Question Time

FÖRSTE VICE TALMANNEN

I would like to welcome the ministers. Questions today will be answered by Minister for Education and Integration Simona Mohamsson, Minister for Social Affairs Jakob Forssmed, Minister for Financial Markets Niklas Wykman, and Minister for Rural Affairs Peter Kullgren.

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

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Anna-Caren Sätherberg (S)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Simona Mohamsson.

In the previous election campaign, the Tidö parties spoke of "Magdapriser" to describe high fuel and energy prices, despite Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent economic situation. Today, households, not least in the countryside, face high costs for energy and fuel and a great deal of uncertainty.

The rhetoric from the Tidö parties is, however, completely different. They talk about light appearing on the horizon. That is not something many Swedes recognize themselves in. The result of nearly four years with the Tidö parties is that Sweden is in a much tougher position than it would have needed to be. The Tidö parties have totally refused to invest in every hectare of the Swedish bioeconomy and in electrification.

My question to Minister Simona Mohamsson is therefore: Is it rationing? Is it Jimmie-prices, or is it Uffe-prices we are seeing right now?

(Applause)

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Utbildnings- och integrationsministern Simona Mohamsson (L)

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

Yes, it is difficult to take in everything that the Tidö government is doing. Today, we do not only have the lowest tax burden in Sweden in over 50 years; people now have 5,000 kronor more in their wallets. We have also started the work to build new nuclear power, which will play a role for the electricity bill. At the beginning of April, we also lowered the VAT on food. It is noticeable that we have taken Sweden in a new direction. We will continue to do so.

Mr. Speaker! I want it noted in the Riksdag that if Sweden had not changed government, the prices would have been 10 kronor higher. We have done and continue to do everything we can to lower prices for ordinary people. That is done by lowering taxes and ensuring that people have more money in their pockets.

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Anna-Caren Sätherberg (S)

Mr. Speaker! If the Tidö parties had taken responsibility regarding the bioeconomy, electrification, and Sweden's security, in the form of input goods, Sweden's farmers and rural residents would be seeing a completely different future right now.

My question remains: Does the Council of State not regret that the government has prioritized dictators' oil instead of making Sweden strong and investing in what Sweden is good at, namely bioeconomy and electrification?

(Applause)

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Utbildnings- och integrationsministern Simona Mohamsson (L)

Mr. Speaker! We should perhaps begin by stating that it is not the government's fault that war is occurring in the rest of the world.

I think the member himself should perhaps consider what responsibility the Social Democrats have for the decommissioned nuclear power. What responsibility do the Social Democrats have for the fact that we have not been able to make a transition to fossil-free and are dependent on Russian gas and oil?

This government is now making the change that should have been made much earlier.

(Applause)

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Tobias Andersson (SD)

Mr. Speaker! The Government has presented a new model for the expansion of nuclear power where the state takes a more active role, including through state majority ownership, capital injections, and risk-sharing in issues such as nuclear waste.

New nuclear power will ensure Swedish growth, prosperity, and welfare for generations to come. Therefore, a state commitment and ownership is justified, in order to ensure the public interest in the upcoming expansion.

The Nuclear Power Secretariat, which reports to Niklas Wykman at the Ministry of Finance, has a heavy responsibility to safeguard the public interest, enable commercial conditions for investments, and contribute to long-term, stable, and low electricity prices.

How does the Minister intend to ensure that the long-term interests of the state and society are safeguarded in the ongoing negotiations regarding new nuclear power?

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Finansmarknadsministern Niklas Wykman (M)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Member, for the question on an important subject!

My assessment is that Swedish left-wing politicians were not sincere towards the Swedish people with what was done when it was claimed that nuclear power was interchangeable with wind power. Both types of energy come with their advantages and disadvantages, but with wind power come the volatile electricity prices and the occasional connection problems to the power grid.

That is what we are now reversing as we build Sweden stronger for the future. We shall return to a situation where Swedish industry can feel secure in being able to connect new production and thereby create new jobs. And Swedish households shall be able to meet more stable electricity prices.

In this, we will always safeguard the public finances and the taxpayers' money. That is what this model aims for.

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Tobias Andersson (SD)

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

A pure state-owned nuclear power company is wise for sharing risk and transferring competence and experience between several different projects for new construction of nuclear power. In this way, there can be economies of scale in the entire process. But it also constitutes an opportunity to put pressure on Vattenfall, Industrikraft and several others, who for various reasons may have different starting points in the upcoming expansion.

How is political oversight ensured in the process that is currently underway?

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Finansmarknadsministern Niklas Wykman (M)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you for the question, Tobias Andersson!

This is obviously done primarily by the fact that this takes place in a democracy with democratic processes. The Government derives its mandate from this parliament. In budgets, we request an authorization for the negotiations that are now taking place with various types of amount limits, and where legislation is needed, it is done through legislation. Then the Secretariat and the Ministry of Finance negotiate within those frameworks with the actors who are interested.

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Isabell Mixter (V)

Mr. Speaker! The private schools continue to flourish. The Swedish private schools are doing so well that they are also opening operations abroad. Academedia had a net turnover of 19 billion last year. 5.7 of those billions concerned operations abroad. Even Kunskapsskolan has operations in other countries: the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the USA, and even Saudi Arabia. This is something sick, and the government has no proposal that would put a stop to this.

Nine out of ten teachers want to abolish profits in schools. 75 percent of the population want to prohibit profit-driven actors from running schools. The government now says it is doing a complete renovation of the Swedish independent school system. But with such a fake renovation, I would like to report the government to the Fraud Builders.

Mr. Speaker! How can it be reasonable that Swedish tax money is allowed to go to school activities abroad?

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Utbildnings- och integrationsministern Simona Mohamsson (L)

Mr. Speaker! We are making the biggest changes to Swedish schools in over 30 years. It concerns the regulation of teachers' instruction and planning time, a new grading system, and a new support system. We are changing the curricula from the ground up. We ensure that we regulate more – precisely so that there is no difference depending on which school one attends. In addition, we have succeeded in the fantastic feat of making necessary changes in the independent school system. Among other things, we have presented a principle of public access that will be completely decisive.

Something that is unique for us is that we get a majority for our proposals when we govern the country. It is quite obvious that there is a great risk that everything we do in the school will end up as a demolition project if the red-greens take over after the election.

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Isabell Mixter (V)

Mr. Speaker! I am positive about the things that are now being enumerated, the Minister for Education. But I truly want to oppose the idea that your side would agree on everything. For example, your government has clarified that you have put the inquiry on the school fee in the drawer. You have also signaled that the inquiry on profit in schools is delayed. The message to the voters must be that none of this will happen. I ask the question again: Does the government think it is reasonable that Swedish tax money should be used abroad?

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Utbildnings- och integrationsministern Simona Mohamsson (L)

Mr. Speaker! I do not think anyone has claimed that our four parties agree on everything. But the difference between our side, Mr. Speaker, and the other side is that we nevertheless manage to move forward and secure a majority for our political proposals.

As I have already said earlier, we will, before the end of the parliamentary term, present a proposal for a complete renovation of the friskola system.

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Anna Lasses (C)

Mr. Speaker! A 13-year-old is a child. They are not allowed to drink energy drinks, ride a moped, or work after eight o'clock in the evening. But from August 2, they can end up in prison – despite experience and knowledge saying that it will not reduce the number of young people who commit crimes. On the contrary, it is likely that even younger children will be recruited to commit serious crimes, and young people risk ending up even earlier in a criminal exclusion that lasts their entire lives.

People are wise. A majority of Swedes, in fact, think that this is not a good proposal. Everyone can make mistakes in their eagerness to want to do the right thing, and there is time to stop this insane decision, which will only fuel the lack of trust in society. Is Simona Mohamsson prepared to admit this mistake and put a stop to us having children in intermediate stages in prison?

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Utbildnings- och integrationsministern Simona Mohamsson (L)

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

Nine out of ten who are sentenced to closed juvenile care at Sis-hem and have links to gangs relapse into serious crime. The sentences for 15–17-year-olds become almost mockingly low with today's juvenile discounts. A 15-year-old sentenced for murder can receive closed juvenile care for two years. A 17-year-old sentenced for attempted murder can receive closed juvenile care for three years. It is completely too strange that society should not intervene with full force when we see that there are youths committing serious crimes. Our reorganization in criminal policy is about exactly this: that society shall intervene with full force to stop this development.

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Anna Lasses (C)

Mr. Speaker! It is clear that one must go in with full force right from the start – in preschool and in school. We know that a good school is absolutely the best way to ensure that children do not end up in this exclusion when they grow up. Instead of focusing on reduced student influence and punishment, Simona Mohamsson should be the first to focus on ensuring that all students pass school instead of being recruited by criminals.

Again: Is Simona Mohamsson prepared to admit that this might not be the best proposal and put a stop to intermediate-stage children ending up in prison?

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Utbildnings- och integrationsministern Simona Mohamsson (L)

Mr. Speaker! It is pleasing that the member mentions the school, for the school is and remains the most important vaccine against children being drawn into gang crime. Children should not be taken from the classrooms out into the gang wars.

But that being said: When we have youths who murder, society must do something different than before. This is our way of showing that society is stepping in with all its might to stop children from being drawn into the gang wars.

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Rebecka Le Moine (MP)

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

The Swedish Forest Agency now states that we are losing the equivalent of 100 football fields of old-growth forest every day. The logging of continuous forests has increased dramatically, from 6,000 hectares per year to 26,000 hectares per year. These are forests that have never been clear-cut before and which are crucial for biodiversity and endangered species in Sweden. Yet they continue to disappear, while almost 800 new species in Sweden have been placed on the so-called red list. The transformation of the forest landscape has historically caused a carbon loss that exceeds Sweden's total combined fossil emissions since 1983.

Against that background, I would like to ask the Minister for Rural Affairs: What measures does the government intend to take to deliver on the commitment and promise to protect 30 percent of Sweden's nature?

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Swedish forest owners are extremely skilled at setting aside forests that are valuable for nature themselves. If I remember correctly, 1.4 million hectares have been set aside. One in four hectares of forest land in Sweden is already exempted from active timber production. Sweden is an example in Europe and in the world when it comes to sustainable forestry. That different forests are harvested at different times is no stranger than a field being harvested when it is time for it.

Mr. Speaker! I know that the Green Party's view on the forest is starkly different from the government's. The Green Party wants it to be more of a pre-industrial museum. The government's policy is that the forest shall actively contribute to jobs, growth, and climate benefits throughout the country.

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Rebecka Le Moine (MP)

Mr. Speaker! What we heard is political drivel that is not anchored in reality. The figures that were cited are incorrect. According to the figures from Statistics Sweden, approximately 7 percent of the productive forest is formally and long-term protected. But this government has promised to protect 30 percent.

Does the Minister for Rural Affairs care about this issue at all? If so, why are no measures being taken?

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! The answer is yes. The Government and Peter Kullgren care that we take care of and safeguard that which is worth safeguarding.

The forest policy that previously prevailed in Sweden led to individual people being able to file thousands of appeals, which caused active forestry to be stopped because of species that there are quite a lot of. It is time to settle the score with that forest policy, and that is what this government has done. We shall protect what is worth protecting, but it is not possible to continue with the forest policy that was conducted during the period when the Miljöpartiet was in government.

(Applause)

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Emma Ahlström Köster (M)

Mr. Speaker! Minister Forssmed has taken important initiatives for more sports halls and better sports environments across Sweden. This is being done, among other things, through the investment of over 250 million kronor per year in 2026 and 2027.

It is, of course, warmly welcomed, not least because the Swedish Sports Confederation points out that one in three children's and youth associations is forced to decline accepting new members due to a lack of time and space for sports.

Against that background, I would like to ask the Minister: How does one ensure that the government's investments in sports facilities, together with the municipalities' work, strengthen both youth leisure time, public health, and the preventive work in Sweden?

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Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Emma Ahlström Köster, for the question!

I think it feels fantastic. It is now buzzing with life out there in Idrottssverige with the help of the funds that we have made available. It provides that little extra leverage on what the municipalities are already providing to make the projects happen.

Take Lammhult as an example. People have wanted an artificial turf pitch at least since 2014. So far, it has not been possible. There are 35 kilometers to the nearest artificial turf pitch. They want to extend the season, give more children and youth the chance, and ensure that they have a place to be and practice their sport.

Now it is happening. Now, the Swedish Sports Confederation (Riksidrottsförbundet) has, from our money, granted support for the construction of an artificial turf pitch in Lammhult together with an outdoor gym and an additional area for spontaneous sports.

This is what we see happening everywhere now. I follow this closely on a daily basis. 735 applications have been submitted, and they have wanted to have 366 million. Approximately 100 million have already been granted. It is buzzing with life out there.

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Emma Ahlström Köster (M)

Mr. Speaker! It is very pleasing to hear. I also experience what the Minister describes. It is truly buzzing with life.

At the same time, the high demand for applications shows that the need is greater than this. In the earliest initiative alone, support was granted to 432 projects in 174 municipalities, while the number of applications would have needed to be three times as many to cover the full need.

My follow-up question is: How does the Minister ensure that the government's investments lead to completed sports halls and do not get stuck in long processes?

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Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you again for the question!

If you build it they will come, as it is called in the movie. That is what we are trying to achieve by making just those projects that have been on hold for a long time now become a reality.

Take Rinkeby. There, they are now converting a bowling alley into a meeting place for martial arts, skateboarding, and dance. These are projects that we can really get started.

Then, of course, the municipalities also need to do their part. Now we are creating a facility function at Boverket so that one does not have to reinvent the wheel regarding specifically completing cost-effective and good sports halls and facilities. Boverket has received both resources and a mandate to support in that work.

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Magnus Oscarsson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Many young people have discovered what a good source of protein beef is. It is a clear trend. At the same time, we have a situation in Sweden where we see a shortage of Swedish beef.

At a seminar here in the Riksdag this week, LRF Kött stated that although the number of cows has pleasingly increased over the past year, the number of cattle is the lowest in Sweden since the 1930s.

At the seminar, it was also emphasized that the great concern is that young people are not taking over farms to the same extent as before, and that the median age of farmers is high.

What does the Minister for Rural Affairs intend to do to ensure that we get more people investing in Swedish beef production in the country and that young people who want to take over farms can do so?

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! The basis for all enterprise that wants to develop and remain in the future is profitability. That is the absolute most important thing even for agriculture.

If one has profitability, it is also easier to make generational transitions. It is considerably simpler in a successful company than in one that is not successful.

The public sector can do a certain part here. But the foundation is and will always remain driven entrepreneurs who develop their businesses.

Of course we can do things to facilitate. Here we have looked at different forms of support. We have commissioned a ditch compensation. In the same way that we have introduced a compensation for the milk cows' grazing, we are now looking at it for the ditches.

I share the view that we need to increase animal production. This applies particularly to those animals for which we have naturally good conditions to keep in Sweden, namely the grazing animals cows and sheep. There are also far too few sheep in Sweden. That must be remembered.

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Magnus Oscarsson (KD)

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

Lamb meat production, which the Minister was touching upon, is unfortunately small here in Sweden despite the fact that a very large amount of lamb meat is eaten. A full 70 percent of the lamb meat is imported to Sweden, mostly from New Zealand and Ireland.

There is a huge potential here. But if you ask the Swedish Wolf Association why more is not being invested here, the answer is that the risk of wolf attacks is great.

People do not dare to invest. What does the Minister think about this?

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! It feels strange that we import lamb from the other side of the world when we have such good conditions to produce it ourselves. That is the first thing. That situation we need to turn around.

As for the other, the wolf, the wolf population needs to decrease. The government's policy is fixed. We shall aim for the goal that the Riksdag has set at 170–270 wolves.

The latest thing we have done now is to give a mandate to investigate persecution of wolves, both in cases of attacks against domestic animals and in cases of attacks against dogs.

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Elin Nilsson (L)

Mr. Speaker! The Government has made a historic realignment of forest policy. We have worked purposefully during the mandate period and are now beginning to see the results of this.

Part of what the forest investigation has concluded is now lying as a government bill before the Riksdag. When it comes to species protection, we have a bill that handles the incredibly important issue of compensation to individual forest owners who are affected by species protection infringements.

We also have the Property Protection Committee which is reviewing the constitutional protection in order to eventually bring more order to the system.

Our detractors argue that we are instead dismantling everything related to environmental protection. I argue instead that a strong property right is a prerequisite for a good environment. How does the Minister for Rural Affairs view this?

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I completely share Elin Nilsson's view regarding this.

One must remember that Swedish forest policy is always based on two equal goals. It is about production and about the environment.

What the government has said is that we want to restore the balance. We have received a distortion that has put the country's forest owners in an incredibly strange situation.

I think few can imagine another undertaking where one can, relatively capriciously and quite suddenly, have large parts of their production covered with a wet blanket without having the right to a single krona in compensation.

Try to imagine for which other undertaking it would be okay. That has been the reality for the country's over 300,000 private forest owners. They have been totally without protection and totally without the possibility of receiving compensation in certain cases.

It is completely unreasonable, and it needs to be restored. We do that partly with the forest investigation.

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Elin Nilsson (L)

Mr. Speaker! Many thanks, Minister for Rural Affairs, for the answer!

I completely share what the Minister for Rural Affairs says. But more needs to be done. What more does the Minister for Rural Affairs imagine we should take further from, for example, the forestry bill?

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Most of the parts from the forest investigation that we commissioned are included in the bill. I hope that it will receive broad support in the chamber so that we establish a proper foundation for forest policy moving forward.

This is the biggest reform we have made of forest policy in over 30 years. It is very much anticipated among the country's forest owners.

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Erik Ezelius (S)

Mr. Speaker! Swedish electricity customers pay large so-called bottleneck revenues. At the same time, many households and companies, not least in rural areas, have been hit hard by high energy costs. They need stable and predictable conditions.

When we Social Democrats were in government, we secured the possibility of using these funds for electricity support. The current government failed both to pay out the support in time and to extend the exemption that existed at the EU level.

My question is directed to Minister Simona Mohamsson. What is the government doing to ensure that Swedish bottleneck revenues are used to support Swedish households and companies?

(Applause)

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Utbildnings- och integrationsministern Simona Mohamsson (L)

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

It is absolutely crucial to ensure that the Swedish people have more money left in their wallets, and that is done in different ways.

One way is to ensure that Sweden has a robust electricity system with fossil-free electricity. We do that through the expansion of new nuclear power.

Another way is to ensure that the prices seen in the electricity bill are lowered, and the government does this by lowering electricity taxes and ensuring that we are tough in the negotiations in the EU regarding specifically electricity and the fee.

The third way is about people generally having more money left in their pockets. This is ensured by this government by ensuring that Sweden has the lowest tax burden in over 50 years.

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Ann-Christine Frohm (SD)

Mr. Speaker! The Sweden Democrats are the guarantor of a functioning integration. Requirements for good knowledge of the Swedish language and of the majority society's norms and requirements for reciprocity in order to participate in our common welfare are now a matter of course.

We have come some way, but we are not satisfied. It takes a long time to turn an entire country from bottom to top. We seek the voters' mandate to continue in Sweden's new direction.

On our half of the field stands a stable and responsible Tidögäng ready to govern Sweden together. On the other half of the field stands a red-green chaos, both parliamentarily and in terms of integration policy, with the Social Democrats at the forefront. We already have the answer key for what that catastrophe entails.

Minister for Integration Mohamsson! What can the voters expect if the Tidö parties win the election?

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Utbildnings- och integrationsministern Simona Mohamsson (L)

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

A completely decisive part of the government's work with integration has been that we shall not go on gut feeling and not be anxious, but be clear about what requirements, opportunities, and obligations it entails to become a part of Swedish society.

Just as the member points out, Mr. Speaker, it matters who governs Sweden. It matters so that we can have a school that focuses on language and on values. It matters so that we can have a strict migration so that we can handle the integration debt that this government had to take over from previous Social Democratic governments. It matters because we believe that people want to and can, as long as they are given a clear map and a path into Swedish society.

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Kajsa Fredholm (V)

Mr. Speaker! The Swedish chicken industry continues to use broiler chickens even though three out of four Swedes say no to this.

Unfortunately, systematic animal cruelty is taking place in several of Sweden's chicken factories, and it contravenes our animal welfare legislation. This concerns the breeding of fast-growing chicken breeds. These chickens are bred to grow large in as short a time as possible, and it involves great suffering.

My question to Minister of Rural Affairs Kullgren is therefore: When will the minister ensure that Sweden phases out the production of fast-growing broilers in favor of slower-growing varieties?

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! It sounds very simple to solve an animal welfare issue by just banning things. This seems to be a recipe that Vänsterpartiet uses often; one should ban or tax.

Sweden is a part of the EU. We have free movement for goods, capital and services including food products. This is an issue that Sweden is pushing hard on at the EU level. We are to improve animal welfare generally, but also regarding chicken production, where greater consideration needs to be given to animal welfare. We shall try to get more EU countries, preferably the entire EU, to agree to the animal welfare rules that we have in Sweden.

However, merely setting up more and tougher rules for Swedish production will lead to increased imports. Therefore, this is an issue that is best handled at the EU level, where we usually have great consensus on what we need to do. This is something the government continues to push for.

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Christofer Bergenblock (C)

Mr. Speaker! On Tuesday, I attended a seminar on orphan drugs, where I met the 37-year-old mother of two, Anna Furbeck, and her husband Christoffer.

Anna suffers from the aggressive, incurable neurological disease ALS, but for her specific variant, there is today a treatment medicine approved by the European Medicines Agency EMA. That sounds good, of course, but in Sweden, one cannot obtain this medicine within the subsidy system. Therefore, Anna has now traveled to Germany, where she can begin a treatment – which she must fund herself. Unfortunately, Sweden stands out negatively in Europe regarding the introduction of new medicines, which leads to these medical refugees.

My question to Social Minister Jakob Forssmed is therefore: Does the minister intend to take the initiatives needed so that Anna and other patients can get access to life-saving orphan drugs in the present?

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Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

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

The Swedish pharmaceutical system, in my and the government's opinion, has reached a dead end. We need to create a new system that ensures a better order regarding innovation and introduction as well as access to medicines for Swedish patients – while we naturally have an interest in having cost control on this.

At the same time, we must do what we can within the framework of existing systems until a new system is in place. The Government has appointed an inquiry that is currently looking broadly at this. It is about reviewing matters regarding, for example, orphan drugs. TLV has a new model for how one pays for orphan drugs and how one views this, which has already yielded results in terms of more orphan drugs.

But we must work with better access. More new medicines should be introduced and maintained in Sweden.

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Camilla Hansén (MP)

Mr. Speaker! I want to ask the Minister for Education when the rules for the education of children in prison are finalized.

In Sveriges Radio, the minister was asked on Monday about what the regulatory framework should look like for the children, the 13-year-olds that the government wants to put in prison. This will potentially apply as early as August 2.

There are proposals on how the education should be conducted within the Prison and Probation Service, including proposals that allow for exceptions for more distance and remote teaching and that it should be okay with a lower degree of qualified teachers. This is worrying.

Many of the children who are deprived of their liberty already today have a very weak school background. One therefore cannot compromise on the quality of their education. It is an important part for them to lay the foundation for new paths in life, away from crime.

It became clear in the segment that the Minister for Education has no plan for when the rules should be ready or what they should contain. It seems that repressive legislation moves quickly, but support moves slowly.

I wonder therefore: When will the rules be ready?

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Utbildnings- och integrationsministern Simona Mohamsson (L)

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

In the bill that the government has submitted, it appears that the Prison and Probation Service shall have an obligation to arrange education corresponding to primary school and upper secondary school for teenagers serving prison sentences. It is essentially the same legislation that currently applies to Sis, and it is proposed to enter into force on July 1 this year.

Now we want the regulatory framework to become even clearer. This includes, among other things, which deviations can be made, for example, that a person sentenced to prison perhaps should not be released on orientation.

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Adam Reuterskiöld (M)

Mr. Speaker! The profits from fraud are one of the criminal networks' most important sources of income and a serious societal problem. After several years of increase, with a peak of approximately 7.5 billion in 2023, figures from the National Fraud Centre now show that the forecasts for 2025 point to a decrease to 5.7 billion. The decrease is welcome, but the figures simultaneously show that the criminal economy within this area alone is still enormous.

The fight against the criminal economy is not only a police matter but requires a robust financial system where all actors, not least the banks, take their full responsibility.

My question therefore goes to the Minister for Finance: What additional concrete measures, beyond those already announced, does the government intend to take to ensure that the financial system cannot be exploited as a tool for the criminal economy?

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Finansmarknadsministern Niklas Wykman (M)

Mr. Speaker! Just as the Member of Parliament says, fraud profits are now falling. And they are not falling a little; they have been pushed back by 60 percent following the initiatives taken by the government and subsequently implemented at Sweden's banks. It is hopeful for a better future. It is a kind of redress, albeit not sufficient, for all those people, especially the elderly and vulnerable in society, whom previous governments let suffer under this yoke.

It was, therefore, possible to do something about this. What is sad about it all is the realization that, despite that, one previously chose not to do anything. One even thought that systems such as those that facilitated this, such as the informal hawala, were worth defending. So that is how one expressed oneself then.

We have restructured this. Now we have a financial intelligence center where the police, other authorities, and banks have worked together to push this back. New EU regulations are also coming that make it easier to share information.

Much has been done. We see the results. Much remains. But that it was allowed to run away as it did is inexcusable.

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Magnus Jacobsson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Simona Mohamsson.

As everyone knows, the Christian Democrats are the party that is most in favor of freedom of choice, whether it concerns preschool, school and elderly care or parents' right to take parental leave. We are now going to the election with the aim of making parental leave even freer, as we work to ensure that parents can dispose of the entire parental leave without state finger-pointing.

My question, however, is: What is the government doing so that parents who struggle with the puzzle of life will get greater freedom of choice and flexibility within the current parental insurance?

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Utbildnings- och integrationsministern Simona Mohamsson (L)

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

The government is delivering reforms that are noticeable in everyday life for hard-working families. It is about more flexibility, less hassle, and more opportunities. We have doubled the number of double days, that is, days when both parents can be on parental leave together with their child. We have also introduced the possibility for parents to transfer parental leave to relatives.

The possibility of transferring parental days makes it easier to piece together the life puzzle and is completely crucial both for flexibility and for increasing the valuable quality of life. It is important to have the parents themselves in focus and ensure that they can have a life puzzle that is both equal and has flexibility.

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Linnéa Wickman (S)

Mr. Speaker! Minister Mohamsson has not quite answered the questions that my colleagues from the Social Democrats have asked, so I intend that we try again.

Many municipalities are now forced to make cuts in school, health care, and elderly care. This is a direct consequence of the government's support not keeping pace with the cost developments. This hits rural municipalities with small margins particularly hard. At the same time, the government has chosen to prioritize tax cuts over strengthening welfare.

My questions to Minister Simona Mohamsson are: Why does the government say no to indexing the general state grants in line with inflation when, in practice, it otherwise means continued cuts in welfare? And why has the government also specifically worsened the conditions for many small municipalities in rural and remote areas, not least in my own home county of Gävleborg?

(Applause)

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Utbildnings- och integrationsministern Simona Mohamsson (L)

Mr. Speaker! I thank the member for the question, even though it seems as if we might not be listening to each other here in the chamber. I have been very clear that this government succeeds in the feat of both lowering taxes, so that people have more money left in their pockets, and making historical investments, not least in schools.

Then one can feel frustrated that one's local politicians in the countryside are making cuts to welfare and schools. I think the members have every right to be. I am also frustrated – frustrated that Kommunsverige goes over 30 billion plus and does not invest them in schools.

I agree: More money should be spent on schools. But this government succeeds in both lowering taxes and making historical investments in welfare.

(Applause)

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BO BROMAN (SD)

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

Many Swedish households have, over the recent years, had to bear a heavy economic responsibility as the interest rate situation changed. When the Riksbank raised the policy rate, it quickly hit the mortgage market, where many households were faced with sharply increased interest costs in a short period of time. For those with large loans, it meant thousands of kronor more per month and a significantly harder pressure on private finances.

At the same time, many savers have experienced that the same rapid impact has not occurred on the deposit side. The interest on ordinary deposit accounts has, in many cases, been raised significantly more slowly and to a lesser extent than the lending rates. This development risks creating unreasonably high margins between what the banks charge for lending and what they pay for deposits. The question is raised whether competition in the banking market truly functions sufficiently well and whether the consumers' position is strong enough.

Against this background, I would like to ask the Minister for Finance how the government views the banks' interest margins and what measures may become relevant to strengthen the consumers' position.

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Finansmarknadsministern Niklas Wykman (M)

Mr. Speaker! Many thanks, the member, for a good question!

I understand and share the frustration, and I can see that many people from official Sweden do as well. I have seen statements from the Riksbank, the Finansinspektionen, and others that in different ways pose the question: Why is it so fast for the banks to raise the interest rates on mortgages but so much slower to raise the interest rates on savings accounts? It is a justified question. Here we must, of course, both as consumers and as regulators and policymakers, push so that we get better value for our savings in the accounts.

We have taken several measures to strengthen consumers. For example, we have introduced the digital amortization statements, which allow one to put pressure on their bank more quickly. We have also ensured that the rules governing the switching of a fixed-rate mortgage are changed. All these measures collectively aim to strengthen consumers so that they can put more pressure on their bank with more competition.

To this – it is worth mentioning – we have also exempted the first 300,000 kronor on ISK, which many consider a good place to have savings.

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Stina Larsson (C)

Mr. Speaker! Skåne is currently heading towards an increasingly serious situation with extremely low water levels and recurring warnings of water shortages. I and the Center Party see that it affects households, the business sector, and food production. The situation in southern Sweden clearly shows how vulnerable our drinking water supply has become already now, early in the spring.

At the same time, several government inquiries and government assignments in recent years have presented clear proposals regarding, among other things, the EU Drinking Water Directive and water and sewage preparedness. Despite this, we see limited concrete results in practice. We face a serious situation, and Sweden can do more.

My questions therefore go to the Minister for Rural Affairs: Why has the government not implemented the central proposals from these investigations? And how much longer must Skåne and Sweden wait for basic measures for drinking water supply to actually become a reality?

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Drinking water is completely vital for us humans in everyday life. It is also completely crucial that we can manage water and have water in food production. In some places, there is too much water, if one focuses on food production. In other places, there is too little water.

I assert that we have done many things for the water situation, not least for food production. There, we have increased the support and ensured that it is possible to have a larger portion paid for when building water dams. That ensures access to water for food production in Sweden.

It is a shared responsibility. The municipalities have the primary responsibility for water and sewage networks, but we also work at the national level where the Swedish Food Agency is the responsible authority for drinking water. There, we have added a great deal of resources during the mandate period.

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Annika Hirvonen (MP)

Mr. Speaker! Now we can read that 95-year-old Rabea is to be deported alone to Iraq. Children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, all her relatives, are Swedish citizens and live here.

17-year-old Mate, born in Sweden, is also to be sent from here, just like the spouses Elena and Dmitry. They have lived here for 22 years. Their son was born here, and it is here he has grown up.

The government must open its eyes to the unreasonable and inhumane consequences of the migration policy.

I want to ask Simona Mohamsson: Is she prepared to reconsider the government's decision to abolish the humanitarian valve, which was intended to stop completely unreasonable deportations of 17-year-olds who have been born in Sweden and of 95-year-olds on their deathbeds?

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Utbildnings- och integrationsministern Simona Mohamsson (L)

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

The government's migration policy is based on an important principle. Those who contribute to society, who belong to it and add something to it, shall be allowed to stay, and those who destroy it shall leave the country. A yes is a yes, and a no is a no.

This is a consequence of changes in migration policy that have been decisive because we have had a migration policy that has been chaotic. It has meant that we have had an integration policy where over 170,000 children live in exclusion. That principle is still important to maintain.

When it comes to the so-called teenage deportations, the government presented an agreement together with the coalition partners on March 9 which shall ensure that we find a balance, that is, both justice and common sense in the migration policy.

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Ida Drougge (M)

Mr. Speaker! I have a question for the Minister for Finance.

Sweden needs more reliable fossil-free electricity – for recruitment, for energy security, and to keep electricity prices down for families and companies.

The recent years' unrest in the world have shown how vulnerable the electricity systems can be. This makes investments in stable electricity production extra important. At the same time, we must of course also use the taxpayers' money in the right way and with common sense. The government has therefore developed a model for risk-sharing where the state and companies shall enter into agreements.

I have the following question for the Minister for Finance: How is the work proceeding regarding nuclear power and with these agreements?

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Finansmarknadsministern Niklas Wykman (M)

Mr. Speaker! The negotiations regarding building new nuclear power in Sweden are proceeding as planned. It is a statement of strength for Sweden that the state, together with Vattenfall in this case, together with several Swedish industrial companies within the framework of what is called Industrikraft, can build a better Sweden for the future, that is, rectify previous mistakes of shutting down nuclear power.

Sweden is well-equipped to handle the unrest in the world with the help of strong public finances and our lower carbon dependency, as a result of us once in time expanding hydropower in northern Sweden and nuclear power in southern Sweden.

But previous governments have not been as prudent. They did not tell about the consequences of replacing nuclear power with wind power. It has come with a very large bill for Swedish households and for Swedish industrial companies. The electricity bill has become high, and there have been connection problems to the power grid. With such mistakes, one is not qualified to sit in a government.

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Jytte Guteland (S)

Mr. Speaker! My question concerns the bottlenecks in the electricity system. My colleague did not receive an answer, and we want to ensure that the Minister has understood the question.

What we see now is that Swedish electricity customers are paying large bottleneck revenues. At the same time, many households and companies, not least in rural areas, have been hit hard by high electricity costs. What is needed now is stability and predictability.

When we were in government, we secured the possibility of using these funds for support. We also succeeded in obtaining an exception to protect electricity consumers. But this government has failed in both of these parts.

What is the government doing to ensure that the bottleneck revenues go back to the Swedish electricity consumers?

(Applause)

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Utbildnings- och integrationsministern Simona Mohamsson (L)

Mr. Speaker! Just because one does not like the answer, it does not mean one can claim that it is not an answer to the question. I will take it again.

There are three things we do that are absolutely crucial for people's electricity bills to be lower. The first is to take the fight in the EU to ensure that our grid fee revenues stay in Sweden. The second is about expanding nuclear power, which has been completely crucial for us having ended up in this strange situation where we are dependent on Russian gas and oil. It is absolutely crucial here. The third is about lowering the electricity taxes.

All this together lowers people's electricity bills now and secures fossil-free electricity in the future.

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Dennis Dioukarev (SD)

Mr. Speaker! 4.2 million Swedes today have private savings in an investment savings account. It is the account that, with its tax-free status, has become a true mass movement. The Sweden Democrats and the government have made a number of improvements in ISK to encourage even more to save privately, including by making the first 300,000 kronor completely tax-free. It is a limit that the opposition has announced they want to reverse by lowering it to 50,000 in the event of a victory in the autumn election.

My question to the Minister for Finance is the following: What effect do increased taxes on savings have on people's behavior? What can it mean for the individual's future pension?

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Finansmarknadsministern Niklas Wykman (M)

Mr. Speaker! Sweden is a fantastic country to live in. It is not free from problems, and many problems are created by the left-wing elements that now want to regain government power. But despite all their missteps and wrong decisions, Sweden is one of the world's best countries to live and work in.

One of the things other countries are envious of when it comes to Sweden is our savings and investment culture. That we have investment savings accounts, funds invested in our pension system, gives people who work and toil much better returns on their hours worked. It simply means that over time we get more money in our pockets. It also means that we have capital for new companies, innovations, and entrepreneurs in Sweden that one does not have in other countries. This is something people are very envious of all around Europe. They are constantly asking us for advice on how they can do this.

Then it becomes so strange when one has to explain this: Everything is fine, but do you know what? On the left side of Swedish politics, they want to dismantle this. To punish that which makes us strong is truly to play roulette with Sweden, the Swedish economy, and Swedish jobs.

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Daniel Riazat (-)

Mr. Speaker! Sweden is currently distinguishing itself in the world for its inhumane migration and asylum policy. What we have seen in recent years is something we may never have witnessed before: that we have ministers in this government who sit and talk about that who contributes shall get to stay and that a no is a no, when a 95-year-old person lying on their deathbed wants to stay in Sweden during that final time. What we see is a government that expels youths, who lose the faith in the future that they have built up here over decades. And what we see is a government that on one hand says that people should not come here but on the other hand sells weapons to dictators and contributes to wars that cause people to come here.

Then I wonder, Simona Mohamsson: If people are not to come here, why does the Swedish government contribute to the arms exports and to the wars? And if we have the right of asylum, which Sweden has also signed, why are you extinguishing hope for the tens of thousands of people who now risk deportation? Why do you continue to sit on the laps of racists in the government?

(Applause)

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Utbildnings- och integrationsministern Simona Mohamsson (L)

Mr. Speaker! We distinguished ourselves in 2015, when we had a migration policy that was irresponsible and led to chaos. The consequences are visible now in our areas of exclusion: Over 170,000 children live in exclusion, do not see their parents go to work, cannot speak Swedish and cannot dream big.

One might think that this government is doing a bit too much, a bit too fast. I think we are doing completely right in order not to leave anyone behind and so that we can have a migration system that resembles that which exists in the rest of Europe and that is fair and rests on common sense and on the fact that we can take our responsibility here.

(Applause)

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Joanna Lewerentz (M)

Mr. Speaker! Our Swedish farmers are today completely dependent on imported mineral fertilizer, and when anxiety in the world increases, this will have direct consequences for food production in Sweden. The price of mineral fertilizer and other inputs is rising, and we know that when the cost of inputs rises, the margin for the farmer decreases. In the long run, it also affects the entire chain and ends with the price of food in the store also being raised.

That is why I want to ask Minister Kullgren: What is the government doing to ensure the availability of mineral fertilizers and other input goods, and to ensure that our farmers are not hit too hard when the world around us shakes?

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! The availability of fertilizers is absolutely crucial for Swedish food production. We have practically always been dependent on imports, and that makes us vulnerable. That is how it has been and that is how it will be until we achieve our own production, which naturally must be the long-term goal. If we have the natural resources to produce, we should also ensure that we do so, in the long term.

In the short term, it is important to have a good dialogue with the industry that supplies farmers in Sweden with fertilizers. We have that dialogue, among other things, through the Food Policy Council. I have also invited the relevant groups, especially with a focus on plant growers, to a round-table discussion that will be held shortly, in order to obtain a good overview of the situation.

The commission is also working on this issue, and we look forward very much to what they will come to. This is a subject that we need to keep track of.

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Eric Palmqvist (SD)

Mr. Speaker! The Christian Democrats have recently demonstrated a changed view on the special status of reindeer husbandry, where they question both the number of the reindeer herd and its status as a national interest. As a resident of Gällivare, who is directly affected by the Girjas judgment, this is very welcome. Changes are necessary to create fair living conditions for all people in Norrbotten and to facilitate other enterprises within the affected areas.

The status of mining as a national interest constitutes one of the most intrusive restrictions on land use in large parts of northern Sweden and has far-reaching consequences for permit processes, investment willingness, and regional development. Furthermore, the state-funded Samefonden has incorrectly financed the Sami villages' legal costs when they sue the state to obtain exclusive hunting and fishing rights in northern Sweden.

I therefore want to ask Minister for Rural Affairs Peter Kullgren if he intends to advocate for a review of how the samebys are utilizing the Samefund, whether reindeer husbandry should be a national interest, and if the number of reindeer should be reduced.

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I want to emphasize that I am answering here as Minister for Rural Affairs and am answering for the entire government's views.

What I can state in this matter is that the government, after the former Renmark Committee was disbanded, was clear that a new one shall be appointed. The directives for the upcoming investigation are being prepared in the Government Offices. When they are ready, we can return to what they contain and what the future looks like.

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Nima Gholam Ali Pour (SD)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister for Social Affairs Jakob Forssmed. Förenade Islamiska Föreningar i Sverige is one of the Muslim organizations that has received the most grants this year from Myndigheten för ungdoms- och civilsamhällesfrågor, a total of 1.7 million kronor. The largest organization within Förenade Islamiska Föreningar i Sverige is Islamiska Förbundet i Sverige, which many experts have identified as an organization with close links to the Muslim Brotherhood. As recently as this month, it emerged again that an imam in one of the member mosques of Förenade Islamiska Föreningar i Sverige advocated for antisemitism and hatred.

My question to the Minister is the following: How many times do the mosques of Förenade Islamiska Föreningar need to spread hate before the Minister takes the initiative to ensure that the grant to this organization ceases?

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Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

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

It is not the government that decides on individual grants; we decide on a regulatory framework around this. That regulatory framework is primarily about the conditions for granting grants when it concerns democracy and values that one must stand for, which we in the government together with the Sweden Democrats have jointly worked out and for which there is a broad acceptance in the Swedish Riksdag.

These conditions are tightened. They give the authorities increased opportunities to deny grants to those who do not meet the basic requirements. We already see that this has happened in several cases. Samfund and others who previously received support do not receive support.

But otherwise, I cannot say exactly who should receive grants and who should not. These are administrative matters that I, as a government minister, am prohibited from interfering in according to the constitution.

Question time was hereby concluded.

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