The Kingdom's Board

Victoria Tiblom (SD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, colleagues in the committee and the committee's officials, for the work in the KU since the election! After this election, which has resulted in a change of government, the budget bill shall be submitted to the Riksdag within three weeks after a new government has taken office.

That is why we in the government base have not yet had time to negotiate and propose new goals for expenditure areas or provide the reporting of results that, according to the Budget Act, shall be included in the bill and a content that fully reflects the government's policy.

We have, however, come some way in the work of translating the voters' desire for a new direction for Sweden. I will here make a few points regarding what we have agreed upon. There is, of course, more to say. But these are some areas I particularly want to emphasize.

Mr. Speaker! Next year, His Majesty the King will have sat on the throne for 50 years, but it is also 500 years since Gustav Vasa was elected king. Who knows, without Gustav Vasa's efforts for the country, it is very possible that this debate would have been held in Copenhagen.

To commemorate these anniversaries and to be able to strengthen security at the Royal Palace, the appropriation for the Royal Court and Palace Administration is increased. It is good that Sweden has a living and thriving royal house.

Next year, Sweden will take over the EU Presidency. The parliamentary dimension of the EU Presidency means that the Riksdag, during the Swedish Presidency in the spring of 2023, will host a total of eight conferences.

Seven of the conferences take place in the Riksdag and one in Brussels. Five of the conferences are arranged every half-year based on a fixed work plan. In addition to these conferences, the Riksdag organizes three thematic conferences on its own initiative. The Riksdag decides on the theme and layout on its own.

The three thematic conferences will be about democracy in Europe, the EU's future energy supply, and the circular bioeconomy. These are perhaps such important issues for the times we live in.

For the implementation of the conferences, the appropriation is increased by 14,675,000 kronor in 2023. Something that will also happen in 2023 – or that we hope will be able to be implemented in 2023 – is Sweden's and Finland's accession to the Atlantic Pact. Extra funds are therefore allocated to the Government Offices. The increased appropriation is also justified by an elevated security situation. This is particularly urgent in times of international uncertainty and, unfortunately, regular attacks on systems and other IT solutions by malicious actors.

In these uncertain times, we also allocate extra funds to the county administrative boards. To strengthen the county administrative boards' support for the municipalities' work with civil defense, the appropriation is increased by 60 million kronor starting from 2023. To carry out investments in the county administrative boards' digital infrastructure and maintain capabilities within crisis preparedness and civil defense, the appropriation is increased by an additional 7 million kronor for 2023. For 2024 and 2025, the appropriation is estimated to increase by 101 and 116 million kronor respectively. In addition to this, we also carry out other appropriations to the county administrative boards so that they can contribute to regional growth.

Another important authority is the Swedish Authority for Privacy Protection (Integritetsskyddsmyndigheten). In order to strengthen the Swedish Authority for Privacy Protection's conditions to safeguard the protection of fundamental freedoms and rights in connection with the processing of personal data, as well as to ensure the authority's tasks to decide on permits for and exercise supervision over video surveillance, the appropriation is increased by 42.8 million kronor for 2023 and by 47 million kronor for 2024.

This was something about the investments that are in the budget. Before the spring and the 2024 budget bill, we will return with further changed appropriations and even more conservative policy.

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

Ida Karkiainen (S)

Mr. Speaker! As we now debate the budget and its section Rikets styrelse, I would like to begin by saying that we Social Democrats are presenting our own budget alternative which is to be seen as a whole. Therefore, we abstain from taking a position and instead have a specific statement within the expenditure area.

Mr. Speaker! There is no doubt that we live in a restless time with a pandemic that has characterized us since 2020, with Russia's ruthless war in Ukraine and with Russia's energy war which tests both the economy and the cohesion in Europe's countries.

As a consequence, households and companies in Sweden are being pressured by both high inflation and increasing interest rates. Wages are being eroded and cover less and less. In addition, Sweden faces a recession with increasing unemployment as a result.

The difficult economic situation highlights the need for a secure society, where welfare delivers throughout all of Sweden, where we face tough times together, and where we safeguard democracy—the democracy that our people have fought for with great effort for over 100 years. It is perhaps our most important task right now in a world where democracy is retreating and authoritarian forces are taking hold.

Mr. Speaker! Central parts for democracy and for it to be built strong are found in this expenditure area: media support, general elections, funds to combat antisemitism, support for national minorities, support for political parties, appropriations to the Parliamentary Ombudsman and the National Audit Office and, not least, the appropriation to the Riksdag. These are institutions that stand guard over our democracy and the civil rights and liberties that our constitution prescribes.

Mr. Speaker! We Social Democrats will always defend democracy to the utmost. I quote Olof Palme: "For us, democracy is a question of human dignity. And human dignity, it is the political freedoms, the right to freely express one's opinion, the right to criticize and form opinion. Human dignity - it is the right to health and work, education and social security. Human dignity - it is the right and the practical possibility to together with others shape the future. These rights, the rights of democracy, cannot be reserved for a certain stratum of society. They must be the property of the whole people."

Mr. Speaker! We believe that democratic societies are stable and that nothing can shake the rights that our democracy carries with it, but there we are mistaken. Democracy is fragile. Who thought that the Capitol would be stormed in January 2021? And who thought that far-reaching coup plans would be revealed in Germany just a few weeks ago? Add to that the restrictions occurring right now all over the world regarding abortion rights, LGBTQI rights, freedom of religion, and freedom of speech.

Streams of hate, threats, and conspiracy theories drive this. It is often directed at journalists, opinion leaders, politicians, and cultural workers. This is a rapidly growing threat to our democracy, even in Sweden. Four out of ten journalists stated already before the 2022 election campaign that they had refrained from reporting on a subject to avoid being subjected to hate and threats. Political forces in Sweden, not least troll factories and propaganda centers on the extreme right wing, fuel this development. It is unacceptable. Therefore, we believe that a new strategy against hate and threats needs to be developed.

Mr. Speaker! There is a relatively broad consensus in this expenditure area. One might not believe it sometimes when listening to the political debate. I think it is important to point this out, not least when it concerns issues that are so fundamental to our democracy.

But, Mr. Speaker, on some points in the expenditure area, there are divided opinions regarding our budget proposal. We Social Democrats understand that an increase in appropriations for the Government Offices, given the changed security policy situation and Sweden's application for membership in Nato, is justified. However, we believe that what the government proposes, namely a half billion in supplementary funds for next year, is an unjustifiably large increase in appropriations.

Another point where we share views is the appropriation to the county administrative boards. Sweden's 21 county administrative boards are central to an efficient state administration. They have many assignments within a large number of areas and shall work to ensure that seventy national goals gain traction in the counties while regional considerations are taken into account when it comes to fulfilling these goals. Furthermore, the county administrative boards shall, with a holistic perspective, work to promote the counties' development and ensure that cooperation occurs between municipalities, regions, state agencies, and other relevant actors in the counties.

In the work that has been ongoing for many years to build up a total defense, the county administrative boards have central roles when it comes to working to ensure that the greatest possible defense capability is achieved in each county. It is important, not least in these times.

Mr. Speaker! Furthermore, the county administrative boards are responsible for a number of permit assessments, not least in areas that are important for the green transition, which create jobs across the entire country. To expand electricity production and secure the energy supply, the county administrative boards are central. These are many times difficult and complex issues where many actors are involved. It takes time - sometimes it takes far too long. This is a bottleneck in today's permit processes.

The previous Social Democratic government saw this and, among other things, tasked the county administrative boards with developing methods and forms of cooperation to promote an efficient consultation process according to the Environmental Code. We also tasked the county administrative boards with reporting proposals for measures that can streamline the authorities' review activities. It is a long chain of actors that are involved.

These are important measures, which I hope and expect the current government will take further. Unfortunately, this has not been shown in the budget.

We Social Democrats are adding funds in our budget proposal to further accelerate the permit processes that are so important for Sweden. We need to increase the pace of the climate transition and build a sustainable society while creating green jobs throughout Sweden. Because we know that our Sweden can be better.

Mr. Speaker! There are many areas in this expenditure area that deserve to be addressed, but unfortunately, time in the debate does not allow for it now. Fortunately, we will return to many subjects during the spring committee debates.

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

Erik Ottoson (M)

Mr. Speaker! The new government has submitted a budget bill to the Riksdag which involves a huge amount of money, to put it briefly.

Just this budget area is perhaps one of the absolutely most important, even if it is not one of the most extensive in terms of the volume of money. It is about large parts of safeguarding our democracy. It is about the basic function in our state apparatus, the democratic governance of Sweden and important values such as human rights, the protection of minorities and the remembrance of, for example, the Holocaust - a number of important issues that I believe most people hold very close to their hearts.

It is also about the county administrative boards' work with a number of important issues in different parts of the country. Their function is crucial for the government's policies to reach all the way out across our elongated country. Work is being done to try to shorten the permit processes, which have been mentioned earlier, and work is ongoing so that the Government Offices can manage the new work tasks it entails to become members of the defense alliance Nato and to lead the work in the European Union during our presidency half-year which begins at the turn of the year.

When we find ourselves in a world that is becoming increasingly restless and democracy is being questioned in more and more places, international cooperation is one of the absolutely most important methods for safeguarding democracy. In recent decades, democracy has been on a strong march worldwide, something that many of us have begun to take for granted but which is increasingly being questioned. The questioning occurs through internal convulsions in democracies that we have always seen as stable role models in the spirit of democracy. It also occurs through Russia's illegal war in Ukraine with the aim of stopping a country's pursuit of increased democracy, openness, and international cooperation.

In light of this, Sweden has an important role during the coming half-year as the chair of the European Union. We have also, in broad agreement, made a very important defense policy decision - to join the defense alliance Nato. Both of these things place great demands on us as a country, and they place great demands on our government and our government offices. Both matters have so far occurred in broad agreement.

When we entered the Government Offices, we therefore took the calculations of what this might cost that the Social Democratic government left behind and included them in the budget bill, strictly according to the timetable. In the Riksdag, we are met with a specific statement from the Social Democrats which argues that the increase they left behind in the Government Offices is unjustifiably large and which considers that the Riksdag should make an announcement to the government in accordance with what is stated in their motion for a more well-balanced increase to the Government Offices.

I must say that I personally was very surprised. Is it the NATO membership or the EU presidency that we are supposed to skip? Which task is it that the Government Offices should not receive resources to carry out? The Prime Minister's State Secretary has been in the Committee on the Constitution and accounted for the reasons behind the request for increased funding. He gave clear answers on what it was that cost money and what our figures on what this could be thought to cost were based on.

Even so, the concrete reasons and points on what we are to reduce within the Government Offices' area of activity are missing in the Social Democratic motion and in their specific statement. That the Left Party makes an even larger reduction can be considered consistent. The Left Party is opposed to both Nato and the EU, and I actually have no question marks regarding that. But that the Social Democrats, as a party that lays claim to government power, choose to make such a draconian reduction for one of the absolutely most central functions that is to handle these international collaborations can be considered noteworthy, given that it is they themselves who have calculated the figures during their time in the Government Offices.

It is through our international collaborations, such as for example the peace project the European Union and the defense policy alliance Nato, that we defend our democratic values. In no other way can we be more effective in our endeavor to maintain a more democratic and peaceful world than through these international cooperation projects.

Internally in Sweden, we can do very much, and we do. As recently as a few days ago, the Minister for Culture announced the continued support for our memorial trips. They are carried out to keep alive the memory of the Holocaust and its victims, to remind future generations of the importance of openness, democracy, and respect for all people's equal value, and to remind of this across generational boundaries. Democracy is won for every new generation. It is when one becomes complacent and no longer fights for one's democracy that it begins to be questioned.

Mr. Speaker! I move for approval of the committee's proposal.

(Applause)

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Ida Karkiainen (S)

Mr. Speaker! We do not usually take the floor in this committee so often, but when one receives questions concerning a specific matter, I believe there are reasons to press the button for the floor.

The budget increase of half a billion to the Government Offices is justified by the government by the changed security policy situation and Sweden's entry into Nato. They then claim that these were calculations that the previous government left behind.

The fact of the matter is that there was no political position on the underlying documents at all. It is clear that a government office, an administration, would like to see that this size of grant increases is justified. Then, however, a political assessment must be made as to what the politicians consider justified, and no such assessment was made. To claim that it is the Social Democrats' calculation models that form the basis for this is, I must say, somewhat misleading. Therefore, I felt that I needed to answer that question.

If we look at the Government Offices' outcome in 2021, it was a little over 8,000 million. The proposal for 2023 is 9,584 million. It is a substantial increase of the administration within the Government Offices. It is perhaps not so surprising that one, depending on which side one is on, thinks the justifications are more well-considered or not. During the last parliamentary term, we must remind ourselves, the Moderaterna wanted to increase the appropriations to the Riksdag but decrease them for the Government Offices. Here we have a political balance to take into account.

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Erik Ottoson (M)

Mr. Speaker! To begin at the first end, I can state that Ida Karkiainen's reasoning is based on the image that the Social Democratic government would not have initiated any form of budget work before the election. Usually, one begins working with the budget quite early in the Government Offices. It is primarily after an election with a change of government, as we have had now, that one cannot initiate the work earlier than that.

I would like to mean that it is perhaps not quite a representative picture to assume that the sitting Social Democratic government did not begin the work of preparing a budget because one had an election ahead. It was at least not what was suggested in debates and other contexts where Mikael Damberg, as then Finance Minister, signaled what one had intended to do and that one had set the Ministry of Finance to work in various respects.

There is absolutely such a dimension as Ida Karkiainen describes, that the opposition often wants to cut back on the Government Offices and that the government side wants to do the opposite. The obvious difference compared to the previous mandate period is that we did not have a NATO accession then that required one to dimension up the work within the Government Offices. Nor did one have a half-year presidency in the EU that required one to dimension up the work in the Government Offices. These are two quite important issues for the future of democracy that we now need to invest quite a lot of money in - absolutely!

Therefore, it is very strange when one, without any clear justification as to what one actually wants to scale back, decides to make such an enormous reduction of the Government Offices by almost half a billion kronor, 400 million kronor, from the Social Democrats' side. It is quite large to reduce by so much with such an anxious world and with such large new assignments that the Government Offices are to perform which they have not had previously. Comparing with previous years' budgets becomes a bit of apples and oranges, given that the new tasks are coming now and have not existed in the same way previously.

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Ida Karkiainen (S)

Mr. Speaker! Of course, we had begun the work on the budget a long period before the budget was to be decided. Given that it was an election, it is also, of course, issues that have been initiated during an early process. We mean, however, that an appropriation increase of half a billion to a government office that for a fairly long time has actually already received quite large appropriation increases is not small money. If one looks at the development of the appropriation to the Government Offices, one can see that there are good opportunities - together with the proposal that we also submit to further strengthen given the situation - to prioritize within the Government Offices. That is what we mean.

We still think and assert that half a billion is an all-too-large increase in the appropriation.

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Erik Ottoson (M)

Mr. Speaker! It is undoubtedly the case that Ida Karkiainen has a deeper insight into potential efficiency opportunities that have existed in the Government Offices. As I have said, I have never been a minister myself, but the reasoning in that case is based on the fact that there has previously been room in the Government Offices' budget that can now be utilized for the new work tasks. That is not quite the picture we received when the previous government submitted its budget proposals for the Government Offices; rather, it was very tight and the increases that the then Social Democratic government proposed were well-justified. What Ida Karkiainen is now describing perhaps leads to a different conclusion, that there was room to be taken.

Simultaneously with this, the Swedish people have voted for a government option with a fairly extensive reform agenda that can also be implemented. That is also an important democratic prerequisite. The new proposals that the voters voted for in the election must be able to be put in place, and that is nothing that happens over a coffee break. It requires solid work. With this, of course, everyone in the chamber is very familiar.

When the Government Offices receive new tasks and need appropriations to handle them, and when these tasks have been added in such broad political agreement, I still find it striking that, without any closer calculations, one lands on the conclusion that 400 million kronor can be used for something else. If the truth is to be told, these funds will now end up in other expenditure areas which, what do I know, might possibly be easier to communicate as being exciting to invest in than the Government Offices.

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Jessica Wetterling (V)

Mr. Speaker! I shall begin by thanking Member Erik Ottoson for the praise. It is always pleasant to hear that one is consistent, and that is indeed the case. Vänsterpartiet pursues a consistent policy where investments in welfare are the most important for us. But I shall elaborate on that in my speech later.

I intended to ask the member some questions. Above all, I truly welcome the announcement that came from the Minister for Culture yesterday regarding the memorial trips and the investment in the work against antisemitism. But those funds are no longer in expenditure area 1, so I intended to ask the member if he possibly knows where they will be taken from. And is there some other area that will receive a reduction in the budget compared to before?

It was very unfortunate that the project funds disappeared from the budget, certainly due to a mistake. It is very good that it is being rectified and that there won't be a gap in the initiative. But my concern concerns where the money will be taken from in the future. Is there some other project that now risks falling through the cracks?

Then I must nevertheless comment on the half billion extra for the Government Offices. The two largest parties in the government and the government support have consistently, in recent years, motioned for a reduction for the Government Offices. The Sweden Democrats reduce by half a billion, the Moderates by at least 100 million per year. I have the motions printed out here; it is Erik Ottoson himself who has signed them.

I do not understand how there can be such a difference. Is it because one hires so many temporary workers that one needs to have a little extra money?

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

Erik Ottoson (M)

Mr. Speaker! Timbroiter are undeniably good to have. But to begin where Jessica Wetterling finished, I can state that we did not have these new work tasks during those years. At that time, as Ida Karkiainen so well explained, there was a surplus in the Government Offices' accounting, and then we thought it was unnecessary to allocate more funds. But now one receives new heavy, important work tasks. Nato membership will place great demands on, among other things, how we can exchange intelligence and information in a secure way. This means that we must be able to work much more with this organization in the form of meetings, reconciliations, and negotiations. It will involve work with a large amount of new information that must be able to be processed and lead to actions from the Swedish side in cooperation with our future partners in Nato.

The EU Presidency speaks somewhat for itself. Every time we have been the presiding country in the EU, it has had to involve a fairly clear increase in the Government Offices' budget and funds.

None of this has been true regarding the previous years when we have proposed cuts. In those cases, it was rather about the government at that time wanting money for investigations that then did not always cost that much, which is why it became money that remained.

Regarding the question of the memory trips, these are not in this budget but will be carried out. I am not entirely sure exactly from which appropriation the money will be taken. I believe that is a question that is best directed to the Minister for Culture in a written question or an interpellation.

In the state budget, we generally do not also lock the government into such "small" investments as these are. It is 16.5 million, and we deal with quite much larger budget items. Which one this ends up in, I cannot say for certain.

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Jessica Wetterling (V)

Mr. Speaker! I thank the member for the answer. I do have the opportunity to ask the question to the Minister for Culture when she participates in an upcoming expenditure debate today. But it was still worth holding a rather large press conference with two ministers for one, as the member says, rather small investment - but immensely important.

I also have a proposal for savings that could be implemented during the EU presidency.

The government itself has held press conferences where they have emphasized the importance of us all helping each other during these tough times. That one then needs to hire an extra flight is very strange. Is it really important in these tough times when we need to save?

Furthermore, one utilizes what is called efficiencies in all other areas where the government invests. You get less money but will still do much more. It is a bit magical, what the government is doing these days. Why can't you just be efficient?

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Erik Ottoson (M)

Madam Speaker! Efficiencies are being made. God knows. It is a prerequisite for it to work out.

When it comes to this matter regarding the aircraft, I should say that it is not that we are renting extra planes, but rather it is about increased operating funds for the existing government plane, which will need to fly more when we move in EU circles in the way that we need as a presidency country to lead negotiations and so on. It is a shift of funds.

These are important issues that require work so that, in the long term, we can maintain democracy in international cooperation.

Why was there then a reason for this with the press conference? Well, there was a very extensive debate and concern surrounding these issues. To then just sneak out a press release would have been a bit beneath the dignity of the matter. Not all questions' dignity is measured in crowns and öre. There are greater values than money, and I believe a Left Party member knows that.

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

Jessica Wetterling (V)

Madam Speaker! I would like to begin by apologizing, as I will probably speak a little longer than I have registered. But I will try to do so efficiently.

A budget is about priorities. But it is also about actually meeting the reality and the challenges one faces. The government parties and the Sweden Democrats certainly had a very pleasant time in their shimmering bubble at the palace. But now, when their budget meets reality, it bursts faster than one can say "broken promise."

In the election campaign, many promises were made that have now been quickly broken or imaginatively reinterpreted. The joint budget of the Government and the Sverigedemokraterna is characterized by a lack of initiative and great passivity both in the face of our major structural societal problems and in the face of the effects of the ongoing cost crisis. It does not meet the anxiety that many now feel regarding the skyrocketing food and electricity prices. It does not handle the need to regulate the electricity market. It does not respond to the climate goals that an almost unanimous Riksdag decided on, and it also does not create better working conditions within the welfare sector. There will be no investments in infrastructure, welfare, or climate.

But the castle parties have recently informed their voters and us others that one thing is said before the election and another thing is said after the election. The nonchalance regarding reaching our climate goals has been dismissed with: If we don't do it, we don't do it.

The budget bill is characterized by broken promises and an impressive confidence in having invented a universal method to address all the world's problems that the castle gang encounters on its journey. Things are to be done more efficiently. That is the new motto that applies to everything: aid, welfare, climate work, and so on. Aid is to be used more efficiently and help more people by giving less and deviating from a long-standing principle of the one percent goal, despite a terrible war in Europe, despite climate and famine catastrophes, and despite a terrible record being broken this summer, when the number of people fleeing reached 100 million.

The government's climate work is also to become more efficient by us preaching to other countries while we lower our own ambitions and abdicate from the climate goals.

And if only all welfare workers could work a bit more efficiently! Yes, tell that to everyone who works in the welfare sector. They have struggled and toiled throughout the entire pandemic and were promised more than just applause. Now we can state that it was applause and cuts that became the reward for those who during the pandemic were called the heroes of the welfare sector – those who educate future generations and take care of us when we are struck by illness or when we need support and help in everyday life. They usually cannot work from home or "vobba" (work remotely). They are the ones who ensure that our social services function, whether it is a pandemic or not, while we others could stockpile toilet paper and pasta and wait until the worst was over. Imagine if someone had just told them a bit earlier about the magical solution to all the world's problems!

It is almost surprising that there are even funds allocated in the budget for these purposes. The logic of the Palace gang is that fewer resources lead to much more being done.

Madam Speaker! This is obviously neither true nor anything more than a world-detached notion from those who lack contact with reality. From my experience of having been one of these anonymous welfare workers myself, I can actually tell you that we who work in welfare are people of flesh and blood. Our bills cannot be paid with beautiful words. Our food cannot be paid for with applause. And when our bodies break down due to heavy lifting, understaffing, and stress, we deserve a secure health insurance and then a dignified pension.

It is, however, clear that the government's miracle solution does not apply to everyone. In these times - when the mantra from ministers is that we must help each other in times of crisis and that tough years await because we live in times of skyrocketing inflation, war, and an electricity crisis, and we are all expected to do our part - there are some who are exempted. Some do not need to save or reduce their expenses at all like everyone else. The King even receives extra money in this time of crisis to be able to hold a proper celebration. In the total budget, it is admittedly only 4 million. It is a small part of the budget. But it sends a signal that one thing applies to some and another thing to others.

It is about priorities when the fees for members of Parliament are being increased and the government is also giving everyone with already high salaries a substantial tax cut, as if it were a law of nature. It must nevertheless be stated that the palace parties give the most to those who already have a lot. For us members of Parliament, the tax cut will be approximately 1,000 kronor a month. They prioritize spending 13 billion – double as much as they increase the municipalities' state grants by – on a tax cut for those who earn over 50,000 a month.

Madam Speaker! It is about priorities. That opposition parties criticize a government's budget is not an unusual occurrence, but that the Moderates criticize their own government is not quite as common. But given the debacle, the electricity price support is compared to the high-cost protection promised during the election campaign, it is not entirely incomprehensible. Obviously, the Moderates in Skåne believed in their election promise. The government's memo stating that one says one thing before the election and another after the election does not seem to have reached them.

It also does not seem to have reached the population in northern Sweden that they would not be included, despite the fact that their electricity prices have also skyrocketed. The support that was supposed to arrive well before Christmas and ensure that people could get through the winter is now expected to arrive at the earliest in February. It is not strange that confidence in the government's parties and supporting parties has dropped drastically. Vänsterpartiet has its own proposal that includes all households regardless of where in the country one lives and which is more fairly designed.

Even SKR's chairman Peter Danielsson is Moderate. He notes that the increase in general state grants that Ulfs, or in practice Jimmies, gang sets off is insufficient. According to SKR's own calculations, between 20 and 30 billion in new state grants would be needed. Now, one will receive a fraction of this, and it will lead to the welfare system being hit by savings and cuts. Or as SKR's chief economist summarizes it:

That what is called investments sometimes can mean cuts is not unusual in the state's budgets.

It is also not uncommon for a targeted grant, intended for one purpose one year, to be redirected to another purpose the next year, before the work on what was originally to be done is finished, and then a new 'initiative' is called.

I do not cease to be amazed at how great the inventiveness is regarding how the same money shall cover different things several times. Budget after budget. The problem is simply that it does not add up in reality.

It is about priorities. In the Left Party's budget, there are the funds that SKR requests in general state grants and not just in a fantasy. Now is not the time for brutal cuts in welfare. Those who work hard, who struggled before and during the pandemic, deserved and were promised more during the pandemic. And all parties said that they drew lessons from an under-dimensioned welfare and healthcare. But those promises seem to be forgotten now.

Madam Speaker! The most important thing in our budget is that we prioritize our common welfare. Now we face great challenges and a hard pressure. Those who do the work will lose colleagues with the government's and the Sverigedemokraternas budget.

Vänsterpartiet wants to instead raise the ambitions in welfare. With our initiatives, we meet the needs that exist and simultaneously invest in increasing the staffing density. Our budget motion contains several additional initiatives. We want, among other things, to introduce an investment support for community properties, strengthen healthcare in rural areas, and allocate resources to strengthen the social services' work regarding men's violence against women.

We do this within the framework of a balanced budget. It becomes possible because we make completely different priorities. We distribute the pressures of the crisis completely differently. The one who has been in a very good position for a long time has completely different margins than the one who has had to count the coins at the end of every month for a long time.

It is about priorities and about mitigating the consequences that come from runaway inflation. It ensures that pensioners do not have to go to sleep with a lump in their stomach, that single parents are not forced to skip meals and feel anxiety before holidays, and that those on sick leave do not face an echoing empty refrigerator. It is politics for solidarity and equality.

Madam Speaker! It is to take responsibility in a difficult and uncertain time.

We have many proposals on how we can get through this together. Among other things, we want to halve the ticket price in public transport, introduce a real high-cost protection in dental care, strengthen the unemployment insurance fund, and a lot more. We also have a powerful environmental and climate policy while we invest in welfare.

But what does the Left Party want to invest in under this expenditure area? Perhaps the members of my committee are wondering. What distinguishes our proposal from the palace gang's? I have already accounted for reductions in the appropriations concerning Members of Parliament's fees as well as the Royal Household. We also consider the increase of the Government Offices' appropriation by half a billion to be horrible. The justification in the budget bill is deficient, and it is clear that the government parties, who wanted to reduce the appropriation by just over 100 million last time two years ago, now that they are no longer in opposition have gotten feelings and pulled out a substantial sum to be able to finance, above all, Timbrot officials in the Government Offices. As said: When the palace gang pleads to the people to save and have understanding, it is clear that it does not quite apply to themselves.

We are almost doubling the appropriation to Sametinget, the indigenous Sami people's parliament. This would enable a language initiative that we all know is very urgent. It is actually not possible to overemphasize how acute the situation is for the Sami languages while Sametinget's resources are strongly limited. Unlike the budget bill, we are also investing in strengthening animal welfare work – I forgot to mention that.

A strange thing in the government's budget is that they take 2.5 million from the Sami Parliament's budget to finance the consultation procedure. They are therefore giving those funds to the county administrative boards in the northern counties. Obviously, the county administrative boards should have those funds, but why take it from the Sami Parliament's appropriation? In our budget, we give these funds back to the Sami Parliament while the county administrative boards obviously also receive 2.5 million to be able to carry out their work with the consultation procedure. We also allocate funds in our budget to establish a Sami national stage.

We are more than doubling the appropriation for the national minority Roma. Sweden has adopted a strategy for Roma inclusion with the goal that the Roma who turns 20 in 2032, i.e., in ten years, shall have equal opportunities in life as those who are not Roma. Half the time has now passed, and according to the evaluation by Länsstyrelsen Stockholm, the work has lost both momentum and impact. Therefore, a long-term state grant was needed for the work with Roma inclusion. We are allocating funds in our budget to establish a national center for Roma issues.

Madam Speaker! The budget in its entirety and in every expenditure area is a question of priorities. It is clear that the government and the Sweden Democrats prioritize those who already have a lot instead of helping all households through this time of crisis. Instead of providing support to those with low wages or low pensions, one prioritizes tax cuts for Members of Parliament. And instead of providing compensation to the municipalities and supporting them in this difficult time, one forces them into cuts that will hit welfare hard and actually worsen things for all of us.

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ANDRE VICE TALMANNEN

I can remind you that this is a debate concerning expenditure area 1 The State's Administration.

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Erik Ottoson (M)

Madam Speaker! It is very interesting to listen to. There was much that did not concern expenditure area 1, and some things need to be addressed, for example the general talk about efficiencies.

I believe that one can possibly choose to interpret it in slightly different ways. What we mean by efficiencies is not the litany that we regularly hear from Vänsterpartiet about running faster. The problem with inefficient ways of working within the public administration is primarily about leadership, Madam Speaker. The leadership must become better. We talk far too rarely about leadership in public administration. We must become better at using and managing the resources we have.

How is it that private alternatives within the welfare sector, for example, succeed in doing things at a lower cost and having more satisfied employees and more satisfied users? There is a reason for this. They demonstrably work in a different way.

How is it that there is no linear correlation between satisfied citizens and satisfied users within operations, and that the budget is increased when it lies within the public sector? Why is there not such a linear correlation when we actually measure it? It is conspicuously absent everywhere where things are measured, but it is not conspicuously absent in the Left Party's rhetoric.

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Jessica Wetterling (V)

Madam Speaker! First and foremost, I would like to tip member Erik Ottoson about Tankesmedjan Balans. I believe he would appreciate both their books and their blog posts. I believe they would provide an increased understanding of the welfare system's challenges, which the member needs.

Then I am wondering when the member themselves was out on the floor in a welfare operation. It was probably quite a long time ago. If it is something that is needed in welfare, is it less of measuring and administration and more of trust in the welfare professionals, i.e., those who work on the floor.

I agree that present managers and good leadership are needed, but it is not the answer to everything. When it comes to new public management, in fact, the entire Västra Götalandsregionen – all parties – agreed that it was nonsense. Changes were made in Västra Götalandsregionen during this mandate period, because they do not think it works with a purchaser- and provider-model in the way that was recently the welfare's bible.

I must also address the member's claims somewhat, which are not correct. Private companies have lower wages, worse working conditions, and less qualified staff. There are also revelations about how they have filled out the users' customer satisfaction surveys themselves. That might result in better ratings.

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Erik Ottoson (M)

Madam Speaker! It is very interesting to know that the Left Party completely rejects, for example, Socialstyrelsen's own investigations into how well operations are functioning. It can be interesting to know.

I live in a different part of the country than the member, so when it comes to new public management in Västra Götalandsregionen, I am not quite as well-informed. I can only state that there is no linear correlation between increased appropriations and more satisfied users or patients, more satisfied students, better grades, or anything else. The linear correlation does not exist. Is there anything that supports that thesis from the Vänsterpartiet rhetoric other than that one thinks they have found a logical connection that then turns out not to be effective?

It is about leadership to a very large extent, and when we say "efficiencies" we mean that every tax krona that we take away from hard-working and struggling people on the floor in our welfare operations, those who account for the bulk of our tax funds, must be used in a responsible manner. Constant increases without requirements for effectiveness are not the way forward. We have seen too much of that during the past years.

When it comes to the question of leadership within the public administration, I believe it is something we constantly need to fulfill and talk more about. We talk about it far too rarely, and we talk about figures far too often. It is not just about present managers; it is about understanding how to conduct large, complex operations in an efficient way. There we have much to learn from those who go bankrupt if they fail, instead of just requesting higher grants from hard-working taxpayers when they themselves do not manage the task.

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Jessica Wetterling (V)

Madam Speaker! I think perhaps we can make a joint study visit, Member Ottoson and I, so perhaps we can learn more about the challenges of the welfare system.

I actually completely agree with Erik Ottoson on one thing, and that is that every tax crown that the state collects should go to the right things. It should not go to a lot of profits, but it should go to operations.

And if there are any people who work hard, it is those who work within our welfare. They need better working conditions, more colleagues, better work shoes – there is very much that could be done to improve the operations in a way that ensures people do not wear themselves out and, according to Erik Ottoson, become a burden on our common system because they do not contribute to every tax krona.

I still have to address the talk about measurability. Ever since I graduated, before I became a member of Parliament, I have worked in the welfare sector. It is possible to set up a lot of different goals regarding how people should be treated and what should be checked off. They shall have their breakfast, they shall have their lunch, and they shall have their teeth brushed. But every such small checkbox that can be checked is only what is to be done and not how. One can brush a person's teeth in an enormous number of different ways. One can do it in a good way, and one can also do it in a bad way.

It is the difficulty in the system that the Moderaterna have contributed to building up, where everything is supposed to be measurable: They do not see that there are very many things that cannot be measured when one works with people.

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Gudrun Brunegård (KD)

Madam Speaker! After this general political debate, we shall try to return a little bit to expenditure area 1.

The government has presented a budget proposal where the different parts are now handled by committees one by one. The Committee on the Constitution handles the State Administration, that is, the head of state, with the Royal Court and Palace Administration, the Riksdag, the Government Offices and the County Administrative Boards and a number of bodies and institutions such as the Parliamentary Ombudsmen, the National Audit Office and the Sami Parliament. The committee also handles democracy policy and human rights, national minorities, the media and efforts to strengthen participation in EU work.

A few points that have drawn attention earlier in the debate are the appropriation increase of 500 million kronor to the Government Offices due to the seriously changed security policy situation, Sweden's application for membership in Nato and increased resources to manage the Swedish presidency in the EU. These are completely necessary increases, and it is strange that some parties want to save on this.

I also want to mention the increased appropriation to the Riksdag of 14.6 million kronor linked to the Swedish EU Presidency during the first half of 2023. The purpose is that the Riksdag is expected to create forums where parliamentarians from EU member states, the European Parliament, candidate countries, and more meet to discuss current issues of common European and parliamentary interest. The Riksdag will host eight conferences, one of which will have the Committee on the Constitution as host.

Madam Speaker! Several speakers have commented on various points in the budget proposal for expenditure area 1. I would therefore like to devote the main part of my speech to one of the foundations of our Swedish democracy – respect for human rights. We, as politically elected representatives in the Swedish Riksdag, must be the guardians of democracy and human rights, both here in Sweden and internationally. "The goal is cross-sectoral and shall permeate all policy," as it is formulated in the report. As a nation, we have stood behind international declarations. That obliges us. We must have a strong legal and institutional protection of human rights. In public activities, there shall be a coordinated and systematic work with human rights. Therefore, it is necessary to be both humble and responsive, not only towards international reviews but also when various reports on deficiencies are received.

Such a point concerns freedom of religion, an indispensable part of human rights. I want to quote Article 18 of the UN Declaration of Human Rights: "Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right includes freedom to change religion and belief and freedom, both alone and in community with others and in public and private, to manifest one's religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."

Freedom of religion is also enshrined in Sweden's constitution, in a partially different linguistic form but with the same basic content. Also in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which is now Swedish law, a child's right to a faith is established.

In 2020, the Swedish Christian Council published a survey covering around 400 Christian school children from different church traditions. The result was shocking. Every other young person had experienced violations in school on the grounds of their faith in the form of ridicule and derogatory remarks from those around them. Even worse was that half of these violated youths had experienced the violation from their teacher.

According to the Equality Ombudsman, religion or belief is a ground for discrimination. Last week, the Equality Ombudsman published its final report on a government assignment regarding discrimination related to religion. He describes that particularly harassment and discrimination of believing students, of all religions, is a widespread problem.

That this report has now been submitted is important in order to be able to address the issues. In 2000s Sweden, we must safeguard the human right to have a faith - and to refrain from believing. Both groups shall be met with the same respect.

A closely related area that has been touched upon slightly during the day is antisemitism. It is a systematic scourge that has affected the Jewish population all over the world for thousands of years. Individuals of Jewish origin are burdened with stereotyped characteristics and subjected to a blackening and a branding of guilt that for centuries has provided the breeding ground for pogroms and, not least, the Nazi era's attempts to exterminate all Jews.

Thank goodness they did not succeed, even though the wounds remain with those who survived. For me, the stories are close to home, as in my teens I became close friends with the German-Jewish artist Lotte Laserstein, born in 1898. She had the great luck of receiving an invitation to Sweden in 1938, the last month that the border was open for Jews to leave Germany. But in large part, her entire family was exterminated. Only one sister survived as a nervous wreck, severely traumatized, and a cousin's child in Switzerland.

If this happens, we must tell so that it is not repeated. That is why it is so important that the government has underlined that the memorial trips to the continent's concentration camps shall continue so that new generations shall have the opportunity to realize on site that the horrific things that happened must not happen again.

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Malin Björk (C)

Madam Speaker! Liberal democracy is a fantastic invention. Through it, decisive steps forward have been taken throughout history - for individuals and for societies. A society governed by the principles of liberal democracy delivers the same justice and the same freedoms to everyone. The individual human being is given the opportunity to shape their own life, and civil rights protect the individual against state oppression and limit the majority's power over the individual.

To safeguard these freedoms and rights, an efficient administration is required, where respect for different minorities and for the rule of law is completely central. A number of institutions intended to ensure exactly this are found within expenditure area 1 The State's Administration, which we are discussing in the debate here today.

Safeguarding liberal democracy in Sweden in turbulent times with war in our vicinity and in a world undergoing rapid change is extremely important. There must be no room for any steps backward regarding the freedoms and rights that we have won over the years.

Madam Speaker! One of the areas addressed in the report we are now discussing is the work against antisemitism, which several previous speakers have touched upon. It is a work that can and must never be considered completed. In that work, Forum för levande historia, in particular, has an important mission to counteract antisemitism and other forms of racism in schools and in other educational activities through democracy-strengthening measures.

For many years, within the framework of this work, memorial trips have been organized, trips to the sites of the Holocaust. It is an immensely important work so that we never forget the abominable crimes that were committed historically, which we need to remember and learn from.

Therefore, it is gratifying that we in KU have agreed on wording in today's report that specifically highlights the work with commemorative trips, where we note that the conditions for these trips have been strengthened over time and emphasize that we assume that this activity will receive continued support.

Madam Speaker! Since the majority in the Riksdag has adopted a budget with a different orientation than what the Centerpartiet proposed, we abstain from taking a position regarding how the appropriations shall be distributed within expenditure area 1. However, we submit a special statement regarding our policy within the area. In that part, I want to highlight a legislative change that is important for us, which was introduced last year as part of the work to strengthen the rights of minorities. I am referring to the consultation procedure for Sweden's Sámi people.

The purpose of the law is to ensure the Sami's right to participation in decision-making processes at all levels of society and to strengthen the Sami's influence in matters that particularly affect them. The obligation to consult applies to decisions that can have a direct impact on the Sami's language, culture, livelihoods, or status as an indigenous people.

In the government's budget, it is proposed that the funds allocated for the consultation process shall be moved from the Sami Parliament, where they are currently located, to the county administrative boards.

We oppose this. We in Centerpartiet consider it important that these funds remain with the Sametinget. It is the Sametinget that represents the Sami's general interests during consultation, and therefore the funds should remain there.

Madam Speaker! Finally, I would like to say something about a development that is worrying.

Unfortunately, in recent years we have seen that more and more employees in the public administration are subjected to such as pressure, harassment and even hate and direct threats. It can involve case officers or managers at agencies who are subjected to by individuals but also by groups and sometimes even by organized mobs.

It is important that we do what we can to curb such a development, because it is completely unacceptable that you, as a public employee, because of your office are targeted on social media and perhaps receive harassment or threats at your home and sometimes even against your loved ones. It is part of safeguarding Swedish democracy to ensure that civil servants are protected from external influence so that decisions can be made in a legally secure and neutral manner.

Here I want to emphasize that we all bear a responsibility for how the public conversation is conducted—not least us politicians, as we often express ourselves in public. So, here during the Christmas time, I therefore want to send a greeting to all colleagues here in the chamber and also to those who are listening outside: The words you choose matter, so choose your words with care!

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Malin Danielsson (L)

Madam Speaker! The budget for the State Board is the subject of this debate, the budget that lays the foundation for the Riksdag's administration as well as for the Government Offices.

This is the part of the budget that sets the goals for the work with national minorities, democracy policy, human rights policy and the media, as well as the audits carried out by the Parliamentary Ombudsmen and the National Audit Office. It is the part of the budget that is simply crucial for us to have a vital liberal democracy.

The expenditure increases in this area are primarily due to two large and important international collaborations that the Liberals have championed for Sweden to join: the European Union, of which Sweden has been a member since 1995, and Nato, which is currently processing our application for membership.

Europe's countries face major problems that must be addressed: the economic situation in Europe, the electricity crisis, the climate crisis and, not least, Russia's war against Ukraine.

Marit Paulsen's words "rather bureaucrats than soldiers" hold true even today. At the negotiating tables in Brussels, we agree to put pressure on Russia. At the negotiating tables, we find common solutions to the electricity crisis and the climate crisis. At the negotiating tables, we take on the challenges that the union faces, whether it is about quickly approving vaccines to manage a pandemic or jointly reducing our carbon dioxide emissions. And during the first half of 2023, it is Sweden that holds the gavel for the EU cooperation.

Madam Speaker! The second important international cooperation is Nato. Bureaucrats are enough, but in the situation the world finds itself in right now, we unfortunately also need soldiers who defend our liberal democracy. Not everyone believes in democracy. Russia considers itself to have the right to redraw Europe's borders with political and military violence.

That standing alone is not strong and that there is a need for membership in Nato has been liberal insights and positions since the last century. Both the upcoming Nato membership and the current security situation in the world create new tasks for the Government Offices, the county administrative boards, and the municipalities. The latter two are important in the work of ensuring society's crisis preparedness and civil defense.

Madam Speaker! Finally, a few words on memorial trips. A couple of years ago, I visited Auschwitz. It is when you are on site that you gain an understanding of the extent of the cruelty that the Holocaust entailed. Today, there are few survivors left who can tell the story. When Hédi Fried recently passed away, one of the stronger voices fell silent. Therefore, memorial trips become even more important.

More young people need to gain knowledge about this dark period in our history and about what a society that makes a difference in people in the long run can lead to. Therefore, I welcome that the government announces an ambitious work against antisemitism, where remembrance trips will also continue to be an important part.

With that, I move for approval of the proposal in the report.

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Jan Riise (MP)

Madam Speaker! Sweden is characterized by high energy prices, inflation, a climate crisis, and a severe loss of biodiversity, which create major parallel challenges. At the same time, a war is ongoing in Europe, and there are famines and extreme poverty in other parts of the world.

The Green Party's budget for 2023 shows that it is possible to think anew. Sweden can reach the climate goals despite tough economic times and an uncertain world, while simultaneously increasing equality, strengthening gender equality, and tackling the major welfare challenges. The Green Party wants to build a new, green folkhem. That everyone should be included and that no one should be left behind are words that describe the belief and conviction that democracy and participation are the keys to the future.

Our budget proposal should be seen as a whole, and since it has fallen in relation to the large framework budget, we will refrain from having any further comments, but I will briefly account for the points where the Miljöpartiets proposal differs from the government's budget regarding expenditure area 1. I will place some emphasis on the concept of democracy.

We will remember the year 2022 above all for the brutal and unprovoked Russian attack on Ukraine. Without in any way wanting to diminish other events, such as the protests in Iran or the violence on our own streets, we have seen how democracy is damaged and how lies and fake news have been used for purposes other than democracy, participation and opportunities to influence.

Democracy is declining in the world. Ten years ago, nearly half of all people lived in countries called democracies. Today, that proportion is less than one third. It is an alarming development that is being highlighted, not least within the EU. Democracy in Europe will therefore be the theme for one of the major conferences organized in Sweden during the first half of the presidency in 2023, to the delight of the Committee on the Constitution, which will serve as host.

Madam Speaker! The Green Party's budget motion for expenditure area 1 contains a number of reinforcements compared to the government's proposal. We initially propose that the appropriation to the Sami Parliament be increased by 24 million kronor. My party colleague and good friend Amanda Lind will discuss this in a bit more detail just a moment.

Miljöpartiet also proposes that the appropriation to the Government Offices, etc., be increased by 15 million kronor. This shall in no way be interpreted as us having changed our opinion regarding Nato, nuclear weapons, or anything else. But we want to clarify the need for long-term funding of the Swedish cultural councils abroad. They play an important role for dialogue and for making Sweden more accessible. We also think that a model for funding over a somewhat longer term should be developed.

In order to, among other things, strengthen the implementation of the climate and energy transition at local and regional levels, we believe that the appropriation 5:1 for the county administrative boards should be increased by just over 100 million kronor compared to the government's proposal.

We also want to increase appropriation 6:1, which as you know concerns general elections and democracy, by 47.9 million kronor compared to the government's proposal. We believe that it is important to take advantage of the youth's engagement.

An instrument to increase youth participation in democracy is to lower the voting age from today's 18 years to 16 years. This has already been implemented in several countries and has also been proposed for EU elections. Miljöpartiet wants to allocate resources in the budget for a pilot project in a number of municipalities ahead of the 2026 election. We believe that it is necessary to engage more people in the work for a stronger democracy, especially now with the challenges we face.

A national democracy function, which has been proposed by the committee Democracy 100 Years, should be realized. We in Miljöpartiet believe that the county administrative boards are suitable regional contact and cooperation points for it.

Madam Speaker! Recently, there has been a lot of talk about the so-called remembrance trips. To my joy, we all here share the same view, and the committee has taken remembrance trips into consideration. Remembrance trips make it possible for high school students to visit sites of memory for the Holocaust, for example Auschwitz. These are important trips which, according to what the teenagers themselves say, provide new insights and a greater understanding of the importance of tolerance and standing up for one's opinions. It is good that the government finally announced that it will allocate as much as we have done previously for remembrance trips also in 2023. It is however regrettable that the announcement came late and that it only concerns a one-year support. Miljöpartiet assumes that it will become long-term in the next budget.

Finally, appropriation 8:1, media support, should be increased by 50 million kronor compared to the government's proposal to further strengthen the conditions for independent, investigative journalism. The media industry is characterized by an increasing concentration with a number of ever larger owners. We must therefore continue to contribute to diversity and, among other things, eliminate so-called white spots, that is, areas in the country with weak journalistic coverage, so that local media get better conditions to operate.

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Amanda Lind (MP)

Madam Speaker! A couple of weeks ago, I participated in the Sami Memorial Day which took place here in Stockholm. The day was organized to remember the abuses and the harsh assimilation and colonization policies that the Sami people have been subjected to throughout history.

To remember something is not just about not forgetting. It is important that we all remind ourselves that it is about letting what has happened - the history and our knowledge of it - actually change how we act here and now and moving forward.

Madam Speaker! The Riksdag has adopted a goal to ensure full respect for Sweden's international commitments on human rights. This means that the government and the Riksdag have committed to ensuring that these international law commitments are followed and have an impact on the legislation.

Sweden has unfortunately received increasing international criticism in recent years for not living up to our commitments regarding the treatment of the indigenous people, the Sámi. Not least the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has criticized Sweden on several occasions. My and the Miljöpartiets view is that Sweden is and shall continue to be a role model when it comes to respect for human rights, and that it is our collective responsibility to act so that this is the case.

Madam Speaker! Sweden has much to learn from other countries that have come further in their reconciliation processes and in the dialogue with their indigenous peoples. There we have also been able to see that the relationship between indigenous peoples and the state has improved. That is where I want us to get to as well, but it requires efforts and long-term commitments. As said, a simple "sorry" is not enough.

In the 2019 Government Bill, the government in which I took office as Minister for Culture and Democracy marked that the indigenous people, the Sámi,'s self-determination and influence shall be strengthened. So the Prime Minister said in the Government Bill.

During the previous parliamentary term, the S- and MP-government ensured that we finally got a consultation procedure in place and that a truth commission for the Sámi people was established. We carried out the largest investment in national minority languages in over ten years, which has enabled the strengthening of Sámi language centers, and we have also strengthened the Nordic language cooperation Giellagáldu.

Madam Speaker! To dare, want, and be able to speak one's language is central to many people's identity. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that we give languages the opportunity to survive and strengthen the language speakers' opportunity to reclaim, use, and develop their languages.

Madam Speaker! A living culture also presupposes a living language. Through a rich Sami cultural life, doors are opened for more people to be touched by, get to know, and want to know more about Sami culture. Ann-Helén Laestadius, Britta Marakatt-Labba and Linnea Axelsson are just a few examples of Sami artists who have touched many during recent years. Sami culture, with its breadth of expression, has, as we know, for a long time been made invisible in the majority society and forced to take a back seat. We need to do more to give Sami culture the opportunity to flourish.

This, I want to emphasize, naturally applies to all national minorities: Torneviens, Sweden-Finns, Jews, and Roma. It is a matter of human rights. I am pleased that we have strengthened the work of keeping all minority languages alive, that we have ensured that knowledge of the national minority policy has been able to be strengthened, both in the administration and towards the population, and that we have strengthened the organizations that represent the national minorities.

We are also strengthening the budget for national minorities' culture. However, it concerns a different expenditure area, so I shall not elaborate on that now.

In this expenditure area, Miljöpartiet allocates 24 million kronor more than the government to strengthen the culture of the indigenous people, the Sámi. More specifically, we want to allocate 19 million so that Giron Sámi Teáhter can be developed as a national stage for Sámi performing arts. This, Madam Speaker, has broad support among cultural politicians in the four northern regions, and it is a development that I hope the Chamber will be able to support broadly during this mandate period - a step we shall be able to take.

We also strengthen the Sami Parliament's opportunities to support a vibrant Sami cultural life - measures that the Restart Inquiry after the pandemic points out as important. The Sami cultural life, just like the Swedish one, has been hit hard by the pandemic as a result of the limitations, the restrictions, and the missing ticket revenues.

We also allocate funds so that the state can step in and finance the repatriation of remains and offerings. This is a task that needs to be accelerated, which the Riksdag has highlighted through committee initiatives. This is a shameful history that we have to deal with.

We also highlight in our budget the need for permanent funding of Giellagáldu as well as the language initiatives for the national minorities. I think it is regrettable that the government does not show more ambition in this area. I assume that an increase in ambition will come during the mandate period and that the supports that need to be extended are actually extended in upcoming budgets.

The Kingdom's Board

In conclusion, I want to remind the House of the shared responsibility we have, across party lines, to highlight and strengthen the rights of the indigenous people, the Sámi, and their opportunity to practice their culture. The truth commission that has been appointed and is now working, we must together receive in a serious and long-term manner.

The very last thing I did in the role of Minister for Culture and Democracy before Miljöpartiet left the government was to attend the ceremony in Uppsala Cathedral where the Church of Sweden handed over its official apology to the Sami people for centuries of abuses and colonial oppression that it participated in and contributed to. Now, a second apology has also been handed over in Luleå Cathedral.

This apology has been preceded by years of work from the Church of Sweden to uncover the history, see it in the light, and, perhaps most importantly, formulate a way forward. The Church of Sweden has formulated a number of commitments to put the words of the apology into action, in order to achieve reconciliation and forgiveness in the next step. There has been an insight that this is a longer journey to make.

The Swedish state - government, parliament and all parliamentary parties - need in the same way to take responsibility for the results of the ongoing truth commission so that, in the long run, we can achieve both a reconciliation and also, naturally, a flourishing Sami cultural life.

The deliberation was hereby concluded.

(Decisions were made under § 13.)

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