I want to ask Minister for Finance Niklas Wykman: How are the plans for the financing of new nuclear power progressing?

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

Statsrådet Niklas Wykman (M)

Mr. Speaker! I thank you very much for the question, which is central for Sweden and also central for Europe and the world.

If we are serious about the climate transition and that we are to rid ourselves of carbon sources in our energy production, we need to expand the energy system. If we want more volatile power production, we also need more baseload power to create stability. We see how badly it has gone when well-functioning nuclear reactors have been decommissioned prematurely in Sweden and in other countries. It is unfortunate that it turned out that way.

Now we see a light at the end of the tunnel. It is a stressful situation for Swedish companies and for Swedish households, but now there is a light at the end of the tunnel in the sense that these plans are progressing well. We will return to the Riksdag, and it will be possible with more carbon-free energy production in Sweden moving forward.

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

Boriana Åberg (M)

Mr. Speaker! I thank the Minister for the answer.

Views have been expressed that the expansion of new nuclear power is too expensive. I therefore wonder: If we turn the reasoning around - how expensive is it not to build new nuclear power? What does it cost Sweden to refrain?

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

Statsrådet Niklas Wykman (M)

Mr. Speaker! It is true that it is expensive to build new nuclear power, but it is not the same as it being cheap to refrain from doing so. If we were to continue to have a volatile energy system with deficiencies in our base load, we could indeed see such things as power outages and very varying prices, and it is very difficult for both households and companies to manage such a situation. Above all, it is harmful to the climate transition.

Many different figures appear in the debate, and many of them are unfortunately not correct. The model being proposed implies that the state shall help with the borrowing, which will make it cheaper. The cost for households will be, with normal electricity prices, a few tens or up to a hundred kronor a month.

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

Dan Hovskär (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I shall pose a question to Minister for Social Affairs Jakob Forssmed.

Now we are approaching Christmas, and then we are reminded of all the people who should have been with us but are not. Every year, approximately 1,500 people lose their lives through suicide - or suicide, as we also say. It also affects others' lives forever. Those who have lost someone close know that the Christmas weekend is one of the times when the grief and longing feel most painful.

Prioritizing mental health and suicide prevention is very important for us Christian Democrats. Now, child and adolescent psychiatry, BUP, is in a very pressured situation with long queues. The question is therefore quite simply: What does the Minister for Social Affairs and the government intend to do about this?

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

Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you for a very pertinent question, Dan Hovskär!

It is not just a number or a figure, but someone's brother, someone's sister, someone's colleague and someone's friend who takes their life. I am very pleased that the government is truly stepping up the suicide prevention work. We have appointed a coordinator for these issues, and a national strategy to broaden the work on these issues so that more are involved is on its way. Next year we are investing 400 million to prevent suicide.

The acute psychiatric care must be improved, and we are working particularly hard to strengthen the accessibility to child and adolescent psychiatry. We are allocating 1 billion kronor next year specifically so that the queues will be shortened and the children who have a great need for help can receive it in a timely manner.

I am very pleased that the government is now stepping up this work, because there are so many who are suffering and need help. That help is needed, and it was needed in time.

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

Dan Hovskär (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you very much for the answer, Minister for Social Affairs!

A lot is happening, we hear here. But at the same time, more and more people are experiencing mental health issues such as stress and sleep difficulties, and more are being signed off sick with mental diagnoses. Can the Minister for Social Affairs mention further measures that the government is taking to improve mental health and break the negative trend we see in this area?

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

Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

Mr. Speaker! It is about strengthening the healthcare system's possibilities and helping those with great needs to have those needs met, but it is also about working with all health factors – those that prevent mental ill-health, such as exercise and, not least, sleep.

In Sweden, we have a bit of a sleep crisis among young people, who lie and scroll on their phones in the evenings. It reduces their resilience against stress and pressure, and it actually increases suicidal thoughts not to sleep properly at night. It is therefore incredibly important that children and young people sleep and that we understand the importance of sleep for their health.

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

Patrik Karlson (L)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Niklas Wykman.

A well-functioning housing market is one of society's most important fundamental pillars. A characteristic of a healthy housing market is that the inflow and outflow of people is dynamic and that there is mobility between different types of housing forms and sizes throughout the entire moving chain.

Today, however, far too many are outside the housing market and find themselves in an undesirable situation. The consequences are that one cannot move to where the jobs are, that one might need to turn down their dream education at university, and that the dream of a family is pushed into the future.

When it comes to entering the owned housing market, it is a matter of having difficulty putting together the down payment required to buy one's own home. Many in the first-time buyer group, especially young people, have a steady job and a good income but are denied mortgages partly due to strict amortization requirements. This is something the government is now reviewing, but there are more measures to take.

My question therefore is: How does the government view the introduction of a state starter loan in order to get more first-time buyers to manage the down payment for an owned home?

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

Statsrådet Niklas Wykman (M)

Mr. Speaker! Many thanks for the question, Member!

Someone could obviously say that it would be somewhat contradictory to first introduce a lot of requirements for obtaining loans, as well as a lot of requirements on amortizations, and then in the next step introduce a form of special regulation that is intended to make it easier to borrow despite these requirements.

It does not mean that it is ruled out to do so, but we have just received an investigation that has looked at the requirements that are set when one borrows and how much down payment is needed. One thing that has been very much discussed is that specifically young households who are to establish themselves on the housing market can meet a requirement to amortize 3 percent of the loan initially, which can become a very heavy burden.

So, we are now looking at the investigation proposals. There are no closed doors for other types of measures, but one can primarily imagine that it is a lower-hanging fruit to look at the existing regulations before finding shortcuts around them.

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

Patrik Karlson (L)

Mr. Speaker! I thank the Minister for the answer.

I still like that some doors are kept open, and I look forward to the discussions that are held before we make decisions in 2025. I believe it is of great importance that we have an open mind and continue to push and pull different proposals to get more people into the housing market. The question is, after all, very important.

I would like to take the opportunity to ask one more question. Many of our neighboring countries have a tax-free savings account, which has had a successful result. How does the Minister view the introduction of a Swedish variant of that?

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

Statsrådet Niklas Wykman (M)

Mr. Speaker! I thank the member for the follow-up question.

I can answer roughly like this: We view it positively in light of the fact that we are now introducing a tax-free part for investment savings accounts. There is an opportunity to save tax-free there – for example, for a home, if one wishes. It shall take place in two steps, and according to the proposal, it will be quite a lot that one can save tax-free. It could, for example, cover a down payment for an apartment quite well.

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

Malin Larsson (S)

Mr. Speaker! I have a question for the Minister for Rural Affairs.

Unfortunately, the trend regarding smuggling dogs persists. We also see that the animals' suffering feeds the criminal gangs, as this is an illegal market with a lot of money.

These poor dogs are smuggled with false documentation and under atrocious conditions. The dogs are also often malnourished or sick and sometimes even dying when they are found.

This is a market that must be regulated. We Social Democrats have today presented five proposals for measures that the Minister is welcome to take note of. I have them here with me.

Will the government in the near future present any of its own proposals regarding smuggling dogs and illegal dog breeding?

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

Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I thank the member for an important question. I believe that everyone who likes animals and has heard stories about this or seen pictures of how it can look gets a rather large lump in their stomach when they see how people can behave towards animals. This is a perverse behavior towards animals.

Of course, we gladly accept good proposals, and we will, of course, look into this. Then we will see what can be agreed upon.

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

Eric Palmqvist (SD)

Mr. Speaker! The cultivation limit was introduced in Sweden in 1867. It is an administrative boundary that runs through Lappland from northeast to southwest, a bit below the mountain area. In Jämtland and Härjedalen, the corresponding boundary is simply called the reindeer grazing mountains. The practical significance of this administrative boundary has diminished, but the boundary still has significance for the reindeer husbandry act and certain hunting and fishing-related regulations.

The border constitutes an obstacle for the municipalities when it comes to acquiring state land for construction and development. In some cases, the state is even the largest landowner in the municipality – not infrequently, this concerns the country's most sparsely populated municipalities.

The phenomenon gives rise to a shortage of land and creates a risk of hindered growth. I would therefore like to ask Minister for Rural Affairs Kullgren if, from his area of competence, he intends to work for increased opportunities to exploit state land above the cultivation limit. Today, this is hindered, not least by the reindeer husbandry.

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

Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! There are many perspectives and national interests that need to be taken into account.

It is not impossible to acquire land. We handle a large number of such cases. Some applications are granted because there are reasons for it, while others are not. I therefore do not think that one should assume that development is something impossible. On the other hand, it needs to be possible to combine it with other interests.

At the current moment, we have no proposals to change this in any way. My view is that it works relatively well. One must apply, but if one has grounds, one is usually allowed to acquire land.

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

Ciczie Weidby (V)

Mr. Speaker! The year 2024 is nearing its end. At the end of the year, it is quite common to engage in evaluations and reflections. If one were to engage in evaluating the government's efforts in relation to the salary that the ministers receive, one could observe that unemployment, which Mats Persson has a mandate to combat, has increased during 2024.

The chaotic privatization of Arbetsförmedlingen has, unsurprisingly, proven to be very inefficient. Mats Persson still gets a tax cut of 45,000 kronor a year, even though he hasn't done his job. My colleagues at Ikea, who sell candles and sofas as if there were no tomorrow at all, get only about 200 kronor.

My specific question is what Mats Persson intends to do to justify his salary during 2025.

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

Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Mats Persson (L)

Mr. Speaker! I thank Ciczie Weidby for the question.

I believe that we here in the Riksdag, broadly across party lines, share the view that it is important that more people get a job to go to and that we in broad community - broadly across the political block boundaries - can find solutions to make Sweden better. Our task is, after all, not to quarrel with one another but to try to solve the problems Sweden has.

A big problem is indeed unemployment. We see that it has grown after Putin's invasion. The high inflation and the high interest rates have laid a wet blanket over the Swedish economy, which has caused unemployment to go up.

Now we see that it is brightening on the horizon. Interest rates are falling very quickly, and the Swedish people are getting much better off.

We also need to do more to ensure that it always pays more to work. All people who work in Sweden will, with the government's policy, receive a tax cut that makes it always pay to work.

(Applause)

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

Anders Karlsson (C)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister for Rural Affairs Peter Kullgren.

In the skeleton of the food strategy 2.0, we see a very small footprint in the fishing industry. Even when we discuss the self-sufficiency rate, fish is rarely or never mentioned. At the same time, we know from both the first and second world wars that fish is a very important food from a preparedness perspective.

Does the Minister agree with this analysis, and how does the Minister, in that case, go about getting the fishing issue on the agenda?

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

Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! The short and simple answer is yes. In the process of updating the food strategy, we have placed special emphasis on speaking with all the industry organizations that exist within all corners of the fishing industry. It has been an important perspective. We have also received many wise inputs regarding the fishing industry's role, including from a preparedness perspective, in the referral process and the work we have done with the food strategy.

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

Rebecka Le Moine (MP)

Mr. Speaker! My question also goes to Minister for Rural Affairs Peter Kullgren.

The government has been strongly driven by its ideological wolf-hatred and decided that we should only have 170 wolves in Sweden. This is to be stated as the new reference value. There shall therefore be 170 wolves in all of Sweden, despite the fact that it concerns a very inbred population that is also red-listed.

My question to the Minister for Rural Affairs is: What preventive measures does the government intend to present that are also there to reduce the level of conflict in the wolf issue?

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

Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Sweden shall live up to its EU legal obligations. We shall have a wolf population in Sweden. This chamber has however decided - I do not know how many times - that we shall have a population of between 170 and 270 wolves.

We have also given a mandate to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, which has come back regarding this fact and stated that Sweden could have a smaller wolf population - of 170 individuals - provided that certain measures are taken.

I cannot anticipate this, but I will return to it. It is, however, among other things, about ensuring a higher, or denser, migration of wolves from outside to Sweden in order for it to be possible.

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

Johan Hultberg (M)

Mr. Speaker! I live in Västra Götaland, where the region recently tried to introduce a new medical records management system – an introduction that went completely wrong.

The failed implementation is very serious and very costly. It is also serious that the problems and deficiencies that the new system was intended to remedy will now persist for a longer period. In Västra Götaland, as in Sweden as a whole, we have major problems with health data not being able to be shared between different healthcare providers. Therefore, an important point in the Tidö Agreement is to create a better digital infrastructure. Lack of digital infrastructure is, in fact, one of the reasons for the difficulties in sharing health data.

My question therefore goes to Social Minister Jakob Forssmed. How is the work progressing? When can we have a digital infrastructure in place that creates conditions for innovation, that makes everyday life easier for healthcare workers, and that makes healthcare more accessible and safer for all of us who are patients?

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

Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I note that the implementation of Millennium has been paused based on the feedback regarding the system that Västra Götalandsregionen has received from management and employees. It is not the government that purchases the medical record system, but it is quite clear that the implementation has not proceeded according to plan.

I also note that the system has been sold just with the possibility of sharing data between different healthcare providers. That is the entire core of the reform work that the government is now undertaking through the points we have in the Tidö Agreement regarding this. All healthcare providers in Sweden, regardless of owner, private or public, shall have the possibility and the obligation to share data so that it follows the patient regardless of where in the country one is and which healthcare provider one seeks care from.

It is absolutely central to the work on patient safety that we get this right. It should have been in place a long time ago, but now we are doing the work that Sweden has not done previously. It is also important to protect the time of healthcare workers, which is spent to an all too high degree on entering the same tasks into different systems. That is not sufficient, and the government has an extensive reform effort to ensure that this is put in place.

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

Mathias Bengtsson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Many of us from Dalarna choked on our coffee when we heard in early 2022 that Trafikverket would begin to charge fees for events on state roads. It was a hard blow to, among other things, ski races and cycling races.

But even the tradition of traditions, the almost sacred Midsummer celebration, ended up in the danger zone. A clear example is the small village association in Tibble in Leksand, which would be forced to pay 20,000 kronor to be allowed to raise the maypole - 20,000 kronor to be allowed to celebrate a tradition that has existed in Dalarna since the 1300s, long before there were even state roads or state authorities!

After the current government took office, the fee was removed for two years, and now the government has also solved the issue long-term. It is extremely pleasing for the entire voluntary association life in Sweden.

Can the Minister for Social Affairs tell what the government intends to do moving forward to further help civil society?

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

Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Roslagsvåren, Jämthjulingen, Tre Slott, Möckeln Runt, Brudfjällsracet and the maypole raising at Tibble - these are arrangements in Sweden. And they are arrangements that make Sweden what it is. I am therefore very happy that we now have a permanent, and not just a temporary, solution that ensures these arrangements can be exempt from the fees.

I am also pleased to be able to provide another announcement. There has been a threat hanging over the non-profit sector that it would be forced to install charging stations at community centers, churches, and sports venues. The Government will arrange an exemption from the requirement for charging stations. It also feels very good to be able to tell civil society and the non-profit sector.

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

Björn Petersson (S)

Mr. Speaker! I have a question for Minister for Rural Affairs Peter Kullgren. Yesterday, the World Wide Fund for Nature presented the Fish Guide 2024. It describes an acute situation for fishing in the Baltic Sea, where it gives a red light for all fish caught herring from the western and central Baltic Sea and the Bothnian Sea due to alleged overfishing and lack of management.

Several food chains have stated in their sustainability policies that they strive to follow the World Wide Fund for Nature's fish guide. The small quota that our coastal fishers are allowed to fish is therefore now at risk of not being sold in our stores because it is red-listed according to the World Wide Fund for Nature's fish guide. Small-scale coastal fishing is therefore at risk of being red-listed.

My question to the Minister for Rural Affairs is: What measures does the Minister plan to take here and now to save the herring and our coastal fishers?

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

Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! The health of the Baltic Sea and the health of the fish in the Baltic Sea is extremely central for the government. We are working on a broad front.

One thing is TAC and the quota negotiations that take place first with the other Baltic Sea countries and then with all other EU countries at the ministerial council. There we have different views on how much fish we should be allowed to take, and it is only to be noted that Sweden stands relatively alone. It will require a lot of diplomatic work to convince the other EU countries that we are right and they are wrong.

Parallel to this, the government has recently presented and adopted a marine environment bill containing a long series of measures. In it, we talk about the marine environment but also about predators such as seals and cormorants, which also pose a threat to the fish in the Baltic Sea.

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

Sara-Lena Bjälkö (SD)

Mr. Speaker! Vocational education is crucial for meeting the needs of the labor market. The combination of theory and practice, especially through workplace-based learning, APL, gives students the experience they need to become employable.

Serious reports have now emerged that vocational training conducted by the nationwide Movant, commissioned by either Varberg or Falkenberg, do not meet the required standards. Students have received passing grades without having completed the courses, and apprentices have been denied APL but still received grades. Companies in the region express mistrust and hesitate to accept more students.

This undermines the educators' credibility, affects the students' future prospects, and creates a gap between school and working life.

How does the Minister for Employment intend to ensure the quality of vocational training and restore confidence among both companies and students?

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

Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Mats Persson (L)

Mr. Speaker! I thank Sara-Lena Bjälkö for an excellent question.

This is an activity that is becoming increasingly important in a Sweden where the government wants vocational training to become more important. We are now expanding the number of places very significantly, because we simply believe that young people, but also adults, learn in a workplace, at work, and need many practical elements in their education. It is not just about theoretical knowledge but also about practical skills.

The idea of apprenticeship systems and the idea that one can get a "real" job by attending an education that is close to the labor market is very important. Precisely for that reason, it is important that we have control over the systems and that cheating and irregularities can be dealt with. Our authorities, the School Inspectorate among others, are working intensively to increase the quality and ensure that these types of deviations in the system disappear.

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

Jacob Risberg (MP)

Mr. Speaker! On July 19 this year, the International Court of Justice stated that Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territory is illegal, that Israel must cease the occupation and that the Israeli settlers must leave the occupied territory.

The court also says that all states have a duty not to contribute in a way that prolongs the occupation or supports the illegal settlements.

At the same time, a recent report from 25 international civil society organizations shows that several Swedish and foreign companies are operating in these settlements. The report also shows that five of the AP funds have investments in these companies.

My question therefore goes to the Minister for Finance Wykman. I wonder how the Minister intends to act so that our pension money is not used to contribute to continued occupation and that Sweden does not violate the International Court of Justice's ruling.

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

Statsrådet Niklas Wykman (M)

Mr. Speaker! The activities of the AP funds are regulated in Swedish law, and their investment decisions are not something that I, as a government minister, shall comment on or decide over.

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

Saila Quicklund (M)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to the Minister for Employment.

The work line is important, and everyone who can and wants to should work. We Swedes are living longer and longer, and that is a gift. But it also means that more and more people will have to be supported by those of us who work.

The work line has never been more important, and the exclusion that has taken hold is very worrying. Over 1 million people of working age in Sweden are not self-sufficient, and the municipalities paid out 10.4 billion in financial assistance last year.

We cannot have it this way. No human being should be left in a state of exclusion. Those who live in a state of exclusion need to be met with the right measures to enter employment and become part of the community.

What is the government doing to break the exclusion?

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

Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Mats Persson (L)

Mr. Speaker! I thank Saila Quicklund for an excellent question.

It is about legitimacy for our entire society. It is everyone who gets up early in the morning and even in darkness and filth doggedly goes to their jobs in, for example, healthcare or school or to their companies that build our society, and these people deserve and expect that everyone who does not work still does their utmost to support themselves.

Not everyone can live on benefits, but everyone can contribute something. We believe that all people can grow through high expectations, and we do not accept that people live on benefits year after year without providing a counter-performance.

The government is now presenting new proposals concerning setting higher requirements for people living on benefits, so that everyone can participate and contribute to our society.

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

Ingemar Kihlström (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I direct my question to Minister for Rural Affairs Peter Kullgren.

For everyone, including myself, who does not live in a built-up area or city, it is obvious that the rural grocery store has a crucial importance in ensuring good service for everyone who lives or stays in the countryside. This became particularly clear during the pandemic years, when the rural grocery store once again proved its social utility. These stores are often the countryside's natural meeting place and form the hub of the local community. But the increased focus on prices in recent years has made it tougher for the rural grocery store regarding sales. At the same time, the stores are struggling with increased costs for rent and labor.

My question therefore is: What is the government doing to create good conditions for the rural trade to continue to develop good service in rural areas and in the countryside?

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

Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! The small grocery stores and fuel stations in rural areas are truly important for maintaining the service throughout our elongated country. The most important thing one can do is to ensure that we have living rural areas and that agricultural enterprises and other companies in rural areas can operate and thrive so that there is a solid customer base. This is the most central point.

There are also different forms of support. We have also previously allocated money to targeted support for Sweden's rural retailers but have today decided to increase the support to grocery stores and gas stations in rural areas by significantly raising the maximum amount for the grant, from 300,000 to 350,000 kronor, which will be a great help for these important stores.

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

Ingela Nylund Watz (S)

Mr. Speaker! Some time ago, the Committee on Finance organized an open inquiry regarding the financing of nuclear power, and Minister Wykman was present. Various viewpoints emerged there, including that the proposed financing model risks becoming very costly and locking taxpayers into a high electricity tax for 40 years ahead. We have heard this criticism before. New and somewhat unexpected criticism also emerged, for example that the proposal entails diminished profitability for current electricity producers and a draining of the financial market, and that it would put a stop to investments in other types of power and thus all new electricity production until 2035-2040. Furthermore, the industry would find it harder to secure prices. We would, as said, also face a lock-in in a costly and inflexible system for 40 years ahead with a risk to Swedish industry.

Does this not alarm the Minister for Finance?

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

Statsrådet Niklas Wykman (M)

Mr. Speaker! Some see no end to the misery that more carbon-free electricity production in Sweden would entail. When one hears all this, one needs to take a step back and consider who benefits from a volatile, unstable, and carbon-dependent electricity system. Who is the winner in this, and why do certain arguments emerge in the debate?

The model that the investigation has proposed aims to both enable new nuclear power and make the price lower on the total than if the financing had been left entirely to the market.

When I hear Ingela Nylund Watz's arguments against new nuclear power and the proposed financing model, I ask myself: Is she satisfied with how it is today? Does she think it has become good for households after the nuclear power shutdowns in Sweden? Are we satisfied with the situation as it is today, or should it be changed? I think it should be changed.

(Applause)

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

Martin Kinnunen (SD)

Mr. Speaker! A couple of weeks ago, we were reached by the news that the government intends to conclude the ongoing land rights investigation prematurely. The Sweden Democrats view this positively, as it is obvious that the investigation, appointed by the S-led government, cannot resolve the issues in a satisfactory manner. Almost daily, we are met with media reporting on various areas of conflict linked to the Sámi villages versus the rest of society's interests in being able to use state land for everything from hunting, fishing, and outdoor life to commercial activities and social development.

The Sweden Democrats therefore consider it urgent that a new investigation is quickly put in place, with directives based on today's situation for the Sámi population and all citizens' rights to the state's and the state-owned companies' lands, where great consideration is taken for the needs of the business sector and the needs of societal development.

My question to the Minister for Rural Affairs is therefore: How does the government intend to take the work on all Swedish citizens' right to hunting and fishing on state lands further, and when will this work be able to commence?

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

Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I thank Martin Kinnunen for the question.

The government has, as stated, announced its intention to terminate the Renmark Committee. We have now also had the consultations we are required by law to have and received consent from those who have requested consultation that a restart is needed. We reached this conclusion after the partial report received extensive criticism from various referral bodies but also as a result of the disagreement within the current committee. The government has not yet made a decision on the dissolution but has, as stated, announced its intention.

In the same breath, we also said that we shall appoint a new investigation. This shall be done promptly, but more than that I cannot say at this current stage.

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

Lars Johnsson (M)

Mr. Speaker! My question is directed to Minister for Rural Affairs Peter Kullgren.

For a couple of years now, Skåne has had at least three confirmed wolf territories. We do not know what this winter's wolf inventory will show, but there are probably more than that today. Last year, Skåne was the county in the country with the most wolf attacks on wild ungulates and the second most attacks on domestic animals. The problem with attacks on domestic animals is expected to increase as the wolf population increases, partly because wolves that hunt in packs have a greater tendency than solitary hunting wolves to go after large animals.

This week, the joyful news arrived that the Bern Convention's standing committee has voted for a change in the wolf's protection status from strictly protected to protected. I would like to give a tribute to the government for the work in that matter.

If I have understood the matter correctly, the government is now awaiting an initiative from the EU Commission regarding an amendment of the EU's Birds and Habitats Directives.

My questions to the Minister are when the government assesses that the Habitats Directive can be amended and how that amendment will affect the possibility of reducing the wolf population in Skåne and the rest of Sweden.

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

Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! The amendment of the Bern Convention was a prerequisite for the Birds and Habitats Directive to be able to be amended. I am very pleased that there is now strong support for amending the Bern Convention. My assessment is that there is therefore also strong support for amending the Birds and Habitats Directive. I believe it was closer to 86 percent, as votes are counted in the EU, of the EU's population that stood behind this. Two years ago, when this was last up for discussion, it was only Sweden and Finland that pursued this line. It has therefore been a successful piece of work.

I do not know exactly when it will happen, but my assessment is that the commission is eager to get this in place. When it is, it will make it easier for Sweden to manage the wolf more according to how we want to manage it and also make it easier with, for example, protection hunting.

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

Karin Sundin (S)

Mr. Speaker! The use of e-cigarettes or vapes has increased dramatically, surveys show. In the last month, every fourth girl in year 2 of upper secondary school has vaped.

E-cigarettes are marketed as healthier products than regular cigarettes, but they are used by children and adolescents who have never smoked a regular cigarette. Research, including at the Karolinska Institutet, shows that the use of vapes has approximately the same effects on the body as regular cigarettes. Blood vessels become stiffer, airways narrower, and circulation poorer, and the risk of blood clots increases. This, in turn, can lead to a number of diseases just as regular smoking does.

We do not know much about the long-term consequences as of yet, but there is nothing to suggest that harmful use would be healthy in the long term.

My question to the Minister for Social Affairs is what the government intends to do to protect our youth from vaping.

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

Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Karin Sundin, for an important question!

The increase does not only concern vaping; it also concerns white snus, which is also not a health product. It is a worrying development that children and young people get hold of these products and use them.

The government has received a report with a number of proposals, including that the sale of tobacco and nicotine products to children should be prohibited. These are proposals that we are processing. I do not rule out further measures, as the development is alarming and needs to be halted in various ways.

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

Sara Gille (SD)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister for Employment and Integration Mats Persson.

Being a part of the labor market and becoming a part of society is obvious for most in Sweden, both native Swedes and immigrants. But since parallel societies have been created during years of poor integration where many women today live under honor oppression, many women are denied this chance by their husband or their relatives. That development definitely does not belong in a modern country like Sweden.

I want to ask the minister how the government will ensure that the right to labor market measures also reaches those women who live under honor oppression.

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

Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Mats Persson (L)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you to Sara Gille for an excellent and very pertinent question!

We have a development of parallel societies in Sweden. There are areas with very strong social control, and not least women are being squeezed because of clan structures and honor oppression that cause not everyone to be able to live a life in freedom.

It is absolutely crucial that all authorities, in their contact with people with roots in other countries, do not practice cultural relativism but are very clear that liberal, democratic values apply in Sweden and that one is expected to live up to Swedish democracy. All people have rights in Sweden but also obligations. One such right is that women have the right to live a life in freedom with the same opportunities as men.

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

Marléne Lund Kopparklint (M)

Mr. Speaker! Nuclear power is an important part of Sweden's growing need for energy. In order for us to be able to build new nuclear power and ensure that it is stable and long-term, as well as that one can invest in a secure way, a good and stable financing model is needed.

I would like to ask Minister for Financial Markets Niklas Wykman how the work is progressing with developing the financing model for nuclear power.

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

Statsrådet Niklas Wykman (M)

Mr. Speaker! It is pleasing that many are asking how we are to get our energy system in order. In Sweden, we shall achieve carbon neutrality in energy production. We have high ambitions when it comes to the transition. We shall manage to have good jobs, good wages and a good industry in Sweden.

Unfortunately, among other things, the decommissioning of nuclear power and the greatly worsened security situation in the surrounding world have hit Sweden and other countries that have made similar reckless decisions to shut down their nuclear power - Germany, for example - hard. It has, of course, created an instability in Sweden and other countries. Now it is being addressed.

We have recently received referral comments on the investigation and will be able to return with proposals that make it possible to build new nuclear power in Sweden as cheaply as possible for Swedish households and Swedish industry, to the great benefit of all other energy production. This applies, for example, to wind power, which will have good opportunities to operate in Sweden going forward.

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

Ewa Pihl Krabbe (S)

Mr. Speaker! After clean water, vaccinations are what contributes most effectively to public health in the world. Many serious diseases that were common in the past have more or less disappeared from Sweden thanks to many choosing to follow the national vaccination programs.

One of the national programs that specifically targets the elderly includes vaccination against pneumococci, a bacterium that can cause pneumonia but also very serious conditions such as meningitis and sepsis. Annually, 140 people die from complications.

The Public Health Agency has concluded that the national special program against pneumococci should include persons who are 75 years and older. Today, however, it is only persons who turn 75 during the current year who are offered free vaccination, unless the regions voluntarily undertake it. This means that the very oldest and frailest in society are not offered any vaccination within the program.

I want to ask if the Minister for Health and Social Affairs intends to follow the Public Health Agency's recommendation to also offer those who are older than 75 years of age free vaccination against pneumococci.

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

Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Ewa Pihl Krabbe, for the question highlighting the importance of vaccinations! Not least given the disinformation being spread, it is extremely beneficial to have clarity that vaccinations save lives. It is very important to have good protection against common diseases.

When it comes to the current vaccination, it appears to be an urgent matter. It is, of course, something the government must consider. But I also want to emphasize that there is nothing preventing the regions from carrying this out for other groups as well. There are good reasons to do so. It saves people from this disease and reduces the need for healthcare interventions. There are, therefore, all possibilities for the regions to do this, but the government must also consider what we can do.

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

Charlotte Quensel (SD)

Mr. Speaker! Investments in the green transition at times resemble the emperor's new clothes. The Sweden Democrats have shouted that the emperor is naked. Often, the green bubble appears to be becoming costly both for taxpayers and for pensioners.

We consider it problematic when pension capital is used for ambitious investments. The AP funds have invested over 6 billion of pension assets in Northvolt, 6 billion that now look set to go up in smoke. We assess that it is high time to review the funds' investment rules. A part of this should be to look at the risks with investments in unlisted shares.

Does State Secretary Wykman share our view that such a review is correct in order to protect the hard-earned money of future pensioners?

Question Time

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

Statsrådet Niklas Wykman (M)

Mr. Speaker! As I answered a previous question, I shall not comment on individual investment decisions. I do not intend to do so in this case either.

However, I can take note of the last part of the question, which concerns the possibility of investing in unlisted assets. It is an opportunity that the AP funds received to a greater extent a few years ago. There are other types of risks, challenges, and difficulties with that, compared to investing in listed assets.

A conclusion for the government has been that this also places other competence requirements on boards and other requirements on the evaluation of the operations. This prompted the investigation that has proposed that more or different competence requirements should be set for sitting on the boards of AP funds, but also that one should be able to manage AP funds better, for example by having fewer AP funds. All things else considered, it provides better conditions to control and audit the operations. Thus, the investigation believes that one responds to a change that has occurred.

More unlisted requires other types of measures. We are prepared to take such measures.

(Applause)

The question period was thus concluded.

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