Question Time

ANDRE VICE TALMANNEN

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.

I would therefore like to welcome the ministers. Questions will be answered today by Minister for Energy and Business Ebba Busch, Minister Acko Ankarberg Johansson, Minister Camilla Waltersson Grönvall, and Minister for Justice Gunnar Strömmer.

Minister for Energy and Business Ebba Busch answers both general political questions as well as questions within her own area of responsibility.

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Gustaf Lantz (S)

Madam Speaker! Organized crime is looting the assistance allowance. That is what Försäkringskassan writes on its website. Gangs use corrupt doctors who write false certificates to steal tax money. At the same time, Försäkringskassan must, according to the law, base its decisions on certificates written by doctors who have signed incorrect statements time and again. Försäkringskassan has pointed out to the government that this loophole must be closed.

How naive can it get? The criminals laugh at us when they take tax money as if it were candy from children. Therefore, my question to Minister Camilla Waltersson Grönvall is: When will the government let Försäkringskassan stop taking into account certificates from doctors who have previously written false statements?

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Statsrådet Camilla Waltersson Grönvall (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you for an incredibly important question!

The fact that we see that organized crime has gone deep into our Swedish welfare is something that we must act against with great force. The government does.

In a number of different areas, we are working to dismantle the criminal economy. One part of this is to ensure that there are no corrupt doctors. We have an investigation that is working on that mission.

In addition, we are now ensuring that Försäkringskassan receives other tools to be precisely crime-preventive and work against crime. These are also tools that will be put in place.

Not least, we have the major investigation that was presented a couple of weeks ago. It will also ensure that society's most vulnerable and susceptible can no longer be exploited in such a ruthless manner.

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Gustaf Lantz (S)

Madam Speaker! It is of course welcome that things are happening, but there are major problems here and now with organized crime that is eating its way into area after area.

Regarding the assistance allowance, we have been informed by the government that an investigation will be launched in 2027. Then it is to be processed through the Riksdag, the Council on Legislation, and all that. By then, we will be in the second half of the next mandate period. This is, in my opinion, so urgent that something must be done much faster than that.

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Statsrådet Camilla Waltersson Grönvall (M)

Madam Speaker! The Government shares that view. I am also pleased that the Social Democrats have come to this realization. This has been a well-known fact for eight years now, and the proposals from this investigation could have been in place and started to take effect a long time ago.

Now it is going to happen. As I answered the member when we met in the committee the other day, the government will, of course, present things earlier if the investigation is ready to do so. We will not stop any proposals that come earlier than January 2027.

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Leonid Yurkovskiy (SD)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to the Minister for Health and Social Affairs.

The Gender Recognition Act has been brought into focus once again, now with the announcement that it might suffice to have a digital healthcare visit without a diagnosis to change legal gender.

First, we must state the completely obvious, namely that gender is not a matter of self-determination. But we must also address the actual problems that arise for society purely organizationally and for the patients.

People with gender dysphoria should receive help and support from society, not be funneled into a legal process that confirms a condition that has not even been diagnosed. There are far too many cases of people who have been driven into enormous suffering simply because signals were ignored and the choice was made to act based on self-determination. This is the result of legal solutions to medical problems.

How will the problems that arise be handled?

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Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Madam Speaker! The Riksdag has reached a decision on the matter. If there is a Riksdag decision, it is also obvious that the government's view is to implement this. This was a Riksdag decision where the chamber was not unanimous; my own party thought differently.

When the Riksdag makes a decision, the government must, of course, implement the decision. The government has made the decisions that follow from the chamber's decision in all parts.

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Leonid Yurkovskiy (SD)

Madam Speaker! I am fully aware that the decision will be implemented. But I am interested in how the problems that will arise as a result of the decision will be handled. People often talk about separating the medical and the legal, but that cannot really be done in this case. Those who will utilize the legal aspects are also those who have the medical situation to take into account.

I thought the question was particularly interesting because it is our parties that are most in agreement on the issue. The problems that arise are many, not least the issue of personal identity numbers – perhaps outside the Minister's portfolio. I want to know how those problems are handled.

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Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Madam Speaker! My party's view is that there are many problems with the legislation. But the law has been decided by the Chamber. It has also been decided by the Chamber how the problems should be viewed and the order for handling them. It shall be a simple procedure, and that is how our authorities act – in accordance with the Riksdag's decision.

It is possible for the Riksdag to make new decisions, but as long as this decision applies, it is also the government's task to fulfill it and ensure that it is implemented.

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Gudrun Nordborg (V)

Madam Speaker! I want to address the Minister for Justice. What does the Minister intend to do in light of the dramatic report that has come from Noa regarding the police's lack of competence in handling violence after they have reviewed cases where women have died from a man's violence? One of the conclusions is that several women's deaths could have been prevented if their attempts to report had been taken seriously.

The review was conducted by Noa within the police. Unfortunately, this confirms what the women's movement has pointed out repeatedly since the 80s. Now I hope that the problem is taken more seriously when the report comes from the police.

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Justitieministern Gunnar Strömmer (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank Gudrun Nordborg for an extraordinarily important question.

To begin with, it is the police who have initiated the review in order to truly scrutinize their own work in the area. It gives extra weight to both the analysis and the conclusions that the police themselves point out a number of deficiencies that they are determined to rectify.

I have personally followed up on these issues with the Commissioner of the Swedish Police, most recently at the beginning of this week, to ensure that it happens. I am also completely certain that it will. They are very determined and dedicated to that task. It is, as mentioned, a task that they themselves have initiated.

We must also do other things to facilitate the police's work. A key issue, which they also highlight, is to speed up the sharing of information between different actors in society so that the police can become more efficient and have a better basis for preventive measures that ensure it does not go as far as it unfortunately has in several of these cases.

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Gudrun Nordborg (V)

Madam Speaker! Thank you for the answer, Minister of Justice! There are positive parts in it.

I am, however, calling for what I believe has been and is most central. There is not only among the general public, as is sometimes blamed, but also within the police and the profession, what I would like to call a contempt for women. Women's words, reports, and filings are not taken seriously. I believe that there really must be an investment in education that attacks those prejudices.

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Justitieministern Gunnar Strömmer (M)

Madam Speaker! It is clear that there are cultural issues in all structural issues. This applies, of course, to these questions as well. However, it is my firm opinion that the police's work in this area is not characterized by a contempt for women. It is a question of knowledge, of method, of resources, of structure, and to some extent also of culture. The Police Authority is addressing all those questions.

I want to repeat this regarding the secrecy. The conviction rate when it comes to crimes against women is 100 percent. That is not where the shoe pinches. The shoe pinches because there is not enough evidence to prevent and stop this crime at an early stage. That is where the police must move. But other actors must also do so.

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Christofer Bergenblock (C)

Madam Speaker! Earlier this year, 60 people were laid off at the paper mill Hylte Paper in Hyltebruk, Halland. Yesterday, the decision was made that 43 of them are forced to leave their positions. The background to the layoffs is the major competitive disadvantage experienced because the mill is located in electricity price area 4.

I have followed the government's press conference regarding the electricity price areas today and welcome that Svenska kraftnät receives a renewed mandate to review the areas with the goal of reducing price differences across the country. But the investigation is to continue for a period of one year, and what it results in is, of course, unknown so far. At the same time, the hardships in southern Sweden continue due to the high electricity prices.

The mill shall expect 200 million kronor in increased costs compared to if it had been located in electricity price area 1.

How can electricity prices be lowered in the short term for companies and private individuals in southern Sweden?

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Energi- och näringsministern Ebba Busch (KD)

Madam Speaker! Thank you for the question, Christofer Bergenblock!

Today we have presented four major pieces of good news in the energy area to both strengthen and future-proof our energy system. One of them, one of my favorites, is that we are now taking the first step towards abolishing today's existing electricity price areas and creating fewer electricity price areas.

Why do we have these electricity price areas? These date back to 2011, and a major reason they were created was the decommissioning of nuclear power. That time it was Barsebäck.

Why do we have such volatile prices, rollercoasters? Well, that is because we have decommissioned a lot of nuclear power in Sweden, including Ringhals 1 and 2. There, for example, the Centerpartiet was actively pushing for it.

This government, the four coalition parties, is now adding more base load in the short term – district heating and power heat – and protects hydropower. That was also part of today's press conference. And we have bought back Öresundsverket, which I inaugurated last year.

Much is being done to build up the system that the red-greens tore down.

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Christofer Bergenblock (C)

Madam Speaker! Ebba Busch asked her own question about what might be the background to the current situation. That was not what I asked about. I am instead requesting an answer to my question. It was not about what happens in one, two, or three years, but about what the minister is prepared to do now to lower electricity prices in southern Sweden, and for all intents and purposes, gladly in all of Sweden.

We have requested a reduction of the electricity tax. Is that a path the minister is prepared to take?

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Energi- och näringsministern Ebba Busch (KD)

Madam Speaker! Christofer Bergenblock was not listening. I was, in fact, describing several of the measures that have an effect right now.

Since we took office in government, the electricity price has fallen every year. We now have the lowest electricity price compared to the past four years.

Am I satisfied? No, far from it. That is why we have made decisions on 70 measures which mean that we will get more stable electricity prices, can begin to push down electricity prices, and now can also give instructions to review the electricity price areas with the aim of moving towards fewer areas.

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Linus Lakso (MP)

Madam Speaker! I also have a question for Minister for Energy and Business Ebba Busch.

To begin with, I would like to welcome the announcement at today's press conference. It is very good to strengthen both combined heat and power and hydropower. It is part of the proposal on green base power that Miljöpartiet has submitted. It is pleasing that the government continues to be inspired by Miljöpartiet's policy.

However, we need more energy and more power quite promptly. If you look at the figures, you can see that the expansion was at 3 gigawatts per year when we handed over government power. Now it is down to 1.7. And as recently as this week, the wind industry, among others, warned of a sharp stop in the expansion of wind power, which is what we can actually get more cheap energy from in the near term. 28 out of 30 applications have been rejected.

My question is quite simple. What does the Minister for Energy intend to do further to accelerate the expansion of more fossil-free power in the near term?

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Energi- och näringsministern Ebba Busch (KD)

Madam Speaker! To begin with, I would like to acknowledge that this is an area where the opposition, not least the Green Party, and the government agree regarding the value of both hydropower and specifically power and district heating. If we did not have all the power and district heating that we have in the system today, we would need to compensate with ten new nuclear reactors. That says something about the potential if we release even more power and district heating.

When it comes to Laksos question, it is not that Sweden lacks electricity production. On the contrary, we have a huge surplus of electricity, but it is not guaranteed electricity there and when it is needed. That is why the 70 measures that we have already decided on, and which therefore do not concern nuclear power, aim to be able to get more power out of all the electricity produced in Sweden. For example, we want, together with the wind power industry, to provide incentives for storage and batteries, similar to what I inaugurated in Kristianstad last week.

The government will continue with this in order to release more power in the near term.

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Linus Lakso (MP)

Madam Speaker! I thank you very much for the answer.

What the wind industry, among others, points out and which actually puts a stop to just wind power, which is what we can expand in a larger scale and at low prices, is among other things the municipal veto. There is a proposal to reform it.

The Armed Forces also put a stop to it. They previously had a mandate to balance against the total defense interest, which includes the energy interest.

This question becomes more specific. Does the government intend to return that assignment to the Armed Forces and proceed with the investigation into reforming the veto?

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Energi- och näringsministern Ebba Busch (KD)

Madam Speaker! The Government does not believe it is the right way to go to start pressuring municipalities that absolutely do not want wind power into having it. On the other hand, we want to increase the incentives to say yes. Therefore, our four coalition parties and the Government are putting forward many of the proposals in Värdet av vinden.

We are now – believe it or not – doing a lot to pave the way for wind power and many of the measures that the red-greens failed to achieve. This applies to both offshore and onshore wind. But we believe more in carrots than in sticks in this area and in a close and active dialogue with the defense.

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Josefin Malmqvist (M)

Madam Speaker! Equality is freedom. But one in three women feels unsafe out on the streets and squares. We also know that healthcare is unequal in Sweden. And we know that men start companies to twice the extent as women. In area after area, we see that more needs to be done for Sweden to become equal.

My question therefore goes to Ebba Busch. What is the government doing? What reforms is the government implementing so that Sweden can become a model in the area of equality?

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Energi- och näringsministern Ebba Busch (KD)

Madam Speaker! I would like to raise two things. The first concerns women's ownership and entrepreneurship. Despite the fact that we are one of the countries in the world that beats its chest for having come the furthest, the increase in the proportion of companies started, run, or owned by women has remained relatively stagnant. It also affects where we see the capital will be in the future. Far too little capital is allocated to companies run by women.

Here we have a very active collaboration with Tillväxtverket to facilitate for women to start companies and pave the way for more role models. UF-companies, which we know are crucial, have had a directly measurable effect on the increase in the proportion of women who run and start companies.

The second matter concerns healthcare, which I will return to in my next contribution.

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Josefin Malmqvist (M)

Madam Speaker! The Moderate Women and the Moderates have for many years pushed for a modernization of the abortion rights in Sweden. We believe that it is now high time to modernize the abortion rights in line with the medical advances we have seen in Sweden.

Ebba Busch is also the party leader of Kristdemokraterna. I would therefore like to take the opportunity to ask: How will Kristdemokraterna take a stand on the proposals regarding modernized abortion rights when they reach the chamber here in the Riksdag?

(ANDRE VICE TALMANNEN: I want to clarify that questions should concern the area of responsibility of the government and not conditions within political parties.)

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Energi- och näringsministern Ebba Busch (KD)

Madam Speaker! It is correct that I stand here in my capacity as Vice Prime Minister and represent the government.

I am aware of the background. Threats have been conveyed that as a punishment for us in Kristdemokraterna raising the issue of the closure of Sollefteå hospital, questions regarding abortion directed specifically at Kristdemokraterna would be asked in the chamber so that it would be disadvantageous for us in some way. It is a type of leadership style that I, as Vice Prime Minister, do not want to give more room for.

This government is pushing for a modernization of the abortion legislation and will keep equality high on the agenda.

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Christian Carlsson (KD)

Madam Speaker! Many things feel more important than being able to receive care in time on the day one or someone in the family is struck by illness. But all too many people are waiting far too long today.

During the Socialdemokraternas eight years in power, the healthcare queues doubled. They were record-long even before the pandemic. But the fact is that the healthcare queues have stuck. Now more healthcare places are needed, not fewer as we see in Sollefteå and Ljungby as a result of irresponsible healthcare shutdowns out in the regions. The government is also doing very much to ensure that people receive care in time.

My question to the Minister for Health and Social Affairs is: What effects can we see so far from the latest government initiatives to shorten the healthcare queues?

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Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Madam Speaker! It is a priority for the four coalition parties to shorten the queues, increase accessibility, and increase healthcare capacity. One shall also have the right to a fixed doctor contact. Therefore, we have 7.5 billion to increase healthcare capacity and 3.7 billion for primary care and good local care. There is money, but this must also be done locally. In that case, the supply of competence is number one. Improved working environment and supply of competence were needed, so that the mission can be accomplished.

There is an improvement, but right now I am a bit unsure of how well it has gone to shorten the queues with the special initiative. Presumably, we will get current figures tomorrow or perhaps at the beginning of next week. What we particularly prioritize are hip replacements, cataracts and fractures.

In the report I had today when I presented the work with a national healthcare brokerage, we were pleased to see that Västmanland achieved 86 percent within the healthcare guarantee. It is a very good result from Region Västmanland, but many others had actually reduced the number of operations. I look forward to seeing the figures from the month of April. We will gladly return to the Riksdag and tell how it is going, as it is a priority.

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Christian Carlsson (KD)

Madam Speaker! It is obvious that the regions today are not managing to do their job of offering people care in a timely manner. Previously, we have even seen that they would rather place their own citizens and patients in care queues than let them come to other regions or other healthcare providers who can provide them with the care they need.

What else is the Minister for Health and Social Affairs doing so that those who are now stuck in the regions' care queues can break free and receive the care they are entitled to?

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Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Madam Speaker! I thank the member for the supplementary question.

We have appointed a large investigation regarding the healthcare guarantee. The healthcare guarantee that the Riksdag has decided upon states that one should receive care within 90 days. At the same time, we have need-based care, which indicates something other than fixed time limits. Therefore, we need a new healthcare guarantee that is significantly shorter than the 90 days. Anna Nergårdh has received the assignment from the four coalition parties to investigate this.

But we are also working on getting the national healthcare brokerage in place. Today I could present how the healthcare search system and the brokerage work. It is very exciting. All parts are operational. There is now an opportunity for the regions to use this in their work.

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Martin Melin (L)

Madam Speaker! I have a question for the Minister of Justice.

We have today in society several large operations that have supervisory authorities, for example, the school, social services, and healthcare. But there are other large operations that do not have any supervisory authority, such as the police, the prosecutors, and the correctional services. Given the many new tools and laws that the authorities of these operations have received, perhaps there are people who do not quite trust that the officials and staff at the authorities are doing their jobs. In that case, it could be good if there is a licensing authority where one can submit complaints.

My question to the Minister of Justice is what position he has on establishing a supervisory authority for the police, prosecutors, and the correctional services.

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Justitieministern Gunnar Strömmer (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank Martin Melin for a very important question.

It is very true that it is extremely important to have effective supervision of, among other things, the police, given how many resources we invest in the police, what coercive powers the police have, and what vulnerable situations the police operate in. There are today both internal control bodies, which are naturally rigorous compared to other activities in society, and an external supervision. Much is done, for example, by the Parliamentary Ombudsman.

At the same time, the question that is now being raised is important to discuss further. JO has pointed out this need in its own investigation. The question of reviewing these issues has been prepared in the Committee on the Constitution in broad agreement, and it is my intention that we shall also do so. What it results in, I shall ask to return to. But we have an interest in strengthening the supervision, not least of the police's activities. There I am in complete agreement with Martin Melin.

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Martin Melin (L)

Madam Speaker! The Minister for Justice mentioned the JO. I have seen that over 40 percent of the complaints that reach the JO concern precisely the police, prosecutors, and the correctional services. That a complaint has been filed does not necessarily mean that a crime has been committed. It could, for example, be about thinking that police officers despise women. In that case, a supervisory authority can look into it. I see a great advantage in that there is an authority that handles not only crimes by the staff and the agency but also conduct and attitudes.

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Justitieministern Gunnar Strömmer (M)

Madam Speaker! A large proportion of the JO cases concern the police. Martin Melin mentioned the figure of 40 percent. This can be viewed in several ways. It can be seen as an expression that an effective supervision of the police is carried out by independent actors, in this case, the Parliamentary Ombudsmen. Furthermore, there are internal review systems. In our legislative products, we also ensure that qualified evaluation and review are built in even at the individual level. The figure can also be seen as an expression that there may be reason to organize this in a different way to make it even more effective – and perhaps even more trustworthy. I am prepared to look further into that, and we will do so.

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Monica Haider (S)

Madam Speaker! The Government says it wants to strengthen the competitiveness of Swedish companies, but reality points in the opposite direction. During 2023, more companies went bankrupt than during the pandemic and the financial crisis. Bankruptcies continue to increase even this year. Unemployment is rising, not least among young people. In Kronoberg County, one of Sweden's most export-dependent counties, the situation is particularly serious. Unemployment stands at 7.5 percent, which is above the national average. Long-term unemployment is the highest in the country, while at the same time, companies cannot get hold of the right competence.

My question is addressed to the Minister for Energy and Business. What is the government doing concretely to reverse the negative development in the Swedish economy, stop the waves of bankruptcies, and reduce unemployment, especially in export-dependent counties such as Kronoberg?

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Energi- och näringsministern Ebba Busch (KD)

Madam Speaker! I share Monica Haider's view that it has been a rather tough period for many companies. Many of the bankruptcies that occurred last year and that have occurred this year are a remnant of the pandemic. Many companies that received support as a result of the pandemic have not managed the transition to ordinary markets in a very tough global economic situation with high inflation in Sweden. It has been incredibly tough.

That is why I am pleased that the government has succeeded in combating inflation from a level of 10 percent to 2 percent.

The conditions are still tough. That is why we have placed a great focus on simplifying regulations, getting our energy system in order, and pushing down electricity prices and stabilizing them.

Not least, we have carried out a massive rollout of vocational training places so that more people will have the opportunity to train where the jobs are or to retrain in the middle of life with an expanded transition support.

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Mona Olin (SD)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Ebba Busch, who today answers general political questions.

We have received with dismay news of events in Umeå and Uppsala where men without qualifications and with lacking language skills have been allowed to work in elderly care with elderly women alone.

This has led to gross sexual assaults and even rape. It is not about individual incidents, but rather seems to have been the tip of an iceberg.

When society fails in requirements, control, and risk assessment within elderly care, especially for care recipients who cannot speak for themselves, a dangerous silence arises where abuse can occur and be repeated.

That older women should have to fear those who are appointed to protect and help them is a betrayal of our entire welfare model. Dignity and safety must never be compromised.

My question is what measures are now being taken so that older women can feel safe with their home care staff with immediate effect.

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Statsrådet Camilla Waltersson Grönvall (M)

Madam Speaker! This is actually Minister Tenjes' area of responsibility, but I choose to answer the question.

We share the government's view that all elderly people should have the right to feel safe, and this is completely unacceptable.

On July 1 this year, the new Social Services Act will enter into force. It will change the way of working, and it will also mean that there will be a completely different local responsibility for working on crime prevention.

It should also mean that one reviews all routines and works in new ways. It is about using Äldreomsorgslyftet to be able to train staff.

It is also, as has been highlighted, important to be able to carry out checks. It is about background checks but also thorough interviews, because not everything will be found in background checks. One must also be very attentive to the situation surrounding our elderly.

Our elderly have built this country, and they shall also have the right to feel secure in their elderly care.

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Samuel Gonzalez Westling (V)

Madam Speaker! I have had the honor of having an intern with me during the week. As part of the instruction that one receives when being a Member of Parliament, I have given the assignment to prepare a question. The question will be directed to Minister Ebba Busch.

There are many towns in Sweden that do not receive any service at all from SJ, such as Torsby or Sveg. Why is that when SJ stands for Statens järnvägar?

Private alternatives focus mostly on profitable lines such as Stockholm–Gothenburg. There is not much hope to be found for those who live far away from large cities.

Shouldn't Statens järnvägar mean that one has service throughout the country? If that is not the case: Is it time to give SJ such a mandate?

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Energi- och näringsministern Ebba Busch (KD)

Madam Speaker! Many thanks, Samuel Gonzalez Westling and the intern who has asked the question!

The question of infrastructure and that it should be possible to live and work in all of Sweden is incredibly important for our four coalition parties, because it is important for Sweden.

It is important so that one can move one's family somewhere and see the children grow up in all parts of Sweden. But it also concerns the possibility of running businesses and commerce in all parts of Sweden.

That is why I am glad that the government has been able to present – with a slightly less raspy voice than I have right now – a historically large infrastructure bill. It means that we are adding 200 billion more to infrastructure in Sweden. It is a prerequisite for being able to zero out the maintenance debt for roads but also for being able to prioritize railways even more.

It also provides the opportunity in the long run for SJ and others who operate on our railways in Sweden to be able to do so even more in the future.

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Anne-Li Sjölund (C)

Madam Speaker! In ten years, the number of people with visual impairments who are accompanied has decreased by 70 percent. These are not just figures, but lives that are being limited.

Paralympian Nicolina Pernheim has lost her escort, and she is not alone. Children, young people, and adults are denied support to be able to train, shop, or just hang out with friends.

When guidance is lacking, doors to entire aspects of life are closed, even though people want to do something as fundamental as going to the gym, the swimming pool, or a club training session.

It is neither reasonable nor fair that far too many people today are denied accompaniment. Accompaniment is for many fundamental to the possibility of managing their everyday lives and living their lives in a good way.

My question is directed to Minister Camilla Waltersson Grönvall. What does the Minister intend to do here and now to bridge the time until a new regulatory framework is in place, so that people with visual impairments throughout the country receive the guidance they are entitled to?

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Statsrådet Camilla Waltersson Grönvall (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Member, for an important question!

The question of the different measures in LSS is something we have had reason to discuss increasingly in the chamber. Accompaniment is a specific one where we see that the municipalities' responsibility has changed when it comes to that important LSS. The municipalities' view on their responsibility according to the legislation has changed.

I have met Nicolina on several occasions and also discussed the situation. It is a very serious situation that causes many people, not least children and young people, to be restricted and isolated.

It is also the reason why the government is now reviewing the regulatory framework, and the issue is being prepared in the Government Offices.

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Ulrika Westerlund (MP)

Madam Speaker! This is a question for Minister Acko Ankarberg Johansson. It comes from one of the Environment Party's practice students this week, Sam Carling Windh.

The Minister of Justice wrote a debate article some time ago, together with representatives from M, L and SD, concerning the abortion legislation. In that article, the representative opposed the investigator's proposal to simplify the legal text and make it gender-neutral and inclusive.

My question is therefore: How can others than women who also have the ability to become pregnant, such as trans men and non-binary people, now be included? These can also have a male legal gender. Is there perhaps any possibility to formulate the wording in the legal text with the words "women and others" or something similar?

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Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Member, for the question!

That investigation is currently under consultation. We will then process it and see where we should land from the cooperation parties' side.

Already now we can announce that the investigator's proposal to completely disregard "the woman" is not our position. The woman shall be mentioned, because it is the most common.

However, it will be necessary to state in other parts of the law and in the preparatory works that there will be more people in need of support and help. I believe that we will find a good solution to this moving forward.

But the investigator's proposal to completely remove "the woman" received comments not only from our four parties but not least from the women's movement, as was referred to just recently.

We thought those views were worth taking seriously. Therefore, we gave an early notice. The word woman will remain.

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Kjell Jansson (M)

Madam Speaker! I have a question for Minister for Energy and Business Ebba Busch.

The government has launched a simplification effort among the agencies. I actually want to ask: How is all of this going, Minister?

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Energi- och näringsministern Ebba Busch (KD)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Kjell Jansson, for the question!

I had round-table discussions with many of the agencies affected by the 34 assignments we gave in regulatory letters last year, asking our agencies to work on regulatory simplifications.

Our entrepreneurs in the country have contact with a myriad of different authorities. The treatment of and understanding for entrepreneurs looks very different.

Let me take a concrete example. This produces an effect. Arbetsmiljöverket, for example, has cleared out and simplified its regulations. They have gone from having about sixty to now having 15. They have gone from 2,300 paragraphs, if I remember correctly, down to 1,900. It is a direct result of us having shone a light on the issues of simplification. And more will come when one systematically works through this and finds a way to have it as a standing point for all agency work.

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Lili André (KD)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Ebba Busch.

In an uncertain geopolitical situation with increased tensions and changed trade policy conditions, the conditions for Swedish exports are becoming all the more important to monitor. The USA has recently pursued a more protectionist trade policy with increased tariffs and a more restrictive stance toward free trade. This can have significant consequences for Swedish companies that are dependent on exports to the American market or that are indirectly affected through global value chains.

A continued development in this direction risks making it more difficult for Swedish companies to compete internationally and can negatively affect Sweden's overall competitiveness. My question to Minister Ebba Busch is: How does the Minister assess how increased trade barriers and tariffs from the USA affect Swedish companies and Sweden's competitiveness?

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Energi- och näringsministern Ebba Busch (KD)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Lili André, for the question!

The short answer is: Very bad! In Trade Minister Benjamin Dousa, we have an excellent representative for the Swedish business community. He truly fights for Team Sweden. It is about safeguarding the opportunity to be a smaller but incredibly powerful country like Sweden, thanks to our companies and the exports they provide.

What we are doing now is, together with the other EU countries, to ensure that we protect Swedish companies and the value chains that exist as much as possible. Several crucial parts of the value chains need to be secured from other countries, and we must be able to find other markets.

We are fighting hard for more free trade agreements between the EU and other parts of the world; Sweden is one of the EU's foremost free trade champions when it comes to this. We also urge the rest of the world to see Sweden as an important country to invest in and to come to for study. There is political stability here, and we should be proud of that from right to left.

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Robert Olesen (S)

Madam Speaker! Kronoberg County, where I come from, is an industrial county that contributes greatly to Sweden's export revenues. Kronoberg County is, as you surely know, located in electricity price area 4 and already has quite high electricity prices today. This, together with the legislation on peak power tariffs, makes it even more expensive for the industries, which in turn affects their competitiveness and, in the long run, their opportunities to develop.

My question goes to Minister Busch. What is the Minister and the government doing to ensure that electricity costs do not hinder the development of companies and reduce their competitiveness? And is the Minister prepared to do something about the peak power tariffs if these hit companies hard?

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Energi- och näringsministern Ebba Busch (KD)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Robert Olesen, for the question!

It is completely obvious that the conditions for the business sector and the competitiveness of our companies, not least in Kronoberg, are strongly linked to energy issues. Therefore, I am pleased that we have succeeded in lowering the electricity price every year since we took office in government and that we are now focusing on the long term by paving the way for new nuclear power and not falling behind in the global race that exists regarding new nuclear power now.

We also focus on the short term with 70 measures that mean we can get more out of all the electricity that is produced and which otherwise only risk going to export. One of the measures concerns things such as being able to regulate power production from, for example, a wind farm with storage possibilities in hydrogen or batteries. It can only help a certain part, but it is one of the measures.

What we focused on in connection with today's press conference and news is to safeguard hydropower and to pave the way for even more power and district heating. This can make a difference in the short term, also for Kronoberg.

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Alexander Christiansson (SD)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister for Enterprise Ebba Busch.

In recent days, we have been able to see that SVT Nyhetstecken has further scrutinized the Socialdemokraternas lotteriverksamhet. It has been established that Alotterier has a subsidiary, Svenska lotterier och insamlingar AB, which sells a service to charitable organizations such as Synskadades Riksförbund, Bröstcancerförbundet, and Prostatacancerförbundet. The company takes a portion of the profit that would have gone to research and to supporting these organizations and instead allows it to go up in the organization simply to finance the Socialdemokraternas party fund.

This is nothing that we will achieve with the new regulations and rules that apply to allotment gardens and which will come into effect on January 1 next year.

I wonder how the Minister views this. Does she think it is reasonable that a political party can exploit the branding of charitable organizations for its own benefit and profit from people who, in a most heart-wrenching way, want to sponsor research and these organizations? Instead, the money goes towards sponsoring a political party. It is shameful.

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Energi- och näringsministern Ebba Busch (KD)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Alexander Christiansson, for the question!

I will venture to speak on behalf of the government in general. Our four coalition parties have carried out a very offensive work to clear up the jungle and the swamp of immorality that has arisen surrounding the lottery activities in Sweden. I am proud to be a part of that work.

There must be clarity and transparency in everything concerning gambling, where we know that there is a very large risk that vulnerable people are exploited. Cases have emerged over the years where it is obvious that previous governments have been aware of the problems but turned a blind eye. This government is now putting a stop to such things.

Will we stop at this? We have no new announcements to give today. But when one makes a legislative change, one must of course see if it reaches all the way through and if there is reason to return. We shall stand on the people's side.

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Karin Rågsjö (V)

Madam Speaker! My question is directed to Minister Acko Ankarberg Johansson.

The government has established an efficiency delegation to improve the situation within healthcare. One could imagine a delegation where the professions are represented by nurses, doctors, and nursing assistants. But that is not the case, except when it concerns one person. That person comes from the healthcare market; it is, in fact, Krys's CEO.

Kry has now been reported to the police by Stockholm. A politician there says: "Yes, they have charged in a way that is not allowed. If you have an agreement with Region Stockholm, you should not break it and get paid twice." So says Christine Lorne, a Center Party member and primary care region councilor in Stockholm.

Does the Minister consider it appropriate that the CEO of a company accused of incorrect invoicing of three regions and who has received demands for repayment and police reports filed against them should be included in the government's efficiency delegation?

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Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Member, for the question!

This is the Ministry of Finance's question and not the Ministry of Social Affairs', but I nevertheless take the liberty of answering the member.

The Efficiency Delegation is not a delegation that is to decide on its own how Swedish healthcare should develop – not at all! In practice, this is a committee that meets approximately four to six times a year.

There are regions that feel they must get their finances in order. They want to streamline but see that it will take a long time, and they need state support to make the changes in a long-term and sustainable way. They have the opportunity to apply for support from the state of 250 million annually, for all regions, if they wish to use it.

Then we need some who are not themselves affected by the matters who can make decisions. Therefore, the Ministry of Finance has submitted this, and Erik Slottner is the responsible minister. It concerns a number of people who shall assess the applications from the region and make decisions on rejection or approval.

Please return to the responsible minister when it comes to the personal matters! Then it is a self-evident matter that one must reach those who are unserious and do not follow the decisions they have made in each region. If one has an agreement, one ensures that it is followed up. It is good that Stockholm also does that.

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Jan Riise (MP)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer.

During the next parliamentary session, a number of proposals regarding changes to our constitutional laws will be submitted from the government to the chamber. This includes, among other things, a proposal intended to make it more difficult to change constitutional laws in such a way that a qualified majority is required at the second vote.

My question is: Would it not be appropriate to make that decision first – that is, the second decision to require a qualified majority, after the next election – and let it enter into force and then make the other constitutional amendment decisions so that we get the increased legitimacy right from the start?

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Justitieministern Gunnar Strömmer (M)

Madam Speaker! I would like to thank Jan Riise for raising the important reform of our constitutional laws that the government has placed on the Riksdag's table and which will be the subject of the Riksdag's debate and decision during the autumn, as I understand it.

This contains many important parts, not least that in a situation where in many other parts of the world people are moving in the opposite direction and undermining the independence of the judiciary and the courts, we do the opposite, that is, strengthen the protection in a number of different respects.

It is also quite true that we are submitting proposals aimed at the forms of constitutional amendments, also in broad political agreement. In what order the Riksdag will then want to handle these issues after the next election is a matter for the Riksdag and not for me.

We will place this basis on the Riksdag's table so that the first decisions can be made on this side of the election. Then the Riksdag will decide in what order different decisions should be made on the other side of the election.

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Ellen Juntti (M)

Madam Speaker! The psychiatrist and researcher Christoffer Rahm at Karolinska Hospital has stated that there are medications that lower the sex drive, so-called chemical castration. The medication provides a rapid effect against risk factors for committing new sexual offenses. Behavioral effects are seen within two weeks, and the medication is administered with an injection that lasts for several months.

Many sex offenders do not want treatment, and then we cannot sit with our arms crossed and hope that they will not ruin the lives of more people. According to Rahm, certain types of sex offenders with morbid and dangerous impulses could be subject to compulsory care where chemical castration is part of the treatment program.

I think it is obvious that we should protect society from dangerous sex offenders and that chemical castration should be allowed to be used. What does the Minister for Justice think?

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Justitieministern Gunnar Strömmer (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Ellen Juntti, for a very persistent work on these very important issues!

I do not see at the moment that we have any processes underway or intend to initiate any processes regarding chemical castration, even though I am also very aware that the debate is being conducted in a serious manner in many contexts.

We now have a high degree of focus on targeting the people we are talking about, but with other tools. For example, we shall ensure that persons who commit repeated cases of aggravated rape are locked up and are not out in society.

We are doing this on several fronts. We are tightening the penalties and ensuring that those who commit multiple rapes can be sentenced to life imprisonment, even if life imprisonment is not included in the sentencing scale for the individual crime. We have also announced that on March 1 next year, we intend to have the new security sentence in place, an indeterminate sentence with incarceration for those who are truly dangerous to society. Several of them are affected by Ellen Juntti in this matter.

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Laila Naraghi (S)

Madam Speaker! We Social Democrats believe that parents who subject children to honor-related violence should not have custody. We were disappointed when the Moderates voted against this proposal recently, and therefore Leif Nysmed asked the Minister for Justice about this during the question period in April.

The Minister then replied that he shared the starting point raised in the question, namely that children should not have to live in families or have parents who exercise that type of transgression and such oppression. He also said that one should ensure that it will be that way in the future.

In response to written questions, the Minister has however not stated how this shall be ensured going forward. Does the Minister mean that parents who subject their children to honor violence shall be allowed to have a share of custody or not? Or does the Minister mean that current civil law legislation is sufficient?

We Social Democrats believe that parents who subject children to honor-related violence should not have custody. Why did the Moderates vote no to this?

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Justitieministern Gunnar Strömmer (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you very much, Laila Naraghi, for an opportunity to discuss this important issue!

We have already addressed this issue with joint efforts. We have done so through the reform Safer Homes for Children, which entered into force on January 1 this year. A central part of that reform was precisely to change the portal provision on the child's best interests so that it shall ensure that children who are subjected to violence or oppression of the kind that Laila Naraghi raises do not become the subject of custody with the parent who is responsible for this violence or oppression.

Since it is not my business to decide in every individual case, but that we now finally have legislation aimed at that situation is a very important matter. There I must say, if I am to be a bit polemical in return, that the provision we inherited in the investigation basis from the previous government would not have done that job. By sharpening that provision, we now have very good conditions to protect precisely those children that Laila Naraghi mentions in her question.

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Angelica Lundberg (SD)

Madam Speaker! Economic violence, that is, attempting to control or direct a partner's finances, is a serious form of the exercise of power. Sweden has committed itself through the Istanbul Convention to counter economic violence, but despite this, the concept does not exist in Swedish legislation.

The National Audit Office stated in a report recently that there are deficiencies in the state's management of economic violence in close relationships. Those who are exposed to this form of violence testify that it can be harder to heal from than physical violence and that authorities often facilitate the violence rather than counteracting it. We cannot have it this way.

The Sweden Democrats have pushed to change the rules regarding the division of property, which today can be exploited for economic violence, and we have an investigation underway there. I want to ask the Minister for Justice what other measures he intends to take to counter economic violence.

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Justitieministern Gunnar Strömmer (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Angelica Lundberg, both for the question and for the long-standing commitment regarding getting in the important aspect that violence and abuse do not need to be physical to be able to have very intrusive consequences for the person who is subjected to it. This applies in particular in matters of division of property.

The division process is, as mentioned, very central and very much anticipated, and it is now underway in an investigation. We have also given various assignments to authorities to spread information about specifically economic violence.

I shall mention a few: the Gender Equality Authority has received such a mandate to ensure that those subjected to violence are referred to the correct support measures, and the Swedish Enforcement Authority and the Swedish Tax Agency also have those types of instructions to counter economic violence.

I have taken note of the Swedish National Audit Office's review, and I am certain that it will prompt us to take further measures in this context. The background is naturally given: violence by men against women, also that which is not necessarily physical but which can have the same invasive consequences, shall be combated with the same force as gang-related crime.

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Katarina Luhr (MP)

Madam Speaker! Today I have a question for Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer from my students Alvar and Tove, who are sitting in the gallery and listening.

Here is the question: Despite increased penalties, gang crime is still widespread throughout society. Furthermore, more and more young people are committing serious crimes, such as murder and assault. A current example is the shooting in Uppsala last Tuesday, where a minor was apprehended.

Instead of focusing on increased penalties, youth prisons and deportations, we want to know how the government is working to prevent these crimes.

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Justitieministern Gunnar Strömmer (M)

Madam Speaker! I would like to thank you for an extraordinarily relevant and important question.

I was here in Uppsala, on site at the hair salon where a brutal murder occurred some time ago. It is clearly also a brutal reminder of the darkness that this crime entails, of course for those who are immediately affected by it but also for our entire society.

I am of the conviction that several things, for example punishment and other things, are necessary to reverse that development, but it is clear that we also need to do other things.

I shall mention a few: Large investments in social services and a new Social Services Act will mean that that part of the system can work much more offensively from this summer onwards.

From April 1, we are removing secrecy barriers so that different actors in society – school, police, social services – can share information with each other about children who are in a risk zone and prevent the type of serious crime that we see far too many examples of. We are also making investments in school social teams and parental support.

There is a long list of things that we must do, both repressively and preventively.

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Jesper Skalberg Karlsson (M)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Ankarberg Johansson. In North America, the world's largest market for life science, a trade war is currently being waged. In South Asia, where many ingredients for pharmaceuticals are manufactured, border conflicts can create great disorder. In Europe, where we live, growth is not quite gaining momentum. The situation for pharmaceutical supply chains is filled with uncertainty. It is an uncertainty that is difficult to influence politically. What can the Swedish government do to secure and strengthen the availability of pharmaceuticals in Sweden?

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Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Member, for a very pressing question!

Medicines are an obvious part of healthcare, and we expect them to be there. Still, we have lived with medicine shortages both in Sweden and in Europe for quite a long time. It concerns many different things, for example difficulties with value chains and transport, but also about lack of competitiveness. Therefore, the government is pushing to improve competitiveness in the EU through the work with new pharmaceutical legislation.

We are trying to improve competitiveness in Sweden, not least in the work that the coalition partners have taken the initiative on with Swetrial, so that it becomes easier to establish contact and carry out clinical studies and trials in Sweden.

We are taking a long series of measures, giving assignments to authorities and much more so that Sweden can become competitive but also be able to manage the situation. I received a proposal for an investigation a couple of weeks ago which shows measures we can take if there is a shortage of medicines and we need to make prioritizations.

We are working on both strengthening competitiveness in Sweden and Europe and managing the situation when shortages occur. We need to do both.

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Lars Isacsson (S)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer. The Swedish Payments Agency has now been in operation for just over a year. It has been given an important mission to counter incorrect payments and strengthen the control in our welfare systems. It is an important step in the right direction.

The police have identified 62,000 people with links to gang crime. It is fully reasonable for society to check whether these individuals receive money from our common welfare systems and whether they do so on correct grounds. We Social Democrats propose that the government give the Swedish Social Insurance Agency a special mandate to review exactly this. It would hit hard against serious organized crime, which often needs a white facade for its income and often takes it from our common welfare systems.

My question is whether the government will take this initiative and task the Swedish Social Insurance Agency to specifically review welfare payments to persons with links to gang crime.

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Justitieministern Gunnar Strömmer (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Lars Isacsson, for a very important question!

We know that when it comes to tackling organized crime, it is essential to choke the criminal economy. It is also a cornerstone in the strategy against organized crime that the government decided on last year and which the entire system is now working from in a very purposeful way. It is about stopping welfare fraud, about stopping the possibility of using companies as criminal tools, and of course about stopping the narcotics, which are still a main source of income for the gangs.

We need to achieve more effective cooperation between authorities and reclaim proceeds from crime. The Swedish Enforcement Authority is an important part of this. It can make important contributions in the fight against organized crime and the criminal economy. In the instructions the authority has received, there is a clear mandate to counteract organized crime in various ways.

We have also ensured that the authority is covered by what is known as the LUS Regulation, i.e., the obligation to share information between authorities. It is incredibly important.

Regarding auditing, follow-up, and analysis, there is now a mandate concerning the follow-up of various actors. We shall see if we should also follow up at an individual level in the way that Lars Isacsson suggested.

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Josef Fransson (SD)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister for Energy and Business Ebba Busch. In the area of business policy, virtually all media attention has centered on the government's grant-funded projects within the green transition. Sweden, however, is full of companies built on operations that can stand on their own feet but that can still be in great need of the government's attention regarding regulatory simplification, skills supply, permit processes, safety-creating measures, crime prevention measures, and much more.

Does Energy and Business Minister Ebba Busch see any risks for Swedish business and Swedish competitiveness when a very large amount of the government's business policy commitment is devoted to a limited area, namely the green transition?

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Energi- och näringsministern Ebba Busch (KD)

Madam Speaker! I will answer the question directly. Yes, I see huge risks with it – if it were as Josef Fransson paints it. But the media image does not always correspond with reality and what the government actually focuses on.

Not least some Sverigedemokrater have been active in focusing on a part of the projects linked to green transition in the media, but at the same time they are well aware of and very engaged in many of the large corporate establishments that do not have that as their primary selling point.

I would say that what is paramount for Sweden is our independence, our autonomy, and our security. That comes first. Then we have said that competitiveness and reduced emissions must go hand in hand. That is why we are driving an offensive agenda of regulatory simplification. We have reviewed the issue of labor immigration and facilitated skills development and energy supply throughout the country. That is the government's agenda and nothing else.

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Jennie Wernäng (M)

Madam Speaker! I have a question for Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer.

Many children and young people have it tough in one way or another, and some of these children we must help each other to protect specifically. The Riksdag has made decisions on new legislative changes in the Parental Code that will begin to apply this year. They will strengthen the protection for children against violence and violations.

The government is planning further steps to strengthen children regarding custody, residence, and access. My question is whether the minister can tell us a little about any upcoming steps and what they may mean for these children specifically.

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Justitieministern Gunnar Strömmer (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Jennie Wernäng, for the opportunity to also discuss these important issues today!

I was in a previous exchange on the fact that it is an incredibly important reform that entered into force on January 1 this year and which aims at a stronger protection for children in disputes regarding custody, access, and residence. It has been stated until now that the starting point should always be the best interests of the child, but unfortunately, this has all too often meant that even a violent parent, for example, can be granted custody or access rights. Now there is truly offensive legislation in that area. It is a great achievement.

It does not prevent there from being more questions. One such question has been about how one can ensure that children get what they are entitled to in a better way in these processes. Some have raised the question of separate counsel for children. We will include that in a new investigation to be appointed in the near future. I believe that an invitation to discuss this has already been sent out to the first chairs for the different parties in the Committee on Civil Affairs. We will therefore, in the near future, initiate a process concerning strengthening the support for children in these very difficult disputes.

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Dzenan Cisija (S)

Madam Speaker! I have a question for the Minister for Health and Social Affairs. The Government wants to raise the ceiling for the high-cost protection for pharmaceuticals from 2,900 to 3,800 kronor. It is a dramatic increase that hits particularly hard those with chronic diseases, low-income pensioners, and people with disabilities.

If the Minister for Health accepts it, I would like to hand over the names and signatures of 576 pensioners who are protesting against these deteriorations. The signatures were collected in just a few hours during the Senior Festival at Svenska Mässan in Gothenburg.

My question to the Minister for Health and Social Affairs is how the government justifies that it is weakening the protection for the sick and the economically vulnerable while simultaneously continuing with tax cuts for those who have the most.

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Statsrådet Acko Ankarberg Johansson (KD)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Member, for a very important question!

When I presented the proposal from the coalition parties, I could state that it is not desirable, but it is necessary. The costs for medicines have indeed increased by 49 percent for the state, while the costs for the patients have increased by 17 percent. We will not manage the cost increases we see without having to raise the co-payments.

In this year's budget, we needed to include an increase of 6 billion. Now the sum we spend on pharmaceutical costs is up to 41 billion. An additional 5 billion is projected for next year. We will therefore need to do it.

At the same time, it is important to remember that we are not changing when the free card is granted. It is at the same level as today. After 7,117 kronor, I receive my free card. That the free card remains at the same level as before is very important for patients who have chronic, lifelong diseases.

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Sara Gille (SD)

Madam Speaker! A doctor is now being sentenced for aggravated abuse of parental authority after having taken his children to Gaza without the mother's consent and forced the girl to wear a veil and then obstructed contact with the mother. It required an outbreak of war and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs' intervention for the children to be able to return. Despite this, the doctor was able to resume his service after release.

This raises great concern regarding the clarity of the rule of law and how seriously we view children's right to both parents and the protection against religious and cultural oppression.

My question is addressed to Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer. Does the Minister consider that today's legislation and sentencing practice reflect the seriousness of the type of crime where children are taken away, held abroad, and subjected to control linked to a culture of honor?

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Justitieministern Gunnar Strömmer (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Sara Gille, for raising a very important issue!

The straight answer to the question is no. The penalties today do not reflect the seriousness of this crime. I cannot, of course, comment on the individual case that Sara Gille brings up. But generally speaking, I can say that violence, other crimes in close relationships, and honor-related violence and oppression are issues that we have truly put in the spotlight.

With joint efforts, we are now significantly moving the positions forward. We have expanded the possibility to issue travel bans for children. We have decided on a referral to the Council of State which contains proposals, including, among others, on criminalizing innocence checks. Next week, I will receive an investigation that has been tasked to review the penalties for certain honor-related crimes, including child marriage crimes and misleading for a wedding trip. We are also conducting a general review of the sentencing scales which also aims at this situation.

Let me repeat my answers. Do today's punishments reflect the seriousness of the crimes? No. Are we about to change that now? Yes, we are, and we are doing it with joint forces. This is immensely important for individuals and for society as a whole.

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Crister Carlsson (M)

Madam Speaker! The question goes to Minister Ebba Busch. It concerns an issue that has been raised earlier here in the chamber, but it is well worth reminding of it again.

It concerns an EU directive on fish migration and the removal of dams as a consequence. This makes many of those who live and work around the approximately 10,000 dams that exist in Sweden concerned. The consequence of this would be devastating for cultural values and ecosystems. Many dams also produce electricity. Given the global situation, we need robustness in the area of electricity production. But the dams also help to prevent flooding during large water flows.

Can the Minister send some reassuring messages to those who live and work around these dams?

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Energi- och näringsministern Ebba Busch (KD)

Madam Speaker! Hydroelectric power is one of the finest and best things Sweden has, I want to assert. I am aware that these are big words.

Hydropower is fossil-free. The hydropower we have had has been crucial for building Swedish prosperity. Even small hydropower units, even a smaller dam, can have a very large and valuable effect on the energy system. It enables one, in addition to producing electricity, to transmit even more electricity from point A to point B, which is extra important now when we have a lot of wind power in the system.

The government paused the review of hydropower in 2023 and 2024 to better be able to map the effects on the electricity system and implement any changes. This is incredibly complex material. However, we continue the work of safeguarding hydropower. Today, news was released which, among other things, concerned providing support from the Energy Agency and Svenska kraftnät to the municipalities to help them strengthen their preparedness and management of hydropower so that we can achieve a stronger Sweden.

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Merit Frost Lindberg (M)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer.

When I grew up, the Holocaust was something unimaginably cruel to me. I never thought that as an adult I would see this hatred spread again, least of all here in the Swedish Riksdag.

When I spoke here in the chamber yesterday about antisemitism and Hamas links, it created very strong feelings among both the Left Party and the Social Democrats. And you know, I think that is good. It is really, really good. Reaction is exactly what we need.

There must be an end to a silent acceptance. Antisemitism is obviously present here in the Riksdag. I wonder: Who cares? Who reacts? We need to supplement the ongoing work with a very active effort here in Sweden's Riksdag. Every party must take a stand and stand up for its own values. How does the Minister for Justice view this?

(ANDRE VICE TALMANNEN: I want to remind that the question should concern the minister's area of responsibility.)

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Justitieministern Gunnar Strömmer (M)

Madam Speaker! I will find a hook, as it is called.

First and foremost, I thank Merit Frost Lindberg for raising an extremely pressing issue. The fight against antisemitism is one of the great struggles of our time.

How things and matters should be organized in Sweden's Riksdag, I hand over with a warm hand to the Riksdag. But I can say what the government does in society at large. I want to point out one important thing.

As late as today, the government reached a decision on Sweden's first strategy to strengthen Jewish life and counter antisemitism. To bring the issues to my area, I can say that a very central part of this is to counter hate crimes with antisemitic motives and ensure that the justice system's response to that type of hate is also powerful and reflects the seriousness of such criminality. In the near future, we will return to our authorities with very clear assignments that are in line with the strategy that the government decided on today.

Question time was hereby concluded.

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