Consumer rights etc.

Anna-Belle Strömberg (S)

Mr. Speaker! Initially, I would like to say that due to the simplified motion processing this year, I will not move for approval of any of our motions that are simplified. However, I do move for approval of the Committee on Civil Affairs' proposal for a notice to the Government in connection with our motion regarding formal requirements for powers of attorney. There, we consider that the Government should review whether specific formal requirements should be introduced for powers of attorney concerning major financial commitments, for example large loans, and return to the Riksdag on the matter.

We are reached by descriptions where forgeries of powers of attorney regarding loan documents or real estate transactions are all too commonly occurring. The consequences of forgeries hit the affected hard through long-drawn-out legal processes, high costs, and extensive mental strain during the time.

We are a number of members of the Committee on Civil Affairs who have been made aware of a woman's story about how she was sentenced to a debt of several million kronor due to power of attorney fraud. It was an unwitnessed power of attorney with even the wrong personal identity number.

The Swedish Enforcement Authority (Kronofogden) also highlights various examples of economic violence, such as when someone gains access to another person's bank ID, emails, and mobile phones, or takes out loans and credits in someone else's name. Men's violence against women often includes economic violence, where the perpetrator uses violence to exert power and control over the woman. It can lead to very long-term debts.

Women's organizations have warned about how the absence of formal requirements for powers of attorney is used by violent men to exert power and control over women. The Riksdag has been reached via seminars with information on how powers of attorney for banking matters do not need to contain dates and do not need to be witnessed.

This has simplified and enabled perpetrators of violence to indebt women who are victims of violence. Despite the powers of attorney having contained incorrect personal identity numbers, they have been able to be used to take out large loans for which the woman is then entirely responsible, and they create major problems moving forward. It restricts the woman both economically and socially, physically and mentally.

Sometimes it is argued as an advantage that in the vast majority of cases there are no specific formal requirements for a power of attorney. It is considered to contribute to powers of attorney being easy to use, and it facilitates matters for both private individuals and companies that need to act legally through someone else.

But it is naturally not acceptable that this type of good intentions from the state's side is systematically abused by fraudsters and violent men. It could never have been the legislator's intention.

Mr. Speaker! The introduction of formal requirements for powers of attorney, similar to those that exist for wills and future powers of attorney, appears to be a useful tool to strengthen the preventive work against fraud and economic violence.

Mr. Speaker! I would also like to take this opportunity to account for some of our other proposals that we Social Democrats have previously laid before the Riksdag.

We Social Democrats believe that the government, together with Sveriges Kommuner och Regioner, should initiate work to find suitable forms to strengthen, develop and expand the municipal consumer guidance so that the municipalities can be more active in the preventive work and give everyone the right to guidance.

The closure of consumer guidance in municipalities is now occurring at a rapid pace. When the Consumer Agency's guidance started in 2015, there were consumer advisors in 270 of the country's 290 municipalities. By the end of 2023, 168 municipalities had consumer guidance. The latest figure from the Consumer Agency from March 31 this year shows that 157 municipalities have consumer advisors. It is eleven municipalities that have closed their consumer guidance this year alone.

Mr. Speaker! It is primarily a matter of democracy and rights to have access to municipal consumer advisors. It should not matter where in the country one lives in order to be able to receive support.

But the support that exists is also unequal. In several of the municipalities that have consumer advisors, you cannot come for a visit and can only receive advice via telephone or email, which is particularly concerning for vulnerable consumers. In some municipalities, you also cannot get help with contacting a company, interpreting contracts, or making a report to ARN. It is of the utmost importance that the support becomes equal across the entire country.

It is not only the most vulnerable consumers who need support. It is a complex market that we move in with many actors and with choices that we consumers have to make. It requires the ability to read and interpret long contracts and a digital knowledge that not everyone masters.

This fact, together with the difficulty of speaking to a real human being and not AI, and sometimes also long queues to customer service, makes it difficult. If one then adds the risk of fraud, we understand the difficulty of being a consumer today.

Mr. Speaker! In the supplementary budget last year in March, the government provided extra support to actors in civil society who promote consumers. An extra 1 million to be shared became a welcome and much-needed addition.

Finance Minister Svantesson and Minister Erik Slottner wrote in a joint op-ed in Expressen on March 24 a year ago: "The government wants to increase support for actors in civil society who in different ways promote consumers' interests. Supporting non-profit forces is an important measure because these already have established networks and often constitute natural meeting places for people in need of help."

It was a powerful recognition of civil society. Half a year later, the message from the government was the exact opposite. The allocation in 2023 was 14.5 million. This year it has been more than halved to 7 million, to then be choked off completely in 2026.

Mr. Speaker! What happened when the government, contrary to reason, logic, and previous declarations with only half a year in between, went from strengthening civil society to that consumer organizations will be completely wiped out in practice and are gone by 2026?

Since decisions on almost all laws in the consumer area are made in the EU, a strong consumer voice was needed there. It has influenced laws on warranty rights, over-indebtedness, chemicals, and product safety. It is about our money, our health, and our privacy. Therefore, Sveriges Konsumenters European work and its membership in the European consumer movement are so important.

Mr. Speaker! In conclusion: Against this background, we believe that the Swedish government should ensure that Sveriges Konsumenter and other consumer organizations have reasonable economic conditions to represent the country's consumers both here in Sweden and in the EU.

In this speech, Denis Begic (S) agreed.

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

Lars Beckman (M)

Mr. Speaker! The reason I request the floor is that the Social Democrats want to complicate matters with powers of attorney.

Mr. Speaker! Today it is relatively simple. The State has not regulated how it should be. That means that I can, for example, tell Larry Söder, and give an oral proxy: Can you help me with this, Larry Söder? Then it applies.

There are therefore no general formal requirements for powers of attorney. The examples that Anna-Belle Strömberg from the Socialdemokraterna raised in her speech will likely not be resolved by us enacting legislation on it. It could, on the contrary, become even more complicated.

In other contexts, the Social Democrats usually believe in, for example, the collective agreement model, that is to say that two parties reach agreements in voluntary contracts. Depending on which area of agreement it is, one can agree on different things. We do not therefore legislate, but we trust the parties.

So it should naturally be the case also when it comes to powers of attorney. There may be one actor who wants it designed in one way, and another actor who wants it in another way. It is a fantastically great advantage.

If I live in Pajala out in some village, maybe I want to write a power of attorney to my colleague Larry Söder. I can write it on a piece of paper and give him a power of attorney, and then he can help me with my errands. With the way the Social Democrats now want to use it, it becomes more difficult and complicated in every way.

This government, together with the Tidö parties, is committed to fighting crime. Naturally, that which is criminal and wrong shall be fought by our law enforcement agencies. But for that reason, one does not need to make it more complicated to issue powers of attorney. If, for example, fraud occurs, it shall be resolved by the police and the judiciary, likewise if someone has forged a signature. I would like to ask Anna-Belle Strömberg: Why do you want to make it more difficult for people in the countryside?

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

Anna-Belle Strömberg (S)

Mr. Speaker! I thank Lars Beckman for the question. I truly understand the point – there are advantages to not having formal requirements for powers of attorney. But the state's good intentions to simplify transactions must not be realized at the expense of women who are victims of violence and people who are being defrauded.

Alarms have been raised to us in the Riksdag at seminars. Just as I said earlier, emails have reached us in the Committee on Civil Affairs. We have received examples from the Swedish Enforcement Authority regarding economic violence. Women's organizations have alerted us to several cases. This has been going on for a long time. We know very well how these women and the persons who have been defrauded can be forced to pay a debt due to a power of attorney that does not even have the correct personal identity number.

What initiatives does Lars Beckman intend to take so that today's absence of formal requirements for powers of attorney cannot be exploited as a tool for economic violence by violent men and fraudsters?

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

Lars Beckman (M)

Mr. Speaker! What is criminal is criminal. It may be that someone has forged a signature. Then one can, as Anna-Belle Strömberg wants, introduce legislation on exactly how a power of attorney should be designed. It complicates life for ordinary people, for example, if I am to ask my children to go and buy milk, ask my partner to go to the post office, or whatever it may be. It is also difficult to delimit the scope of application so that the law only hits situations involving violence against women.

What is criminal is, therefore, already criminal. You can legislate for signatures from two witnesses, but it is just as easy to forge two signatures as one. The only thing you are doing is making it complicated for ordinary people, Anna-Belle Strömberg. In other contexts, the Social Democrats usually believe in the voluntary agreements of partners. Not least, you usually defend, for example, collective agreements. In this case, you want to do exactly the opposite.

As I said in my first speech, the government is obsessed with fighting crime. This naturally also applies to this area, and we do it together with the Tidö parties. But to go from having a system that works in the vast majority of cases to imposing a formal requirement is to complicate things. It is to take a step further. I actually think that the state should sometimes perhaps take a step back and not a step forward when it comes to such things.

This would be a blow in the air. Take, for example, a threatening situation where someone forces a woman to sign something. Then it will not change a bit that one has introduced socialist legislation with a formal requirement. The only thing that happens is that it becomes complicated for the vast majority. I would like to ask how the Social Democrats have envisioned how this legislation should look and function. Even if we were to help someone, it becomes a very lot of hassle for others. How have you envisioned how it should look concretely?

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

Anna-Belle Strömberg (S)

Mr. Speaker! Lars Beckman says that he wants to fight crime. But he does not think that one should have to tackle this issue of victims of violence being defrauded, but rather it is "ordinary people" for whom crime should be fought.

Work is being done against economic violence within the framework of Sweden's commitment according to the Council of Europe's convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. Preventive work shall be carried out, and work has begun on a new action program. There is also a methodological support, and guidance shall be developed for employees who are to act when they encounter violence in economic situations and violence against women. But despite that this work is being carried out, Lars Beckman says that we should not have any formal requirements. And despite that Gunnar Strömmer and Paulina Brandberg say that it is clear that no additional such requirements shall be introduced, this work is being carried out at the EU level and in the Riksdag.

I think it is strange: It went very quickly for the government to decide on this matter regarding the plastic bag tax. That one could be withdrawn overnight. But when it comes to moving from words to action regarding preventing fraud and economic violence, it must be investigated and investigated. The investigation into the violence and Sweden's commitment shall continue for two years. As for the methodological support, it will take three years before anything is reached. I think it is strange that it should take such time to produce an investigation on something that one has said one will stand for and that one simultaneously says that one will not introduce any legal requirements.

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

Lars Beckman (M)

Mr. Speaker! We are now debating consumer policy. It may not be the area where the greatest ideological differences between the parties exist. But nevertheless, there are differences, and they will surely emerge even in this debate.

The Tidö parties are working together to improve consumer policy. One such example is that we are allocating very many resources to Arn, the National Board for Consumer Appeals. It is a very good institution that exists in Sweden, where we, through voluntary corrections, ensure that consumers get what is right. One problem Arn has had is that they have received very many incoming cases. The Government has therefore, with the support of the Riksdag, introduced a small fee to remove frivolous complaints; many complaints are not followed up.

I thought I would take the opportunity to say that the government is very active in EU matters. For example, there is legislation that gives you compensation when trains are delayed, namely the EU rail passengers' rights regulation. It is fantastically good when we work together across national borders and find legislation that works in many countries. Another such EU legislation that is implemented in Sweden and is very good for consumers concerns the right to compensation for flight delays. An EU legislation that is on its way – I believe it was adopted in the EU Parliament yesterday – is the right to repair directive. Many of these consumer issues fit very well for us to work on across national borders, because we consumers are very mobile. We might be sitting and buying something on a site or a website, and then we have consumer rights.

The government has done very much in a short time in this area. I heard another member of Parliament mention how important the municipal consumer guidance is. There is no difference between the parties there either. We are in complete agreement that the municipal consumer guidance is extremely important. The government has tasked the Consumer Agency to continue developing and supporting the municipal consumer guidance. The purpose is to strengthen consumer protection and prevent over-indebtedness and private financial problems. According to the mandate, the Consumer Agency shall spread knowledge on how more municipalities can work together and how they might perhaps work together across municipal boundaries, just as is done in Gävle where they have consumer guidance together with other municipalities.

It is a problem, as I heard another member say, that many municipalities have cut back on municipal consumer guidance. I do not think that is due to any particular malice from the municipalities, but I believe it is done because one does not understand the value and importance of the local presence of consumer advisors. A local consumer advisor does, after all, get to know their local business community and can provide much better guidance.

Recently, we had a debate on a strengthened information requirement regarding fuel consumption and carbon emissions when marketing new passenger cars. It is important that every buyer knows what they are buying.

A question that I believe will become more and more important concerns what is called private labels, EMV, in the store. We see how that proportion is increasing sharply. It happens then, one could say, at the expense of other brands.

I believe it is very important that we consumers have the opportunity to see, for example, who has manufactured a product and where it was manufactured, so that we consumers can make active choices. I think it is concerning when you enter a store and try to find out who has manufactured a product and it just says: produced for. It does not state who has manufactured it and not which country it is manufactured in. It is very difficult to be an active consumer.

The same applies to bread, for example. I can go to the bread shelf in a store. I can see the bread brands. I can see where they are manufactured. But then maybe there is bake-off. It smells good. It smells freshly baked. I might even think that I am benefiting the Swedish countryside if I buy the baguette. But often it comes from another country. Often it is heated in the store. It is very difficult for us consumers to make conscious and active choices. I think it would be good if we look at that. How can we improve the information when it comes to own-brand products?

Here, trade has a very large responsibility. I think that trade itself - regardless of whether it is Ica, Coop, Willys or other chains - should be good at informing consumers about where the products are manufactured and by whom, because then we do not need to do legislation. But if the chains do not embrace this, I do not think one should be reluctant to tighten the requirements on product information.

Another debate has arisen. I do not know if there are more of us who are cat owners, but a debate has arisen during the past year about how both insurance costs and veterinary costs are increasing sharply. I have seen that there is now a heated debate in the media between an insurance company and representatives of the veterinary industry. The Government and we in the Tidö parties are following the development closely. It is important to have one's animal insured, but it is also important that the costs do not spiral out of control. I saw that some insurance company wanted a state price regulation. I want to be clear that the Moderaterna do not believe in that at all. But it must not be that people refrain from insuring their animals because the insurance is very expensive.

We heard earlier in an exchange that the Social Democrats want to complicate things with formal requirements for powers of attorney. In the vast majority of cases, the system works very well today. It is difficult to design legislation that achieves the purpose one wants, and it is difficult in legislation to hit every situation that arises. We Moderates think it is good and simple today. One can design a power of attorney exactly as one wants. There is nothing that prevents a bank or anyone else from having 14 witnesses, if they want to. But if one creates legislation, it will apply. This is therefore very unfortunate. It is simply a shot in the dark.

Mr. Speaker! In the previous debate when we discussed consumer issues, I wished Brynäs luck in the SHL qualifiers. I note now, Mr. Speaker, that from next season onwards, Brynäs will play in the SHL, which pleases many consumers in Gävle.

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

Björn Tidland (SD)

Mr. Speaker! The Sweden Democrats' consumer policy covers several important areas. In this speech, I will provide an overview to explain how we intend to approach the most important issues.

Most of the motions are handled in simplified procedure because they concern issues that the Riksdag has dealt with earlier during the parliamentary term. This means that I will not be moving for anything today, for the simple reason that there is nothing to move for.

Nevertheless, SD is constantly developing its consumer policy, and today I will take the opportunity to describe the reasoning in our committee motion and how we reason forward on consumer issues.

Mr. Speaker! It should be easy for Swedish consumers to choose Swedish food. If more people buy Swedish products, it also benefits the agricultural industry. If food production increases in Sweden, the degree of self-sufficiency also increases, and the vulnerability in the event of crisis and war decreases. Now that there is war in Europe, self-sufficiency is extra important, and it must be a prioritized issue.

To make it simple for consumers, clear rules are needed. The EU's documents and the Swedish interpretations of these are both tangled and complicated. This applies, for example, to interpretations of whether a product contains raw materials from several countries or different arguments regarding which main ingredient a product has.

A simple rule is needed. All food sold in Sweden shall be labeled with country of origin. An inquiry tasked with proposing the forms for origin labeling should be appointed. The labeling shall be mandatory, clear, simple, and standardized.

When it comes to meat or, with a more refined name, animal products, they should not only be labeled with the country of origin. The slaughter method also needs to be clearly indicated. To strengthen consumers' options, it is important that religiously slaughtered meat is labeled with which method was used – this is out of respect for the groups who, for religious reasons, choose these food products. In the same way, it is out of respect for those who choose to buy products that are not ritual-slaughtered.

Slaughter without stunning is prohibited in Sweden, and a ban on the import of these products should be introduced as soon as possible. In Article 4 of EU Regulation 1099/2009, it states clearly and distinctly: "Animals may only be killed after stunning."

Unfortunately, there are exceptions within the EU to the ban on unstunned slaughter. Sweden, in other words, has no control over how other countries handle the issue. This is regrettable, but Sweden must never allow the EU to weaken our national animal welfare laws or force us to import meat that has been slaughtered using methods that contravene Swedish law.

Mr. Speaker! In today's society, with thousands of industrially manufactured products, both people and the environment are exposed to chemicals and harmful substances. There is therefore a need to regulate and control the presence of these.

After Sweden's entry into the EU, it is not only our own national laws that regulate chemicals, but also a very extensive and bureaucratic EU legislation.

What does SD have as a proposal to protect consumers from harmful products? To ensure the health of the Swedish people, it is desirable to ban or strongly limit carcinogenic and non-biodegradable substances, such as PFAS, in consumer products. This must be done in consensus with the EU regarding common rules on chemicals occurring within the European Economic Area. The government's task in relation to the EU must be to review and revise all special legislation in the chemical area so that they better harmonize with EU legislation.

SD wants to raise a concrete example concerning e-commerce. Despite all efforts by the Swedish Chemicals Agency, uncontrolled e-commerce still occurs, which means that countless products containing harmful substances enter the country. It is particularly serious when cheap toys containing harmful substances are imported. To protect our children, the Swedish Chemicals Agency must urgently and purposefully accelerate the work to prevent these harmful products from entering the country.

Mr. Speaker! This does not only concern people's health. The environment is also negatively affected by certain products. That is why labeling of products is important. Medicines save lives and reduce suffering for thousands of citizens in our country. That is good. Unfortunately, it is less good when all these medicines end up in our watercourses. A report from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences shows that Sweden's largest drinking water sources are contaminated by wastewater containing environmental toxins that are difficult to break down, and the majority are medicinal substances.

Pharmaceutical residues from households and hospitals can affect physiological processes in both humans and animals when they enter nature. The use of antibiotics and fungicides can lead to the development of resistance in microorganisms. Estrogen and similar substances affect the reproductive capacity of fish and, secondarily, entire ecosystems.

To inform consumers about environmentally hazardous medicines, SD considers that these should be clearly marked with warning text urging consumers to hand them in as environmentally hazardous waste instead of flushing them down the drain.

Mr. Speaker! Recently, it has become increasingly common that the elderly and vulnerable have been deceived out of large sums of money. Anyone can far too easily trick their way into money through digital signatures and BankID. Here, the banks must take greater responsibility, and if they do not, we in the Riksdag must change the legislation. It simply cannot continue like this.

It is not only the elderly who are exploited and deceived in the increasingly digitized world. Children are exposed to advertising via games, and companies can all too easily drain parents' credit cards of money. In some cases, it involves gambling for money that takes place with the help of skins in video games. It should be simple to require BankID for certain games and purchases via the internet. A tightening of consumer legislation must occur to protect our children against these companies, which in my opinion are grossly unethical and conduct organized deception in a completely reprehensible manner.

Mr. Speaker! This was a small excerpt from SD's consumer policy. It also touches on many other important issues, but this shall be today's delivery.

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

Alireza Akhondi (C)

Mr. Speaker and honorable colleagues! I can begin by stating that this is an exciting report. SD indeed overrode their Tidö friends in point 2 and joined us others regarding formal requirements for powers of attorney. That may be why our Moderate colleague did not want to move for approval of the reservation. It may be interesting to note that the honeymoon might be nearing its end.

Mr. Speaker! This is a very important area. At the turn of the year, 496,000 private individuals and companies were registered with the Enforcement Authority. Hear and behold – 496,000 people! The debt mountain is at 119 billion. That is quite a lot of employment tax credits, that!

Lars Beckman is completely right that there are no major ideological differences specifically within this area. However, that does not mean a government can stop addressing the challenges that exist, which is the case today. Let me take some examples!

If there is no ideological dividing line in the issue of over-indebtedness, one could think that it is now fair game for a government to present proposals that will allow us to address the over-indebtedness, but that is not being done.

Even when it comes to better origin labeling, as the SD colleague pointed out, it is fair game to submit proposals. I promise that at least the Center Party will vote for it. And when it comes to the handling of quick loans - so-called SMS loans - proposals can also be submitted, Lars Beckman.

I can also say a few words about our proposals, because even though all our wise proposals disappeared in the simplified processing that the committee applies, we actually have a number of proposals in the area.

We propose, for example, that the possibility of providing all products within the EU with a climate declaration should be reviewed, which would allow the consumer to compare climate emissions and energy savings.

We also propose that consumer guidance should be developed, that there should be more transparent consumer law regulations, and that the protection of consumers' privacy regarding e-commerce should be reviewed.

We propose stronger consumer rights protection against and limited marketing to children and young people in digital environments.

We propose that the purchase of live animals be exempted from the Consumer Sales Act - in accordance with the Riksdag's announcement, I should also say.

We also propose that an investigation be conducted into how animal healthcare could be covered by the Consumer Services Act, as well as financial protection for travelers whose trips are canceled due to reasons outside the organizer's control.

This is a selection of the proposals that we have submitted within this area. I can also reveal, particularly to the Tidö parties, that we will continue to develop our consumer policy ahead of the general motion period this autumn. But, again: It should not prevent Lars Beckman from rolling up his sleeves and starting to work!

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

Katarina Luhr (MP)

Mr. Speaker! As we have heard, we are using simplified motion processing this year, and therefore we are not raising all the motions that have been submitted. This means that the report may look a bit thin just this year, despite all the important matters that are under this heading.

In the report, an announcement to the government is proposed. It is really not very often that we get the opportunity to send a mandate to the government, and I want to highlight why this particular one is so incredibly important. The proposed announcement concerns the committee's wish that the government should review whether special formal requirements should be introduced for powers of attorney concerning major financial commitments, for example, large loans. A formal requirement for financial powers of attorney might not sound like a bombshell, but it is much more important than one might think.

Economic violence is about the exercise of power and control and can make it very difficult to leave a relationship. It can involve controlling how the other person uses their salary, hiding joint money, or taking out loans in the partner's name and thereby indebting her or him. There are studies showing that as many as 75 percent of those who are subjected to physical and psychological violence in the home are also subjected to economic violence.

That a former partner thwarts progress so that the one who has left finds it as difficult as possible is also not uncommon, and it can lead to very many problems for the one who, for example, has left house, home, and possessions without having the finances needed to build a new life.

Violence in close relationships can occur in different forms and in a variety of guises. The physical and psychological are well-known to many, while economic violence is not something that is talked about particularly much. It is, however, a real reality for many more than one thinks.

On the Swedish Enforcement Authority's website, one can read more about economic violence. There, several examples of economic violence used to control another person are highlighted. It can, for example, involve indepting a person by forging a signature, controlling how a person uses money, hiding joint money, forcing a person to start a company, or even forcing a person to participate in economic crime, for example money laundering. A not entirely uncommon example involves gaining access to a person's bank-id, email, or mobile phone, or forcing a person to indept themselves through loans or credits.

Miljöpartiet has long worked for economic violence to also be categorized as a separate form of men's violence against women in order to better be able to prevent and combat the violence. This would provide better opportunities to give weighted assignments to the authorities that work to implement the national strategy to prevent and combat men's violence against women. At the same time, knowledge about economic violence can increase.

When we meet people, many times women who have been or are being subjected to economic violence, the words from them are often: nightmare, great darkness, or a similar phrase that often recurs, namely that life has been transformed into a chaos. Furthermore, it is that society fails. One hears about large loans that have been taken under false premises, about SMS loans that have been taken while the partner was sleeping, about loans that have been forced under threats in order to, for example, be allowed to stay in the shared residence or avoid arguing about the children. It also occurs that violent men exercise economic violence against women with the help of a power of attorney.

In most cases, there are no specific formal requirements for a power of attorney today, unlike, for example, what applies to wills. This is something that can be exploited in relation to vulnerable persons. This is what we want the government to review.

It should not always be so big and complicated to issue a power of attorney. But when it comes to larger financial commitments, for example large loans, we believe that increased formalization is required to ensure that the loan is not taken without the other person's knowledge or under duress. A form requirement could therefore become one of the tools needed to strengthen the preventive work against men's violence against women, or the economic violence against any close relative. Other vulnerable persons could also receive increased protection, for example those who cannot manage their banking affairs on their own. It would also reduce the risk of forgeries.

Many different measures are required to prevent violence in close relationships, even when it comes to preventing economic violence. The Civil Affairs Committee has also previously demanded a limit on how long a division of property process may be delayed by a former partner.

Miljöpartiet believes that a broad investigation needs to be commissioned to map out different types of post-violence, i.e., the violence one risks being subjected to when leaving a destructive relationship. There, economic violence can tangibly affect the situation, and based on that investigation, we want to see concrete proposals for solutions, which we believe need to be more. The investigation also needs to produce concrete proposals on how those subjected to violence should receive protection, help, and support.

To facilitate leaving a destructive relationship, we also want the person subjected to violence to be given a door out of the violence. Every woman who leaves a violent relationship shall be given a unified entry point to society's support, which can range from documentation of injuries, testimony, personal protection, and protected housing to legal advice or interventions from social services.

A formal requirement on a power of attorney is therefore only a small piece of the puzzle in the work to reduce violence in close relationships. But all different pieces are needed because it is a complicated issue, and that piece is not unimportant. Society shall do everything to protect every individual from violence.

It is clear that the Moderates and the Christian Democrats are not standing by their reservation on the issue today, perhaps because they do not want to flag that they hold different views within the majority. But I would nevertheless like to take the opportunity to move for approval of the committee's proposal for a decision on a referral to the government.

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

Angelica Lundberg (SD)

Mr. Speaker! When people talk about violence in close relationships, most think of physical violence, that is to say kicks, punches, strangulation, bruises and broken ribs.

But there is also other violence in close relationships that can be at least as taxing for the victim and which is also harder to detect. Every fifth woman in Sweden reports that she has been subjected to systematic and repeated psychological violence by a current or former partner. In addition to that, there is material violence, latent violence, sexual violence, and economic violence - to name a few. And it is the latter, Mr. Speaker, economic violence, that makes me raise the issue of violence in close relationships here today in a debate on consumer policy.

The reason is that the Sweden Democrats in this report, CU11 Consumer Rights etc., have received support for their proposal for a notification to the government that the government should review whether special formal requirements should be introduced for powers of attorney concerning larger financial commitments. This may not be a large part of the fight against economic violence, but it is important. Let me explain why.

Powers of attorney are usually a good way for someone to act on your behalf. It can, for example, involve picking up a package at the post office or medicine at the pharmacy, but they can also work well if someone needs help with financial commitments. Powers of attorney work well as long as the person who has given someone a power of attorney has done so deliberately and also has the opportunity to check that the proxy holder does what was agreed.

Currently, powers of attorney have no formal requirements or requirements to be witnessed, which of course was not needed for simpler matters. And it should not be needed in the future either. But for larger loans or financial commitments of several million, it is reasonable that there are requirements.

Today, a power of attorney can be written without any restrictions at all on what the person holding the power of attorney is allowed to do, a so-called general power of attorney. It does not need to be dated and it does not even need to contain a correct personal identity number to be valid. This is used as a tool in domestic violence to exert power and control over a partner, and it involves great problems and suffering for the person affected by the economic violence. The only thing, Mr. Speaker, a perpetrator of violence needs to do is to forge the victim's signature, and then he or she can enter into major financial commitments without the victim even being aware of what has happened. The Enforcement Authority testifies that the person who has been subjected to economic violence can end up in long-term financial difficulties and indebtedness. Victims of domestic violence say that that type of violence is harder to heal from than physical violence.

Unlike wills or powers of attorney, where the law states that the principal's signature must be witnessed by two witnesses present at the same time, a power of attorney to, for example, carry out banking transactions or a real estate purchase can be easily forged because it is not covered by the legal requirements.

Many serious banks have their own requirements for powers of attorney today, but with less serious lenders, the person who wants to withdraw millions in someone else's name can do so in a very simple way. This must, of course, be stopped, and I am therefore glad that the Sverigedemokraterna have pushed through a proposal for an announcement regarding formal requirements for powers of attorney in order to prevent and preclude violence in close relationships in every conceivable way.

I therefore move for approval of the committee's proposal for a decision.

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Andreas Lennkvist Manriquez (V)

Mr. Speaker! It is tough to be a consumer in today's Sweden. We have all witnessed how inflation has led to sharp price increases, and we are currently seeing how phone scams against especially the elderly are escalating. Last week, Vänsterpartiet presented a proposal for a committee initiative that would mean a redress for all those who have fallen victim to this despicable crime. Unfortunately, only six of the eight parliamentary parties chose to stand behind the proposal. It is regrettable.

At the same time, Mr. Speaker, we are in an ongoing climate crisis, and a large part of the country's consumers want to make conscious choices. In this situation, the government chooses not to support preventive consumer work. Instead, they are cutting back on support for the consumer movement. In the spring budget, for example, the consumer organizations are not mentioned at all.

These are, therefore, organizations that work to strengthen consumers' role in the market, which provide advice and information and which represent Swedish consumers in the development of new legislation at both national and European levels.

To reduce the support for the consumer movement is to significantly weaken the consumers' position in society. I am, however, not surprised that the government is doing this. In area after area, we are currently seeing how the government attacks civil society. Everyone from the consumers to the study associations and not least the aid organizations has seen their support withdrawn.

Vänsterpartiet does the exact opposite. When the government cuts, we invest. We increase support for civil society, and we allocate funds annually in our budget motion for expanded municipal consumer guidance. At the same time, we want to legislate a duty for the country's municipalities to provide consumer guidance. Regardless of where in the country one lives, one should have access to good consumer support.

With this, I move for approval of reservation 1.

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Lars Beckman (M)

Mr. Speaker! One cannot let a Left Party member stand and ramble however much they want in the speaker's chair or mislead those who might be watching this debate.

Just as I said in my speech, the government has given a clear mandate to the Consumer Agency to continue developing and supporting municipal consumer guidance. We are, therefore, in complete agreement on that.

The government, together with the Tidö parties, is significantly increasing the appropriation for Arn. There will be substantial appropriations for two years in a row.

We are introducing a small fee in order to be able to reduce the influx of, for example, frivolous complaints to ARN. As far as I understand, Vänsterpartiet was against the very small, small fee. In that case, I must ask you in Vänsterpartiet how you want to reduce the influx to the National Board for Consumer Disputes so that those consumers who really need help also receive it.

Then, Mr. Speaker, we have the support of the Social Democrats' affiliated organizations. It is entirely correct that the Tidö parties have moved money from ABF's, Hyresgästföreningen's, and PRO's organizations – LO I believe is also a partial owner or partner – to the National Board for Consumer Disputes. It must surely be the height of good consumer policy to move money there where it does the most good, and the National Board for Consumer Disputes provides real consumer benefit.

I would like to ask the member of the Left Party the following: If, for example, the Tenants' Association (Hyresgästföreningen), which gave 10 million extra in the 2018 election campaign, or for that matter LO, which invested half a billion in an election campaign, think that consumer issues are important, is it not reasonable that they subsidize and finance their own organization just like, for example, the Villaägarnas Riksförbund? The homeowners who think those issues are important are in an association and pay for it without state subsidies.

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Andreas Lennkvist Manriquez (V)

Mr. Speaker! Yes, it is true that you are increasing the appropriation for the National Board for Consumer Appeals. You have also introduced a fee for it. We discussed it in the chamber a few weeks ago. It is also true that we were and are against it. It makes it difficult, especially for low-income earners, to submit their cases and have their matters reviewed.

When it comes to the consumer organizations, it is not correct that they are social democratic organizations. These are organizations that provide advice to help consumers, review the legislation and contribute to us gaining more knowledge. Why are you against this, Lars Beckman? Why are you pulling the rug out from under the Swedish consumer movement?

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Lars Beckman (M)

Mr. Speaker! It is very wise policy to move money to the National Board for Consumer Appeals, which provides fantastic consumer benefit. It is very good policy.

For me, this is difficult to understand. LO invested half a billion in an election campaign. Hyresgästföreningen invests tens of millions in election campaigns. PRO is very active. They and a number of other social democratic organizations have formed an organization that historically has received a lot in state grants. Why should they not pay for their own organization? That is the very definition of civil society, Mr. Speaker. That is what civil society is.

It is not a civil society if the state finances an organization by 100 percent or to a significant extent. It is not civil society. It is the corporate Sweden, where a political party has exploited having been in power for a very long time to provide grants to its own organizations.

The consumer benefit naturally lies with the National Board for Consumer Disputes. It is important.

I also note that Vänsterpartiet is against the fee to the National Board for Consumer Disputes. The member seems to have completely missed that if one is awarded in the National Board for Consumer Disputes and has paid 150 kronor, I believe the fee will be, for their complaint, Arn will likely recommend that one should get back those 150 kronor.

Consumer rights etc.

But my question was not about the size of the fee, my question was about how the Left Party wants to reduce the inflow to Arn. That was my question. The government has said that we believe this is something that can be done in that part, likely in cooperation or consultation with Arn. How do you get rid of the fact that malicious reports are being made? One has to think a bit extra. But how does the Left Party want to reduce the inflow to Arn without the fee?

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Andreas Lennkvist Manriquez (V)

Mr. Speaker! Then I shall explain to Lars Beckman that a good way to reduce the inflow to Arn is to invest in the municipal consumer advice centers so that they can handle the cases and help so that consumers can avoid submitting cases to Arn. That is one way.

Then I can only observe that Lars Beckman speaks about Sweden's consumers and the Swedish consumer movement as if it were a social democratic party organization. In that case, I wonder if you see social democratic party organizations all over Sweden.

Are the aid organizations social democratic organizations? Are the study associations? Is the entire welfare state, Sweden's schools and healthcare, social democratic organizations? You are also slaughtering the money for them.

This is about the fact that you do not want to raise the tax for the very richest. You do not want to make any investments, but instead, you take every opportunity to cut back on everything you can.

(Applause)

The deliberation was hereby concluded.

(A decision was to be taken on 2 May.)

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