Question Time

FÖRSTE VICE TALMANNEN

I would like to welcome the ministers. Questions will be answered today by Minister for Migration Johan Forssell, Minister for Defence Pål Jonson, Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa, and Minister for Health Elisabet Lann.

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. Migration Minister Johan Forssell answers both general political questions and questions within his own area of responsibility.

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Markus Kauppinen (S)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister for Development Cooperation Benjamin Dousa.

Ekot has reported that the government secretly directed 100 million kronor of aid to projects close to Somalia's prime minister in exchange for the country promising to accept deportees. Sida warned of the corruption risks, and a Swedish aid chief was deported when she stood up for transparency.

At the same time, the government has chosen to stop all support to UNRWA in the midst of a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

How, Minister, does cutting back on functioning humanitarian aid rhyme with approving a secret deal in Somalia that risks fueling corruption and even led to our own aid chief being forced to leave the country? Is this the government's new aid policy?

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Bistånds- och utrikeshandelsministern Benjamin Dousa (M)

Mr. Speaker! During the previous government's time, aid funds, Swedish taxpayers' money, were scattered around the world without us having control or setting counter-requirements that people follow international law and accept their own citizens who should not be in Sweden. It may be that they have come here illegally or had their asylum applications rejected. In the worst case, it may be that they have committed serious crimes in Sweden and therefore should not be here.

That time is now over. We have been very clear in the Tidö Agreement during the mandate period that we will now cooperate with the countries that have many citizens staying illegally in Sweden, simply to set counter-requirements. One cannot expect hundreds of millions from the Swedish people if one does not simultaneously fulfill its own responsibility according to international law and take in its own citizens. These counter-requirements we set in Somalia and also in many other countries.

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Markus Kauppinen (S)

Mr. Speaker! I thank the Minister for the answer, which unfortunately was quite poor in content. I would therefore like to ask a follow-up question.

Sida has, according to Ekot, warned that the setup is a high-risk project and stated that the money has been placed in a fund that is described by several as the Prime Minister's own. Can the Minister, with credibility, claim that not a single krona of these 100 million ends up in corrupt hands?

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Bistånds- och utrikeshandelsministern Benjamin Dousa (M)

Mr. Speaker! Of our support to Somalia, of the 100 million kronor that has been reported on, 40 million have gone through a specific World Bank fund which previous governments have also decided to support. 60 million have gone to the UN, more specifically the UN agency UNDP. No money has gone to the Prime Minister, any politician, or the state budget in Somalia as a whole. These are two organizations that have been in Somalia for a long time and who have a very good grasp of where the money ends up.

(Applause)

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Tobias Andersson (SD)

Mr. Speaker! The Government, together with the Sweden Democrats, has introduced new and modern tobacco policy goals. Where the old goals focused on total consumption, without regard for the differences in harmful effects between different products, the new goals now focus on harm minimization, issues that have now landed on Minister Elisabet Lann – congratulations!

These are important issues. Sweden is also an international example with its low tobacco-related mortality thanks to the low proportion of smokers. More countries should follow Sweden's example. Instead, however, we have recently seen several attacks against white snus from several EU countries. This is also happening within WHO, which will soon have a closed conference, filled with non-elected bureaucrats, who are to make decisions on recommendations to member countries regarding nicotine products.

How does the government intend to act so that damage minimization affects WHO's position?

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Sjukvårdsministern Elisabet Lann (KD)

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

I am a bit new to the job. Regarding exactly how we intend to proceed with white snus, I must ask to come back to that. I can, however, say that just a few weeks ago we decided on lowered supervision fees, an area where we also see a large difference between tobacco products, for example cigarettes, and snus.

Otherwise, I intend to return.

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Tobias Andersson (SD)

Mr. Speaker! I thank the Minister for the answer. There will certainly be reason to return to the question.

What concerns me is that COP 11 will soon take place, and then representatives for Sweden and other member states within WHO will be on site and handling issues concerning what recommendations are directed to member countries for managing different nicotine products. WHO recently released a paper where they spoke about harm reduction, harm reduction, as something of an industry term and not, as we see it, as the formal part of Sweden's position. We need a position in order to be able to influence the decision.

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Sjukvårdsministern Elisabet Lann (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I promise to return before it is time.

I also want to say that the research does not show any clear evidence that snus would reduce smoking in Sweden. On the other hand, the harms of snus use are significantly milder than those of smoking. This is a position that we put forward in the contexts where we have the opportunity to do so.

(Applause)

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Samuel Gonzalez Westling (V)

Mr. Speaker! There are very many people in Sweden who are currently asking themselves the question: Why does this government not want people to receive care when they become ill?

In recent years, the regions have had deficits of over 10 billion every year. The small billion that the government is now injecting will not even be enough to cover Västra Götaland's deficit.

Not only does the government want the children in the poorest families to starve, but with added courage, they now also intend to put healthcare on a starvation diet – despite the regions having cried out for help for years.

The government lets people die in care queues – for example, Mikael, who died waiting to be admitted to the cardiac surgery ward for his heart problems.

With the government's policy, the healthcare queues will become even longer. Why does the Minister for Health and Social Affairs not want the people in Sweden to receive healthcare when they need it?

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Sjukvårdsministern Elisabet Lann (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I am surprised that a question is even formulated in that way, I must say.

We know that it is the regions that are responsible for healthcare in Sweden. It is the regions that do not, despite having the right to tax, deliver the care that they have a statutory obligation to deliver.

This government has allocated 18 billion kronor to shorten the queues. We see some positive trends now. That is good, but it is not enough. That is why we continue to press on the issue to get better delivery from the regions so that they provide patients with care within the time that the law actually requires.

Not once since the healthcare guarantee was introduced as law have the regions lived up to that law. It is important that we place the responsibility where it belongs.

(Applause)

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Samuel Gonzalez Westling (V)

Mr. Speaker! The Minister may express as much surprise as she wishes regarding the matter, but despite that, there are people suffering because they are in long healthcare queues.

The Minister speaks of it being the regions themselves that shall be responsible for this with the help of their taxing rights and that the government shall not provide any money to solve this. But the government has itself said that it wants to reduce the possibility for the regions to levy tax to finance healthcare.

Why does the government and the Minister for Health and Social Affairs not want people to receive care in a timely manner?

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Sjukvårdsministern Elisabet Lann (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I am surprised by the way the question has been formulated, considering that 18 billion to shorten the queues, in my opinion, is not an expression of not wanting to shorten the queues, or not wanting people to receive care in a timely manner. It is what we have allocated during the parliamentary term. Yes, it is what we have allocated so far during the parliamentary term! We are allocating additional funds for the coming year.

We must also remember that the regions have 25 billion lower pension costs this year. There are therefore better economic conditions in the regions.

(Applause)

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Anna Lasses (C)

Mr. Speaker! I know that this government is proud of being careful with the taxpayers' money. I also know that this government raises issues of transparency, efficiency, getting the most bang for the buck, and countering corruption in aid activities. Therefore, it is surprising that one still prioritizes deportations over what the aid is to be used for. Instead, aid funds are allocated to a high-risk project.

Are there more examples of the type of high-risk projects that aid countries with high levels of corruption are allowed to participate in, besides Somalia?

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Bistånds- och utrikeshandelsministern Benjamin Dousa (M)

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

I do not know if I would define the World Bank and the UN as high-risk projects. I want to remember that even the Center Party has made decisions regarding support for both the World Bank and the UN organization UNDP.

On the question of whether we are working with returns to other countries and on reducing asylum-related immigration, I can promise the Chamber that we are definitely working on this. It is a very important priority issue for us.

Questions concerning the time when we scattered money without setting counter-requirements, without expecting that the countries we cooperate with also cooperate with us, are important for us. In the worst case, it could involve grossly criminal people who are not citizens of Sweden and whom we do not want here. Of course, we will cooperate with other countries in more regions. For example, I hope that we can initiate such a cooperation together with the migration minister in Syria.

(Applause)

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Anna Lasses (C)

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

It is very good to cooperate with UNDP, the UN and the World Bank – absolutely. But we are discussing money for what we agree are high-risk projects.

Then one must ask oneself if UNRWA really is a greater high-risk project than the one in Somalia. Is this not a very strange prioritization?

(Applause)

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Bistånds- och utrikeshandelsministern Benjamin Dousa (M)

Mr. Speaker! We have had a long conversation with Somalia. This is about a UN organization and the World Bank. It is not new money in that sense, but the new thing is that for the money that would have gone to Somalia anyway, we are setting counter-requirements for one to be able to receive the money.

Let me make the comparison with UNRWA. There, we know that there are confirmed cases of UNRWA employees who have expressed themselves in an antisemitic manner and expressed very extreme views, and furthermore had links to terrorism.

(Applause)

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Jacob Risberg (MP)

Mr. Speaker! In recent days, we have read how the government has allowed 100 million kronor to be paid out from the aid budget to projects close to the Somali Prime Minister. This is happening in accordance with a secret agreement that Sweden and Somalia have signed. The agreement concerns getting Somalia to accept persons forcibly deported from Sweden.

The primary task of aid is to lift people out of poverty and promote economic development for the very poorest. Since the Tidö government took office, most of the government's communication regarding aid has concerned how aid must become more efficient and more transparent.

My question therefore goes to Minister Benjamin Dousa. Based on the primary task of aid to lift people out of poverty, how does this agreement contribute to making the aid more effective? Based on the government's constant talk about increasing transparency, how transparent is it to sign that type of secret agreement with the Somali Prime Minister?

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Bistånds- och utrikeshandelsministern Benjamin Dousa (M)

Mr. Speaker! I truly appreciate that type of question from the chamber. They show with all clarity that there is also a difference between the government's and the opposition's migration policy and aid policy, where this government sets clear counter-requirements that countries where we enter with hundreds of millions must also cooperate with us in issues that are important to us.

There is nothing secret about this – at all. There isn't even a physically signed agreement. Everything will be reported on openaid.se. Furthermore, the Government has made a decision to improve openaid.se so that the chambers of the Riksdag, the Swedish people, and journalists can scrutinize and hold the Government accountable for what we do in the field of aid.

For us, it is a matter of course that when we cooperate with countries, those countries must also cooperate with us.

(Applause)

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Jacob Risberg (MP)

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

The Minister mentioned in previous answers regarding the organization UNRWA that there is a fear of antisemitism. It makes it even stranger that agreements are entered into with the Somali Prime Minister Barre, who has expressed about Jews that they are children of dogs and pigs. I wonder if that type of antisemitism should forbid or disqualify even the Somali president from receiving that type of support.

(Applause)

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Bistånds- och utrikeshandelsministern Benjamin Dousa (M)

Mr. Speaker! The Chamber of the Riksdag is welcome to show me exactly which Swedish tax dollars have gone to a Somali politician. If we are to use that type of argumentation, we would hardly have any aid at all in any geography, definitely not in Gaza or on the West Bank.

This is not about Swedish tax money going to the Somali government, but they are managed via the World Bank and the UN organization UNDP, which Miljöpartiet has also decided to support.

(Applause)

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Caroline Högström (M)

Mr. Speaker! My question is directed to Migration Minister Johan Forssell.

This week, the news came that an imam in Kristianstad has preached about when and how men are allowed to hit women. In a clip that has circulated, it is preached about disciplining rebellious women and that women shall obey their husbands.

In 1864, men in Sweden were forbidden from beating their wives. Still, we see continued problems with men's violence against women and how young girls express that they are controlled by their families. Many women and girls in Sweden are not free to live their lives. This type of honor culture and honor oppression has no place in Sweden, and it is deeply alarming that we continue to read in the news how prominent individuals help to uphold the honor culture.

Can the Minister for Migration tell us how the government is working to counter honor oppression and how that type of misogyny spreads in religious circles?

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Migrationsministern Johan Forssell (M)

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

In Sweden, no woman, no girl, should have to live in a relationship where she is beaten by her husband in the name of religion. The loathsome honor culture is a major societal problem. It must never be accepted or relativized. These purely medieval values simply do not belong in Sweden.

I think this shows why the reforms we are now implementing are so important. We are, for example, tightening the requirements for who can become a citizen in Sweden. We are lowering the threshold for deportations. And with our Vandel legislation, we are introducing entirely new possibilities to deport persons from Sweden when they commit crimes or spread very dangerous extremism. It is important. These persons should not become citizens in Sweden, but they should be deported.

Above all, no woman or girl in our country should have to face that type of purely misogynistic values.

(Applause)

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Caroline Högström (M)

Mr. Speaker! I thank the Minister for the answer. It feels important that we have a government that takes the issue of honor-based oppression just seriously.

Can the Minister also conclude by saying something about how we are tightening the requirements for Swedish citizenship? It is a pressing issue in these times.

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Migrationsministern Johan Forssell (M)

Mr. Speaker! We are now making the largest change to Swedish citizenship legislation in several decades, perhaps even ever. We will, among other things, tighten the residence requirement, i.e., the time one must have been in Sweden, to at least eight years.

At least as important is that we are now introducing requirements for a passing grade in the Swedish language and in social studies. And one must, of course, not have committed any crimes in Sweden. And for the first time in 50 years, we are introducing a principle that the person who is to become a citizen in Sweden shall have their own livelihood.

(Applause)

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Christian Carlsson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Sweden's self-governing regions are failing in their mission to offer people care in a timely manner. They are also not keeping their promises. Despite the fact that the government has injected 31 billion in agreement with Sveriges Kommuner och Regioner to support the transition to close care, it is not noticeably reflected in how the regions budget. It is 31 billion straight down the drain.

The inefficient management of Swedish healthcare involves a waste of taxpayers' money and that people do not receive the care that they are intended to receive.

What does the Minister for Health and Social Affairs and the government intend to do to gain momentum in the transition to a local care? A transition could lead to more health centers being able to have longer opening hours and more people being able to have a fixed doctor to turn to.

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Sjukvårdsministern Elisabet Lann (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Member Christian Carlsson, for an important question!

We want primary care to constitute the hub of health and medical care. It serves the entire healthcare system and, above all, the patients. It is there that the foundation is laid for early detection, preventive work, and successful care and treatment.

It is true that an incredible amount of money has been allocated through SKR for the transition to good and local care. Different governments have worked on the issue for about ten years, and it is moving very slowly. That is the reason why, for the current year, we chose to distribute those funds in a new way, through a decree. We believe that, with a decree, it will be easier to follow the money by more clearly earmarking it for good and local care. A study by Vård- och omsorgsanalys shows, in fact, that one cannot quite see where the 31 billion have actually gone.

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Christian Carlsson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! A hallmark of effective and accessible high-quality care is a strong primary care with good continuity. Therefore, it is provocative that SKR has not kept its word and that 31 billion more or less have gone up in smoke.

The Christian Democrats want there to be a fixed and named doctor for everyone. It is good that the government is prepared to take new measures so that we can approach that goal. I believe that we will need to take more steps in that direction in the future.

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Sjukvårdsministern Elisabet Lann (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Last week we took a decision on the bill Next steps for good and close care, which will be handled by the Riksdag. The hope is that the law will enter into force next summer, on July 1.

There we take a few more steps in that direction, linked to municipal health and medical care, with requirements that each municipality shall have a medically responsible rehabilitation and that one shall have a fixed care contact even in municipal care. We often forget municipal care when we talk about primary care, as the hub for patients.

(Applause)

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Anders Ekegren (L)

Mr. Speaker! Sweden is making a historic investment in defense. It is good and absolutely necessary.

I served my military service at the end of the 70s at the Navy's Medical School at KA 4 in Gothenburg. It was a very solid education. At that time, military medical care was at its peak. If I remember correctly, we could mobilize 22 naval field hospitals.

Experience shows that good healthcare within the military is of crucial importance for saving lives and creating security for the individual soldier. My question to the Minister of Defence is: In what way does Pål Jonson intend to strengthen military healthcare?

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Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

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

It is true, as the member says, that we are making very large efforts in the defense area. We have doubled the defense budget over four years, and we have tripled the equipment purchases. It is therefore also reasonable that we are making investments in healthcare in the military area. We are doing that now, both through the existing medical companies and through the important expansion of field hospitals.

The second dimension, which I want to add, is that the Defence Medicine Centre and the activities carried out there maintain very high international quality. Therefore, we have been in demand on that side and train Ukrainian soldiers in, for example, Germany. And that is why we have contributed a medical troop to Operation Aspides.

Our military healthcare maintains high quality, and we are expanding its breadth.

(Applause)

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Anders Ekegren (L)

Mr. Speaker! That sounds very good. Experience shows that good healthcare in the military creates many positive advantages.

My question then is: What is our time perspective on these changes?

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Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

Mr. Speaker! We are working here and now on the five-year defense decisions. There will be a gradual build-up of healthcare for military purposes and of combat medicine.

Alongside this, the entire chain in civil healthcare naturally plays a central role, both in order to be able to support the Armed Forces in the event of an armed attack and to provide support to civil defense in the event of crisis and war.

(Applause)

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Linnéa Wickman (S)

Mr. Speaker! For 20 years, Sweden has been one of the most important donors to the Global Fund in the fight against HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria. Thanks to this, over 70 million lives have been saved, and mortality has decreased by more than 60 percent. It is a result that we should truly be proud of.

In November, the world's countries will meet to make three-year commitments for new support to provide the long-term perspective required to press prices on medicines and save lives. Norway and Denmark have already submitted their notices. If Sweden only promises one year, cuts back, or waits until after the meeting, it risks weakening the efforts but also Sweden's reputation.

My question to the Minister for Development Cooperation is: Will Sweden, ahead of the summit, give the Global Fund a pledge of a long-term three-year commitment?

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Bistånds- och utrikeshandelsministern Benjamin Dousa (M)

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

It is true that both the Global Fund and Gavi have for a long time carried out very important work to lower vaccine prices for the most vulnerable people on the planet. Furthermore, they have had logistical capacity and cooperation with the recipient countries.

Gavi also has a very interesting model where countries that end their support themselves begin to become donors to the system. India and Indonesia are concrete examples.

I will be honest. We are currently sitting and having budget talks for next year. As the Chamber knows, the aid budget will decrease from 56 to 53 billion, and at the same time, the support for Ukraine will increase to 10 billion. There will therefore be many tough conversations. But we will constantly safeguard the health work and the humanitarian work.

We will return with exact decisions regarding both the Global Fund and Gavi.

(Applause)

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Clara Aranda (SD)

Mr. Speaker! Unidentified drone flights have recently become an increasingly larger problem, most recently in Denmark. Much indicates that it is not a private actor, and in the cases concerning Denmark, it has turned out to be larger aircraft. What is particularly serious is that the drones have been located above military bases where Danish F-35s have been based. The message from the alleged state actor is that no one is safe and that we are also vulnerable. It is a deliberate strategy to disturb and influence. The strategy is completely in line with Russian doctrine regarding hybrid warfare.

Within the Sweden Democrats, there is no doubt that the only way to deter an actor from acting so recklessly is to meet force with force. Does Minister Pål Jonson believe that the Armed Forces has the mandate and fully adequate conditions to prevent similar overflights of Swedish territory?

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Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

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

Firstly, Sweden has full solidarity with Denmark. That is why we could quickly ensure that we had countermeasure systems in place to support Denmark, now that the European Council and EPC are in place. It was a quick and requested contribution, for which we had resources.

Secondly, the question concerns the Swedish Armed Forces' mandate under the IKFN legislation. There, the Swedish Armed Forces have a strong mandate to use force if so required. If it is a question of a violation by a combat aircraft, it will not be the first thing one does, but one has this decentralized mandate. The Swedish Armed Forces have both the resources and the legal support required to be able to act if a military drone violates Swedish airspace. We will defend Swedish airspace if other countries were to attack it, especially, of course, if Russia were to act. We have indeed seen clear and documented Russian violations of both Estonian and Polish airspace, Mr. Speaker.

(Applause)

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Ciczie Weidby (V)

Mr. Speaker! Almost half a million people are unemployed in Sweden. Reducing unemployment should be the most prioritized issue for the entire government. Therefore, I intend to pose a general political question to Johan Forssell.

On Monday, DN reported that a large supplier to Arbetsförmedlingen was being investigated for suspected cartel formation and contract fraud. It is suspected of having paid competitors to withdraw from procurements.

We have previously seen that the government has been characterized by various types of corruption scandals, links to right-wing extremism and so on, but in this case, it is at least obvious. Then I wonder: Why does the government want to maintain such an obvious corrupt system instead of conducting a serious operation under state management that actually gets people into jobs?

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Migrationsministern Johan Forssell (M)

Mr. Speaker! I thank you for the question.

One of this government's most important priorities is to break with the line of subsidies that for so many years created a great sense of exclusion in our country. We are replacing it with the work line. It shall pay to work. It shall pay to take that first job. This we achieve, not least through tax reliefs for small and medium incomes. This policy has, however, met great opposition in this chamber, not least from Vänsterpartiet, which instead is obsessed with large subsidy increases and tax hikes. But this is the foundation of our prosperity. It is what has built Sweden strong. It is also what will build Sweden strong in the future.

At the same time, we must also improve the matching on the labor market. There, Arbetsförmedlingen has an important role together with several other actors. If it is the case that errors or irregularities have been committed, these must, of course, be reported to the police and investigated. I want to remind the questioner that it is not the government that does this; we have authorities that act and have exactly those tasks. In that case, it will have to be a police investigation. But the basis of this is the focus on the work line and that we have control over our operations.

(Applause)

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Mona Smedman (C)

Mr. Speaker! The question goes to the Minister for Defence and the representative from Värmland, Pål Jonson.

On Tuesday, Trafikverket presented the national transport infrastructure plan for twelve years ahead. It is almost 1,200 billion kronor that is being invested in infrastructure. But despite the fact that it is a crazy amount of money, there still won't be more infrastructure, especially not in Värmland.

And with us now being in the NATO community, east-west traffic is clearly prioritized. Then it is surprising that the most heavily trafficked single-track railway in Sweden, the one between Karlstad and Kil, is removed. A few figures: In 2024, 60 percent of the trains were delayed, and the average delay was 26 minutes.

Therefore, the question is: How does Pål Jonson, both as a person from Värmland and as Minister for Defence, view the fact that Trafikverket has removed that section?

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Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

Mr. Speaker! I believe I shall refrain from pointing out individual railway sections. I may have an opinion on the matter, but not in my capacity as a minister in the government.

What I can say is that both the military infrastructure and the military mobility will need to become better. We have an agreement between eight parties for up to 50 billion kronor, and we will point out different parts of the infrastructure that need to be reinforced to meet the military needs. Here I believe that ÖB will contribute when he comes with his military advice at the end of November. Then we will have both the money and the opportunity to get a qualified military advice from ÖB on which stretches should be prioritized.

Just as the member says, it is important that we get better conditions to transport materiel and personnel across at least the Nordic borders and that we get better coordination. That is also why the Armed Forces are now integrated with Trafikverket in order to be able to achieve the coordination that the member requests.

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Emma Berginger (MP)

Mr. Speaker! I want to begin by emphasizing that we have a broad consensus among all parties in the Riksdag regarding security and defense policy, which means that in the serious security policy situation, we take a shared responsibility to strengthen Sweden's defense capability.

But the threats today are broad and complex. Just because we have a military threat to contend with does not mean the climate crisis takes a break. It is, as the government has stated in its national security strategy, an existential threat. At the same time, the government's climate policy is conspicuous by its absence, and emissions are increasing. The threat is not being taken seriously.

I would therefore like to ask the Minister of Defence how and in what way he is working to ensure that Sweden's defence contributes to reduced climate emissions and at the same time is adapted, so that we do not experience a reduced defence capability, not least as the climate changes and society otherwise transitions. As the defence is now facing significant growth with, for example, large purchases of materiel, it is important to future-proof the defence.

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Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

Mr. Speaker! I thank Emma Berginger for the question.

I also appreciate the broad political consensus that we have on security and defense issues. It is truly important, especially in these serious times.

I usually say that the most important thing we can do for the environment is to be able to continue living in peace. Therefore, we must carry out a major upgrade. One can look at Ukraine and what has happened to the environment there when it has been subjected to armed attacks – it has been a catastrophe. It is important to remember this to have perspective on why the buildup of the defense is so important.

Alongside this, the Armed Forces are working diligently on, for example, sustainability issues. They have a comprehensive sustainability report. When I was committee chair, we invited the Armed Forces to report on that work. In an international comparison, I dare to assert that our defense force has a high level of environmental consideration and is working intensively to consider what consequences its emissions may have for the broader environment.

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Magnus Resare (M)

Mr. Speaker! In Karlstad, a mosque is currently being built. Many people I have spoken with, not least Muslims, feel great concern that the association behind the construction may end up using radical imams. We saw an example just a few days ago – an imam in Kristianstad preached and gave advice on how one can best beat their wives.

My question to the Minister for Migration is therefore how he views the radicalization in Swedish mosques and what we can do about it here.

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Migrationsministern Johan Forssell (M)

Mr. Speaker! As I have said, the culture of honor constitutes a very big problem in Sweden today. It must never be accepted or in any way relativized away. It is a fundamental part of the government's policy.

At the same time, freedom of religion is a fundamental principle in Sweden and in the government's policy. We must remember that. It is a very important Swedish value.

With this said, we must always be crystal clear when we look, for example, at such pure misogyny as has been uncovered in the cases mentioned here.

The government has a strategy against extremism and radicalization. In this, we are, for example, tightening the democratic conditions for organizations that receive public support. It is a very important principle. There is also an investigation ongoing regarding a possible ban on foreign funding of religious communities.

Then we do a lot at the individual level. For example, we are tightening the rules on who can be granted Swedish citizenship. We are also lowering the threshold for deportation from the country. We must remember that in several cases, this constitutes a crime.

(Applause)

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Gudrun Brunegård (KD)

Mr. Speaker! At the beginning of the year, it was decided that Swedish aid to Gaza and Palestine would be rerouted from UNRWA, which was prevented from operating in the areas. Instead, the aid is channeled through organizations such as the World Food Programme, Unicef, UNHCR, and the Red Cross.

Islamic Relief is an organization that has been shown to have strong links to the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood. Is it a suitable partner for Sweden? How is the investigation into this proceeding?

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Bistånds- och utrikeshandelsministern Benjamin Dousa (M)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, member, for the question! It is Sida that is responsible for this. Sida itself makes decisions on which humanitarian actors should be funded.

With this said, the government has taken a number of measures to prevent Swedish aid funds from coming anywhere near extremists. Among other things, provisions regarding strengthened control mechanisms have been included in a number of steering documents concerning Sida, most recently in Sida's new regulation with instructions decided on 10 April. It is stated there, among other things, that Sida shall ensure that aid is not given to actors who conduct or support anti-democratic activities, violent extremism, Islamism, antisemitism, terrorism, activities that undermine the rights of women and girls, or hate propaganda directed at individuals or groups.

For a long time, UD has had a dialogue with Sida regarding whether Islamic Relief meets the requirements set for recipients of Swedish aid. That Swedish aid funds are used correctly and are put to good use is of the utmost importance for the government.

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Martin Melin (L)

Mr. Speaker! I have a question for the Minister for Migration. During the past week, we have seen media reporting on how criminal individuals and people from organized crime infiltrate political parties. Most recently, it concerned the Socialdemokraterna in Botkyrka. This is anything but good. I do not think people understand – and by people, I also mean politicians – how serious this is, i.e., that criminal persons can, for example, run our municipalities and influence decisions.

My question is quite simply: How does the government view this threat to our democratic institutions?

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Migrationsministern Johan Forssell (M)

Mr. Speaker! Audience! I thank you for the question. Martin Melin is completely right that this is a major societal problem. It is not new. It has existed in Sweden for several years, but there is reason to say that it is a growing problem.

When such things are uncovered, it is not just a workplace accident, but fundamentally it is a threat to democracy, i.e., to the fact that the will of the people should be allowed to come to expression in a good and thoughtful way.

I would like to say this: Ultimately, there are laws that regulate this, and they must always be upheld. It is a matter for our law enforcement authorities. But we must also remember that every political party has its own responsibility in this when it comes to opening themselves up to scrutiny, to being transparent and not preventing audits but always and everywhere getting to the bottom of the problems that exist. There is probably reason to say that this all too often has not occurred.

(Applause)

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Gustaf Lantz (S)

Mr. Speaker! I bought my jacket on sale, 40 percent. So I came home to my wife and said: Now we have a hundred kronor, so we can eat out tonight! But she didn't quite buy that math.

I think the government has expressed at least equally strange mathematics when it says that it is investing 600 million kronor in women's health when we know that there was 1 billion more in the previous budget.

The Minister for Health and Social Affairs has expressed that everything over zero in a budget should be counted as an investment. In that case, the government should have made a big fuss and said that they are investing 175 billion kronor in defense, but Pål Jonson has not done that.

I now want the Minister for Health to once and for all clarify whether it is 1 billion less for women's health in this budget or not.

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Sjukvårdsministern Elisabet Lann (KD)

Mr. Speaker! No, it is not 1 billion less. We are investing 1 billion. Compared to last year, it is 600 million less, but last year a one-time investment was made, and it appeared in that budget that the figure for 2026 was zero. We are now investing 1 billion more than zero to continue the investment. But it is not that women's health is not included in the basic responsibility the regions have, we are simply extending the investment because we think this is important.

(Applause)

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Pontus Andersson Garpvall (SD)

Mr. Speaker! The Sweden Democrats have for a long time pushed for lower foreign aid and for aid to generate positive effects for Sweden. One can therefore use aid as a means of pressure to deport, for example, Somalis, which the government has now shown is possible. This is partly for purely nationalistic reasons – Swedish taxpayers' money should go to what is best for the Swedes – partly because we know that aid rarely leads to prosperity. All aid that does not lead to prosperity is wasted tax money.

The Sweden Democrats are now, together with the government, making major efforts to reduce aid – we would have liked to see even lower aid – and to ensure that every tax krona invested goes to the right things. Is it the Minister's opinion that we now have control over and follow up on the aid that we provide, or is there more to be done in the area?

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Bistånds- och utrikeshandelsministern Benjamin Dousa (M)

Mr. Speaker! I can assure the Chamber that we are far from finished. We still have very large problems with fraud and corruption in many aid operations. If one looks at Sida's active interventions, one can see that there is suspicion of corruption or irregularities in 10 percent of all interventions. Among 16 percent of Sida's partners, there is also suspicion of corruption or other irregularities. That is why the government has made a number of decisions to get to the bottom of this. We have given a special corruption mandate which means that routines must be sharpened to find any irregularities. More shall be brought to the surface. Openaid shall be updated more often and be easier to understand, so that the Riksdag, the Swedish people, and journalists can follow where the money ends up. Finally, we have a somewhat nerdy mandate, a special evidence mandate to ensure that the money we put in gets as large a return as possible linked to prosperity, study results, and other things.

(Applause)

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Lotta Johnsson Fornarve (V)

Mr. Speaker! Yesterday, Ekot revealed that Sweden has entered into a secret agreement with Somalia to provide 100 million in aid funds, which will, among other things, go to projects that have connections to the Prime Minister, a Prime Minister who represents the most corrupt country in the world. It is shocking, to say the least.

The corruption link is bad enough in itself, but it has also been shown that Somalia, in exchange, has promised to accept forcibly deported citizens from Sweden. This secret agreement smells of both bribery and corruption from a long way off, which naturally contradicts how aid is permitted to be used.

Are there more similar agreements with other corrupt regimes around the world where you have used aid for something that could resemble a bribe? And how can you prioritize this very questionable project over aid to the UN agency UNRWA, which, according to Sida, the government's own agency, is completely indispensable for the aid to reach starving children and women in Gaza?

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Bistånds- och utrikeshandelsministern Benjamin Dousa (M)

Mr. Speaker! The new thing is not aid to Somalia. Sweden has provided aid to Somalia for decades through UN organizations and through the World Bank – through the exact same World Bank fund that has now surfaced in SR's review. It surfaced now despite the fact that it has been on openaid.se all along.

The new thing is that we do not just pay out the money, but we also ensure that those who receive the money – who are not any politician in Somalia and who are not the state of Somalia but the UN and the World Bank – cooperate with us. We ensure that Somalia cooperates with us. Of course, we do this in more countries, and of course, we will do everything we can to try to achieve that cooperation even in other countries.

Sweden is not an ATM that can scatter money everywhere. We expect countries to cooperate with us if we are to cooperate back.

(Applause)

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Ulrika Liljeberg (C)

Mr. Speaker! In a time of a deteriorated security situation, the Center Party's assessment is that it is just as important not to create new vulnerabilities as it is for us as a country to create strengths and increase capabilities to defend ourselves.

In the EU, the proposal to effectively ban fully encrypted communication services is once again on the table. CSAM, chat control, is to be taken up again in the near future. And the government is once again ready to say yes to installing backdoors or side doors in fully encrypted services.

Among other things, our own Defence Forces have been very critical of such proposals and have instead emphasized the importance of fully encrypted services for our digital defense capability.

My question is whether the Minister for Defence assesses that chat control increases or decreases our ability to defend Sweden.

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Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

Mr. Speaker! I actually cannot answer when it comes to chat control because chat control is not a system that the Armed Forces use. However, I think the member might be thinking of Signal, which has been approved for a lower type of encryption.

I have previously been asked by other members of the Riksdag how the government views it. It is true that the Ministry of Justice has worked on a referral to the Council on Legislation regarding this. That issue is being prepared in the Government Offices. We have no new information to provide linked to this. I can only state that the Armed Forces are clear that Signal is a system that can now be used for lower secrecy levels and that it is important for the Armed Forces' capabilities for certain types of communication, but naturally not at the level that concerns defense secrets.

(Applause)

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Cecilia Gustafsson (M)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister for Health and Social Affairs Elisabet Lann.

One of the biggest challenges in Swedish health and medical care is the differences we see between regions and municipalities regarding accessibility, quality, and the possibility of receiving coherent care. In the bill Next steps for good and close care, the need to strengthen equality is emphasized, among other things through a clearer distribution of responsibility and a primary care that can meet both physical and mental care needs.

How does the Minister intend to ensure that we get more equal healthcare throughout the country?

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Sjukvårdsministern Elisabet Lann (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, member, for an important question!

We were earlier discussing that the lack of equal healthcare is a major problem in Sweden. An important part of addressing the healthcare's problems is to truly strengthen primary care.

The government has great hopes that the new law will contribute to making things more equal across the entire country. Different regions have progressed to different extents in the transition to close care. Municipal health and medical care is often forgotten, despite the fact that it accounts for a very large part of the care that those with the greatest care needs in our society are completely dependent on – they receive a great deal of care from there. For that very reason, I am extra pleased that the new law targets precisely the municipal health and medical care, where a fixed care contact will be guaranteed, and where one will be able to get in contact with a nurse or doctor around the clock.

(Applause)

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Lena Johansson (S)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister of Defence Pål Jonson.

According to SOM Institute's latest measurement, the total will to defend is around 53 percent among the population. Furthermore, a slightly declining trend is demonstrated.

In the investigation Redo! it is proposed that the compensation for home guard soldiers should be reformed, among other things, through an increase of SGI from 90 to 100 percent. The soldiers should not have to pay to make a contribution for all of us.

Given that the government in its budget for 2026 has already incorporated parts of the investigation in other areas, I wonder why one does not choose the low-hanging fruit in this context, which concerns the compensation for home guard soldiers.

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Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

Mr. Speaker! There were several parts to that question. But it is entirely correct that Redo!, which former Chief of the Home Guard Roland Ekenberg presented this summer, contains proposals for increased compensation for Home Guard soldiers. It is out for consultation. We will receive the consultation response on November 14. After that, we will proceed with this.

The question also concerned the budget that we presented. We have targeted compensation levels that we can increase for both conscripts and officer candidates, which we consider reasonable. In addition, this means 26.6 billion more to the Armed Forces, of which a large part goes to the unit appropriation. There will also be opportunities for the Armed Forces, if the parties in the labor market were to agree on it, to review wage levels. But when it comes to compensation levels for Home Guard members, we will return to it after we have received the referral response on November 14 this year.

(Applause)

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Angelica Lundberg (SD)

Mr. Speaker! In Kristianstad, there is an imam who openly preaches that men should beat their wives if they do not obey. We are fighting hard in Sweden to stop men's violence against women, and yet we have people, in 2025, who call for the abuse of women. It is repulsive, and it is far from the values that we want in Sweden.

Previous governments' naive attitude has led us here. This is one of the greatest failures in Swedish politics. The Sweden Democrats want to clearly mark a red line here. Anyone who wants to bring such a rotten view of women here is not welcome to stay in Sweden.

What does the Minister for Migration intend to do to ensure that there is a possibility to revoke citizenship for those who demonstrate a lack of integrity by encouraging the oppression of women?

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Migrationsministern Johan Forssell (M)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Angelica Lundberg, for the question!

As I have mentioned several times today, no woman and no girl should have to be beaten in the name of religion. These are purely medieval values that should not have gained a foothold in Sweden. Now we unfortunately see that they have nonetheless gained it. We also see a growing problem linked to this.

We are doing several things to reduce the problems, to create much greater clarity, and to ensure that the crimes that this can constitute are also investigated and prosecuted.

We have earlier today been on this regarding tightening the rules for foreign financing of religious communities in Sweden. We have such work underway. We are lowering the threshold for deportation from the country. We are now awaiting new proposals on creating entirely new possibilities to deport persons due to lack of integrity. We are also tightening the rules regarding who should be granted Swedish citizenship and are introducing, for example, citizenship tests in Sweden. We have work underway linked to revoking citizenship if one has dual such.

We assess that we have gone as far as we can today, but we shall look at what is possible according to international conventions. Then we shall return.

(Applause)

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Jörgen Berglund (M)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister of Defence Pål Jonson. The question concerns Swedish-Finnish cooperation.

Sweden has for a long time had a very close and near cooperation with Finland in the defense policy area. It is no secret that Sweden and Finland have a history, a culture, and many areas where we stand very close to each other. Sweden perhaps, internationally, has the closest defense cooperation with Finland.

In view of the fact that the Minister for Defence was in Finland this week, I would like to ask the Minister for Defence the following: How is the Swedish-Finnish military cooperation developing now that we are both in Nato? Is Finland still our closest ally?

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Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Jörgen Berglund, for the question!

Finland is and remains Sweden's closest ally in security and defense matters. The cooperation has changed character from us previously being partners to us now being allies. The primary expression of the deep Swedish-Finnish defense cooperation is that we are the country within Nato that has primary responsibility for Nato's activities with deterrence and defense in Finland. Not least, it concerns that we have a close cooperation between our ground forces up in northern Finland linked to what is called the Norrland Brigade.

What is unique is, of course, that we have unique subarctic capabilities. It is one thing to survive in this cold, demanding and dark area, but another to be able to conduct warfare. Sweden and Finland can do both of these things.

(Applause)

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Peter Hultqvist (S)

Mr. Speaker! Russia has four antennas directed towards the Baltic Sea area that aim to interfere with GPS systems. These interfere with air and sea traffic, which can lead to accidents of various kinds and to very serious environmental emissions. It can also lead to people dying.

It is often said that the definition of terrorism is when someone seriously wants to destabilize a society by harming fundamental structures. In my opinion, GPS interference such as this is a way to harm and undermine societal structures. They contribute to such danger.

Is the Minister prepared to take the initiative so that the Swedish government pushes for that GPS interference be seen as an act of terrorism and also take up this with other countries to create international support in the matter of designating this as an act of terror? When it comes to Russia, it is a question of state terrorism.

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Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

Mr. Speaker! We are deeply critical of the reckless actions within the Russian telewarfare capability. Sometimes it is because one is practicing, sometimes it is because one is directing activities, and sometimes it is because one is taking protective measures because one, on good grounds, is vigilant against being attacked by the Ukrainians, who have the right to defend themselves within and outside their territory.

We have pointed this out for other countries. Russia knows this. We have held conversations about this in the Nordic-Baltic circle. We have also raised the issue in the NATO circle.

The classification of state terrorism and international terrorism and whether this would be a form of terrorism, I cannot assess from an international law perspective here and now. There are complicated legal rules surrounding this concept. But we are deeply critical of the Russian actions. It is reckless and dangerous.

We work together with others to reduce and address the problem. We do this, in particular, through historically large defense investments.

(Applause)

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Adam Marttinen (SD)

Mr. Speaker! The Government and the Sweden Democrats deliver very good things almost every day. Yesterday, we could see how our aid policy has solved the problem of carrying out forced deportations of Somalis. The Social Democrats and their coalition parties protest loudly, but I think it was one of the best aid news ever. Finally, we can carry out forced deportations to Somalia! It is well done – I really mean that.

How can we deport more foreigners who have not necessarily committed crimes but who in different ways pose a threat to the interests of the realm? It could be about imams who preach with the aim of Islamizing Sweden or extremists who in different ways support terrorism or serious crime. An investigation will soon be launched on strengthened protection against foreigners who pose a security threat to Sweden. What does the Minister for Migration envision as possible changes when that investigation is complete?

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Migrationsministern Johan Forssell (M)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Adam Marttinen, for the question!

The Act on Special Foreigner Control, LSU, is a very important piece of legislation because it helps us keep Sweden safe and secure. As everyone here in the chamber knows, we do not live in the world we might want to live in, but in the world as it looks today, with growing problems with extremism, terrorism and sometimes unfortunately also pure security threats.

The appointed investigation looks at how this important legislation can be used in more situations than today. This could, for example, involve a person who is not a citizen of Sweden who not only poses a direct threat to security but is also an indirect qualified security threat. This is a situation that the investigation is looking at.

We will soon receive the committee's report and will send it for consultation. Then we will return to the Riksdag with this important legislation.

I can assure Adam Marttinen and the Chamber that we are working day and night to keep Sweden safe and secure so that people in our country can feel safe.

(Applause)

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Ann-Charlotte Hammar Johnsson (M)

Mr. Speaker! I have a question about competitiveness and growth. Sweden has a good international reputation for being a reliable trading nation. Sweden is part of the EU when it comes to signing and advancing multilateral trade agreements.

My question to the Minister for Foreign Trade is: How does Sweden strengthen Swedish positions and create more international opportunities for Swedish companies in a time of turbulence, geopolitical tensions, and the various tariff notices that have arrived during the year when countries are also seeking bilateral agreements?

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Bistånds- och utrikeshandelsministern Benjamin Dousa (M)

Mr. Speaker! Sweden is the world's foremost friend of free trade, and we are doing everything we can so that we can move forward more quickly in the free trade negotiations that we have conducted for decades. We see how, above all, the USA is closing itself off and raising tariffs. Therefore, it is important that Sweden and Europe open new trade routes for Swedish and European companies.

There are several agreements that we have been negotiating for decades. The agreement with Mercosur, which covers large parts of South America, is one example. Another example is agreements with Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines. We also hope to be able to resume negotiations with Australia. The government is doing everything we can and is pushing for the EU to sign new free trade agreements more quickly.

The second part, in addition to external trade, is the internal trade in our home market in Europe. There, significantly fewer regulations are needed that prevent entrepreneurs from running and owning companies and creating growth and employment in Europe.

(Applause)

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Christian Lindefjärd (SD)

Mr. Speaker! As a consequence of the Social Democrats' eight years in government, the challenges within Swedish health and medical care are great. After symbolic politics instead of real measures, the situation was alarming at the change of government in 2022.

The Sweden Democrats and the government have prioritized the healthcare queues specifically during the mandate period and arranged many important and decisive measures to address the problems. In the budget bill for 2026 alone, large investments are being made. We can now allocate an additional 2.2 billion kronor to shorten the healthcare queues. This includes, among other things, performance-based measures, a reformed unit for digital infrastructure, and a national coordinator to shorten the healthcare queues across the entire country.

Much is underway, but much remains. My question is: What effects does the minister assess the measures will have?

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Sjukvårdsministern Elisabet Lann (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I thank you for a very pressing question regarding the healthcare queues.

I previously stated that we choose to distribute the funds in a slightly different way from the current year onwards, but also during the coming years. By signing agreements directly with the regions and by establishing a national healthcare intermediary, as the member mentioned, we believe we can better tailor the support and direct it where it makes a real difference.

We see that the regions have different types of bottlenecks and different problems with competence supply, and that different factors cause the queues there not to be shortened. By having the regions "commit" to something they believe they can achieve, we believe we will get a better return on the support provided to the regions.

(Applause)

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Daniel Riazat (-)

Mr. Speaker! Had I had more time, I would have wanted to comment from the rostrum today on the gross racism directed at Somalis. But I want to ask my question, which concerns Israel's attacks against and kidnapping of, among others, Swedish citizens during the night of today – Swedish citizens who have participated in a peaceful action to create a humanitarian corridor to Gaza, which has been subject to an illegal blockade due to the terror regime Israel.

How will the Swedish government position itself to defend its own citizens? For two years, nothing has been done to take a stand regarding a genocide that is taking place in a live broadcast before our eyes. Will the Swedish government do anything to bring home its Swedish citizens and demand protection for these persons now that they have been kidnapped by the Israeli terror regime?

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Migrationsministern Johan Forssell (M)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Daniel Riazat, for the question!

We see from the government's side with great concern the developments surrounding the Global Sumud Flotilla. We also note that Israel has for a fairly long time publicly communicated its intentions: to prevent these boats from reaching their destination off the coast of Gaza. We also know that there are about fifty Swedes on board the boats, who are exposing themselves to great danger and who are not following the Ministry for Foreign Affairs' very clear advice against traveling to Gaza. It has existed for very many years and must be taken with the utmost seriousness.

We hope that those who are on these boats turn around and obey the requests from Israel's government to offload the aid shipments in some other port. There are several in the region. I want to be very clear that Sweden has no possibilities to provide consular assistance at sea in the situation that currently prevails.

(Applause)

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Oskar Svärd (M)

Mr. Speaker! My home county of Örebro län has many companies operating within the defense industry. These companies are currently in a rather large expansion phase.

The government presented a defense industry strategy this summer. The objectives for the strategy are increased production, increased innovation and better cooperation. It is absolutely necessary to achieve these goals if Europe is to be able to match the capacity of the Russian defense industry.

Could the Minister for Defence tell us what steps are being taken to put the strategy into practice and what the possibilities for achieving the strategy's goals look like?

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Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Oskar Svärd, for the question!

It begins with the realization that a strong defense industry constitutes a part of our collective defense capability. If one does not believe us when it comes to this, one can always ask our Ukrainian friends, who know how important it is to have a production capacity in the country. It is also very inspiring to see what is happening in Ukraine, where they have increased the production of defense materiel eightfold in just a few years and have become world leaders in innovation when it comes to unmanned systems and drones.

What we do is that we direct the authorities so that they place larger and longer orders for the defense industry so that it dares to invest in its production capacity. We also procure defense materiel together with other countries, not least when it concerns CV90, Stridsfordon 90, where we harmonize requirements. Then we can get larger and longer orders and thereby increased production capacity. We also invite new actors to the defense industry who have the capacity for advanced production.

These are some of the ways in which we work to achieve increased production of defense materiel in Sweden.

(Applause)

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Margareta Cederfelt (M)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa.

Sweden is a small and export-dependent country. Many Swedish companies are gladly well-known for maintaining high quality in products and services. We need our exports. They are needed for our security in the country, for employment opportunities, and so that we can maintain our prosperity and our welfare.

I know that the Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade has on repeated occasions participated in meetings with the European Commission regarding issues concerning innovation, investment, and export. In this regard, I would like to ask the Minister which questions he sees as important for Swedish export and Swedish foreign trade to develop positively and grow so that we can achieve better trade than we have today.

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Bistånds- och utrikeshandelsministern Benjamin Dousa (M)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, member, for the question! There are two ways in which we can truly get exports started from a foreign policy perspective.

One thing concerns our own home market, the EU, where rollbacks of many of the legislative packages that have come from Brussels over the last 10–15 years need to take place, which in various ways put spokes in the wheels and raise obstacles for Swedish and European companies.

The second point concerns foreign trade – that by signing new free trade agreements, we gain access to and open new markets. We see now how the USA is closing itself off more and more, raising tariffs and pushing out foreign companies. Europe should respond by doing the opposite, by opening new markets.

We know that free trade is being threatened not only in the White House right now but also here at home. We have parties such as the Social Democrats, who do not stand behind the free trade agreement with Canada. We have an environmental party that has voted against free trade agreements with countries such as Japan, Singapore, Vietnam, South Korea, Peru, Colombia, Ghana, Panama, Guatemala and Honduras. We must continue to stand up for free trade.

(Applause)

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Crister Carlsson (M)

Mr. Speaker! The question goes to the Minister for Health and Social Affairs.

We have all certainly been affected by the tragic incident in Gävleborg, where an ambulance paramedic was murdered in the line of duty. The perpetrator had, as it would later turn out, been violent towards staff on a previous occasion. But this was not passed on due to the secrecy act, as I understand.

It is not a new problem that the secrecy law, as in this case, prevents information from being disseminated further to other emergency services personnel, even though it concerns dangerous individuals. This has been pointed out by the ambulance services for at least 20 years. What are the minister's thoughts and proposals so that this tragic incident is not repeated?

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

Sjukvårdsministern Elisabet Lann (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Member, for an important question regarding an extremely tragic incident.

I think it is important that the regions take the measures that are possible within the current legal framework. The government does not rule out looking into legislative changes, but we do not have time to wait for this.

How information is shared differs very much between different regions. When it comes to threatening or violent behavior, this is information that can be shared further through individual care information. It is used quite rarely. There is a possibility in the ambulance to flag if there is a risk of threats and violence. An investigation that Socialstyrelsen submitted before the summer shows that there are ambulance personnel who have worked for 16 years who do not even know that that possibility exists.

It is therefore incredibly urgent that the regions use the opportunities that exist here and now, because we cannot wait for a change in the law.

(Applause)

Question time was hereby concluded.

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