Opening of the Riksdag

TALMANNEN

I move that Your Majesty declare the parliamentary session open.

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

HANS MAJESTÄT KONUNGEN

Mr. Speaker! Honored members! You are now beginning a new parliamentary year, and you face many important decisions. The citizens expect you to take your mandate seriously and always act in the interest of the entire Swedish people.

It is restless times we live in. Russia's brutal war of aggression against Ukraine affects our entire part of the world. The EU has introduced sanctions against Russia. We as a country support Ukraine and their right to freedom and self-determination. Sweden stands on the threshold of becoming a member of Nato. With that, a new era in Swedish security policy begins.

Our time also encompasses other major tasks. The high inflation leads to a more difficult economic situation. We see violence as a result of various gang conflicts. It occurs in different places around Sweden and also affects siblings, parents, and neighbors, but also schools, workplaces, and companies. It is an issue for our entire country. The threat level has been raised regarding the risk of terrorist acts, and it requires caution and cooperation. At the same time, the climate continues to be a fateful issue for Sweden and the world.

All this places high demands on you to make well-considered decisions for the benefit of the citizens. There are many problems to solve, but with the right of age, I also want to say this: We have made it through difficulties before, together. If we learn from history, we have good chances of doing right moving forward.

Honorable members! This year we celebrate that it has been 500 years since Gustav Vasa was elected king in Strängnäs. It was the beginning of our time as an independent nation. And today, exactly 50 years ago, my family and I kept watch at the deathbed of my grandfather, King Gustaf VI Adolf. A few days later he passed away, and I became the country's king.

At that moment, I knew nothing about how this half-century would turn out and what I would experience as head of state. But today I can say what I have felt and what I still see: that Sweden is a wealthy and strong country. Our country has great natural resources and the ability to transform ideas into successful companies. We are a nation with much knowledge, talent, research, and innovations.

Sweden is also a free and open country with a strong democracy, strong values and trust in each other and in our institutions. It is something to be proud of and something that we have a collective responsibility to cherish.

Honorable representatives of the Swedish people! I wish you strength, courage and wisdom ahead of the coming parliamentary year.

I hereby declare the 2023/24 parliamentary session open.

(Applause)

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

TALMANNEN

I move that the Prime Minister deliver the government's statement.

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

Statsministern Ulf Kristersson (M)

Your Majesty! Your Royal Highnesses! Mr. Speaker! Honoured members of the Swedish Riksdag! Ladies and gentlemen! We live in a time of difficult trials. Sweden has not been in such immediate proximity to a large-scale war of invasion since the Second World War. We have not had such complex economic problems - high inflation, low growth and rising interest rates - since the 90s crisis. The world has not experienced such great geopolitical tensions since the time before the fall of the Berlin Wall, and Sweden has never before faced such serious threats to internal security with both terrorism and serious organized crime.

The fact is that no Swedish government in modern times has had to work simultaneously with so many, so large and so difficult challenges. Some crises are international, created by forces outside our country. Others are to a large extent Sweden's own. Both the energy crisis and the poor integration are results of a long-standing inability to deal with major problems in time.

Changing course requires both perseverance and impatience. Problems that have emerged over a long period require long-term work, and for that very reason, one must have drive in one's step. We are realists and do not underestimate Sweden's problems. But we are also optimists – convinced that they can be solved.

The governing parties Moderaterna, Kristdemokraterna and Liberalerna are cooperating with Sverigedemokraterna to implement necessary and long-awaited reforms. The government, which has now worked for nearly eleven months, is carrying out a paradigm shift in Swedish politics. We are leaving behind an attitude that it can just be as it is, and instead, we are systematically tackling the problems. Thus, we turn despair into expectation and make Sweden a stronger country.

Mr. Speaker! We are restructuring energy and climate policy. We are investing in new nuclear power and more fossil-free electricity production.

We are reforming the crime policy with stricter penalties for serious crimes and more focus on the crime victim than on the perpetrator. We are reforming the crime prevention work with earlier interventions, more parental responsibility and clearer consequences at the very first crimes.

We are restructuring the migration policy and reducing immigration so that Sweden gets a chance to manage the integration of those who have already arrived. We are restructuring the integration policy with a focus on that everyone shall learn the Swedish language, that it shall always pay off better to work than to live on benefits, and that no women and no young people shall live under honor oppression.

We are restructuring social policy so that the rights of socially vulnerable children to security and long-term stability shall always be guiding. The child's rights shall take precedence over the parents'.

We are reshaping school policy with more focus on measurable knowledge, more textbooks and fewer screens - and with tougher requirements for those who want to start and run schools in Sweden.

We are restructuring the healthcare policy and establishing a stronger state grip on quality, accessibility, and equality.

We are restructuring the defense and security policy, strengthening Sweden's military defense and investing in civil defense once again. And we are joining Nato.

We are reorienting our foreign policy and focusing on Europe, the Nordics and the Baltics, and the transatlantic cooperation.

We have adjusted the economic policy to bring down inflation and increase growth. We are investing in Sweden as a business nation, with the knowledge that prosperity must be created before it can be distributed.

Mr. Speaker! A necessary prerequisite for solving difficult societal problems is to understand them and have the power to make decisions. Since the election last autumn, Sweden has had a stable government based on a majority in the chamber. It marks the end of a decade of parliamentary chaos with weak governments and budgets that fall. It also marks the beginning of a time of cooperation and accountability.

The pace of reform has been high during the government's initial period. A very large number of inquiries have been commissioned, which lay the foundation for new and necessary laws. But in light of the many and large societal problems, the reform processes need to go faster. It takes too long, problems grow larger, and many people are beginning to distrust the state's ability to act.

The Government Offices is not an ordinary state administrative authority but the very hub for implementing political changes. The Government will therefore strengthen the Government Offices' collective reform capacity. Among other things, a function with experienced and distinguished investigators who take on targeted investigation assignments will be established under the Coordination Office in the Cabinet Office. The goal is to shorten the investigation time, even by half, while maintaining requirements for high legal precision. When the problems are large, one must be thorough – but one must also be fast.

Mr. Speaker! There are tendencies in the world - and here in Sweden - towards a dangerous polarization of public debate, a kind of irreconcilability and a suspicion of opponents' character and motives. It risks destroying something fine in our society.

We all want to leave behind a better world for our children and our grandchildren. But if a small country is to be able to solve big problems, we must also be able to unite and get things done. Unity to protect the values and ideals that once built Sweden strong. Unity to change what simply no longer works. Unity to be able to meet internal and external threats to our safety and our security.

In these restless times, I want to lead a government for all of Sweden and for all Swedes - regardless of whether one is born here or has roots somewhere else in the world, regardless of where in the country one lives and regardless of which party one has voted for. I want to unite, not divide. I want to bring together, not split apart.

Mr. Speaker! The government took over responsibility for an economy with high inflation of a kind that Sweden has not experienced in decades. Households, companies, and the business sector are now under severe pressure. Sweden's wage earners have lost ten years of real wage growth. Against that background, the government now has three major economic-policy tasks.

The first is to fight inflation, which is the root of many of the acute economic problems. When economic policy needs to be responsible, the government – and a majority in the Riksdag – must be able to take responsibility. Not fuel the fire and spend more, because we know from experience that such a policy produces a strong recoil: higher inflation, rising interest rates, diminished purchasing power, increased international mistrust, and a weaker krona. Sweden will not go that way under our leadership.

Instead, the government focuses on mitigating the effects of inflation. In that case, both a cool head and a warm heart are needed. In the autumn budget, we will prioritize measures that secure welfare, that strengthen Swedish national security, and that ease the burden for households under heavy pressure.

Additionally, during the autumn, the long-planned review of the surplus target will commence.

The second major task is to lay the foundation for Sweden's future prosperity. Sweden needs higher growth and to become more competitive and even more attractive as an investment country. We need to make large investments in fossil-free energy, in research and education, and in infrastructure.

A new productivity commission has been appointed. The job tax credit for the elderly has been increased, as has the deduction for research and development. The 3:12 rules are being reviewed to promote entrepreneurship. Electricity production shall be expanded. The permit processes in the Environmental Code need to be developed and modernized. By making them shorter and more predictable, the public administration shall contribute to strengthening Swedish competitiveness and preparedness. In this way, Sweden will become a winner when all of Europe transitions.

Sweden's position as a leading research nation shall be safeguarded. The Government will appoint an AI commission with the mandate to provide guidance to both take advantage of the great opportunities for Sweden as an industrial nation and manage AI's various risks.

The third task is the work line. Everyone who can work shall work and support themselves. A major benefit reform will be implemented with benefit caps, activity requirements to receive social assistance, and successive qualification into the Swedish welfare system. Furthermore, taxes on work shall be lowered. More and stronger incentives are needed to work and to take the jobs that exist, where they exist. More must also educate themselves to be able to take a job.

The government has therefore significantly expanded adult education and the university college with at least 7,000 places. These investments are important, because work provides more than just an income. Work makes people participants in society and gives meaning to many in everyday life.

It must also be rewarding to have worked. The government compensates for the deeply unjust taxation of all born in 1957 and simultaneously ensures that the same injustice does not affect the next birth cohort.

A fundamental part of the work line is the Swedish language. Everyone who lives permanently in Sweden shall learn Swedish - both because it radically increases the opportunities to get a job and to be able to understand the country one lives in, the country's written laws and the country's unwritten rules and values. Therefore, Swedish for immigrants must be characterized by higher requirements and higher quality.

The parties in the labor market have taken a great responsibility in a tough economic time. Soon, the first placement jobs will be in place so that more long-term unemployed can get a job to go to. The Government is also reinforcing CSN on the grounds of the agreement on the transition package.

Mr. Speaker! Sweden has a welfare model that is in many ways unique. Preschool, school, university, healthcare, and elderly care provide people with security and the freedom to be able to build a good life for themselves and their loved ones. If this is the case, there is broad political agreement. The welfare model is a source of pride, not of conflict.

The Swedish welfare state is simultaneously built on expectations of self-sufficiency, respect, integrity, and functioning oversight. If any of these are lacking, the welfare state will also be threatened. We see several such threats right now.

In the short term, inflation constitutes the primary economic threat. The government will not leave healthcare, schools, and elderly care to its own fate. Everyone in home care who ensures that the elderly have a dignified everyday life, all teachers who get students to crack the code, and all midwives who help another small child into the world – you should know that we safeguard your important jobs. Your efforts are crucial for people in our country to feel secure that the elderly are doing well, that children thrive in school, and that healthcare functions. Let me say thank you for everything you do!

In the autumn budget, we will prioritize welfare. We are adding resources to help municipalities and regions manage through the difficult economic period that Sweden is in.

The Swedish school is a decisive prerequisite for individuals' life journeys, for Sweden's long-term prosperity and for the democratic development of society. Much works well, but there are also major deficiencies.

An unreasonable number of students do not meet the knowledge requirements in the wake of the failed integration. Every fifth fourth-grade student has difficulties with reading. Physical and mental insecurity characterizes the everyday life in school for far too many students. Furthermore, unfair and unacceptable "joy grades" are now being uncovered in some schools.

The government is taking action against all of this. An investigator shall submit proposals on how grades and merit values in primary school and upper secondary school should reflect the students' actual knowledge. For many years, pedagogical trends have shaped the school, where deep subject knowledge has been valued far too lowly. We are changing that. Today's abstract grading criteria and curricula shall be reformed in favor of a more fact-based view of knowledge.

The government is reconsidering the ill-considered use of screens in education. Research shows that analog tools provide the best conditions for children to learn to read, write, and count. Therefore, a historic investment in real schoolbooks is being carried out. Screen time is replaced by reading time.

We also ensure that students receive the support they need early on. More special education teachers and more small teaching groups mean that more students can succeed in school.

The government is preparing a comprehensive reform to address the independent school system. Stricter ownership and management reviews, a ban on or limitation of profit distribution in cases of identified deficiencies, and tangible sanctions shall be introduced. Now, the school shall return to the basics: more order, less experimentation.

Sweden has long had world-class healthcare, but there are unacceptably large geographical differences in accessibility and quality. The long queues violate the statutory right to receive the right care at the right time. The Government has initiated the work to shorten the healthcare queues and increase the quality of healthcare. A parliamentary committee shall investigate the possibilities of introducing full or partial state ownership.

The government has also allocated resources to increase the number of care beds in a performance-based system. The next step is to develop a national healthcare brokerage with an initial focus on patients with a cancer diagnosis. At the same time, cancer and childhood cancer care are being strengthened, and the national cancer strategy is being updated.

Care for women and girls has long been neglected, and it needs to be developed to become more equal and more accessible. Knowledge must increase regarding the diseases that primarily affect just women and girls. Women should not have to accept that it is normal to live with pain. It is a crucial issue of basic equality.

Mental ill-health, not least among many young people, is increasing in a deeply alarming way. Children and young people should not have to wait in a queue to get the help they need. Parents should not be left alone with their worry and their despair. A national strategy for mental health and suicide prevention is now being developed, and a national coordinator with collective responsibility for the suicide prevention work will be appointed.

At the same time, the opportunities for persons with disabilities shall be strengthened so that they can fully participate in social life, including by improving the interpretation service for deaf and hard of hearing persons and for persons with deaf-blindness.

An investigation is appointed to strengthen the high-cost protection for dental care to more closely resemble what exists in other healthcare. Older people with the worst oral health shall be prioritized.

Mr. Speaker! Committing a crime is ultimately a choice. Every human being has a personal responsibility not to choose the criminal path. The criminal justice policy in Sweden shall reflect that view.

The government is implementing a fundamental shift in perspective, from a focus on the perpetrator to a focus on the crime victim and societal protection. We are tightening the penalties, and the correctional services are being expanded to meet the increased needs of the upcoming reforms. A plan will be presented, but an estimate shows that it involves at least a doubling of the number of places. The number of police officers is increasing at a rapid pace. This autumn, the police will be granted the right to use secret coercive measures against criminal gangs also for preventive purposes. In the spring, there will be double penalties for serious weapons offenses.

The long-term and important task of rewriting parts of the Penal Code has begun. We are moving forward with more efficient tools to access the criminals' proceeds from crime. Special youth prisons shall be established, and during the autumn, an inquiry will be appointed regarding renting detention places abroad.

Violence is creeping, as we are all painfully aware, lower and lower in age. Ten-year-olds are enticed with hamburgers while fifteen-year-olds murder for money and prestige. No other country in all of Europe is even close to the Swedish development of violence. Even here, we see the consequences of an all-too-large immigration in combination with a failed integration and the state's inability to intervene in time.

To succeed in the fight against gang crime, one must understand that there is no contradiction between the repressive and the preventive, no contradiction between the hard and the soft. Both are needed. Criminals must be stopped and punished while we simultaneously prevent today's five-year-olds from becoming hardened fifteen-year-olds with firearms in ten years, and in the classroom, the foundation is laid for a different path than that of crime.

Support for families is a preventive measure. This autumn, the parental support was expanded, which we know has an effect – or to quote the head of Kumlaanstalten: "That is where we must begin. By supporting the mothers who are crying out for help."

The leisure card is an important initiative for children's and youth's opportunities for meaningful activity and belonging. In the football team and the dance group, alternatives to the gangs' community are created. An investigation has been commissioned to remove the secrecy so that the school can speak with social services and the police in time, and 40 years after the old Social Services Act, the work of writing a new one finally begins now.

Sweden needs a social policy that is adapted to the time we live in now. Measures must be implemented earlier to prevent and break social exclusion. Therefore, there will be language screening already at BVC, language school in primary school, and more home visits to families in socially vulnerable areas. All children should be given a good chance to succeed regardless of their parents' life situation. Beautiful words are no longer enough. It is in practical politics that the child's rights are protected.

Men's violence against women shall be combated with the full force of society. The Government is investigating the possibilities of significantly expanding the geographical area for restraining orders in cases of a particularly serious threat, as well as being able to more frequently deprive violent men of their liberty. We have also strengthened civil society's opportunities to support women who have been subjected to, or risk being subjected to, violence and honor-based oppression. Here, the country's women's and girls' shelters are making important efforts that must be highlighted.

Mr. Speaker! After decades of too much immigration and too poor integration, a paradigm shift is now occurring in Swedish immigration policy. During the last twelve years, 1.2 million foreign citizens have immigrated to Sweden, and during the same period, over 700,000 have received Swedish citizenship.

Many will contribute to making Sweden stronger, wealthier and better. But the extent of the large immigration Sweden has had has involved great strains on our society. Integration problems now characterize most policy areas. Therefore, the government is changing the policy. The reforms aim for Sweden to move from being one of the countries that have received the most asylum seekers to the asylum legislation being adapted to the EU's minimum level.

Those who have received a deportation decision shall leave Sweden. Shadow societies must be combated, and the exploitation of vulnerable people must be countered. The government strengthens the tools and makes the work more effective. The number of detention places shall increase. Requirements are tightened on those countries that refuse to accept their own deported citizens. Residence permits are revoked for those who have lied or cheated to obtain them.

We now see how the migration pressure towards Sweden is decreasing despite it increasing in Europe. But the major restructuring has only just begun. The rules are being tightened for low-skilled labor migration while the opportunities are being improved for the highly skilled. Sweden shall be a welcoming country for international talent and competence.

At the same time, the requirements for an honest way of life for foreigners living in the country are being tightened. It shall become easier to revoke residence permits and deport more people due to crime. Incentives are being reviewed to stimulate voluntary return.

The government believes in a Sweden where people with different backgrounds can live side by side. But that requires a glue that unites and holds us together. The most important components of this social community are the Swedish language, the rights and obligations of citizenship, and respect for fundamental Swedish values. The expectations and requirements for becoming a part of Swedish society must become clearer. If one does not want to become a part of this community, one should not seek to come here.

A new and better social orientation will be introduced with a test of the participants' knowledge of Swedish social life, democracy, and basic norms and values. The work to introduce a language requirement for becoming a Swedish citizen continues. The Government is also reviewing the settlement regulations to improve the municipalities' conditions for good integration.

Mr. Speaker! The defense of Ukraine's freedom and sovereignty is the primary foreign policy task of the coming years. Ukraine's fate is intertwined with that of all of Europe. They are fighting a battle for life and death.

Bare barely a year ago, I said in this chamber that Sweden would provide the maximum possible support to Ukraine - politically, economically and militarily. Today I can state that Sweden is among the ten largest donors. We have so far contributed support worth over 25 billion kronor, and Sweden has just launched an aid strategy that is the single most extensive ever. Ukraine is now our largest aid recipient. Within the framework of our support, Ukraine has received some of our most advanced weapons systems. Sweden will continue to support Ukraine for as long as it is needed.

(Applause)

The fundamentals of Swedish foreign and security policy as stated in the previous government statement remain firm. The basis is the rules-based international order, the defense of democracy and human rights, and respect for the UN Charter. We best safeguard our interests in cooperation with other countries. Swedish foreign policy will be conducted on a European, Nordic-Baltic, and transatlantic basis.

Entry into Nato, following Turkey's commitment in Vilnius to ratify Sweden's membership, becomes an epoch-making change for our country. But it is also a homecoming. Finally, Sweden takes the full step into the defense community of Western democracies, into that circle of countries where we belong. Thus, the change in Swedish security policy that was initiated through Sweden's EU membership is completed.

Sweden will not only receive support but also provide support and contribute to the security of the entire alliance. Furthermore, the strongest buildup of total defense since the 1950s is now being carried out. The military defense is growing. Sweden is procuring next-generation submarines and fighter jets, strengthening the defense's future personnel supply, and investing in advanced technology and innovation. We are also a leading space nation and will continue to lead the way in that area. The civil defense is also being strengthened. Shelters are being prepared, supply readiness is increased, and cyber defense is being expanded. Next year, appropriations for the military defense will increase by more than 27 billion kronor, and Sweden will therefore achieve the Nato standard of at least 2 percent of GDP already in 2024.

The European Union is not only Sweden's most important foreign policy platform but also a community of values. The EU is of crucial importance for our economy and competitiveness, for climate work, and for our ability to safeguard Sweden's national interests on a global level.

During the EU presidency, Sweden demonstrated strong leadership in several decisive issues for the entire union's future: the climate, migration, and support for Ukraine. We now take the lessons from the presidency with us as an even more active, engaged, and proactive member of the EU. China's actions towards Taiwan cause concern, and threats of military violence are unacceptable. Sweden's relationship with China shall be anchored in a European strategy and in close transatlantic cooperation. During our EU presidency, important steps were taken in exactly that direction.

Recent events in connection with actions and demonstrations clearly show how important it is to protect Sweden. Foreign states, state-like actors, and individual provocateurs can exploit the situation. The attacks against Swedish missions are just one example of how Swedish lives and interests are threatened. The disinformation campaign against social services is another. The Government will always defend freedom of speech as a Swedish core value, but at the same time safeguard the security of Sweden and its people.

Sweden shall continue to be a globally engaged country that stands up for human freedoms and rights, democracy, and the principles of the rule of law. In that work, aid, climate, and trade policy are central. The reform of aid shall continue, with a focus on long-term perspective, efficiency, and transparency. That Sweden is one of the world's most generous aid donors also implies a very great responsibility. Aid saves lives and alleviates distress. Democratic development in the world is threatened. Swedish support for democratization, human rights defenders, and democracy activists shall continue to be strong.

Mr. Speaker! Sweden shall pursue an ambitious and effective climate policy to achieve the climate goals. The Swedish business community shall be given the conditions to be a leader in the green transition.

To meet both the global climate changes and Sweden's energy needs, a government is required that understands that energy and climate belong together. This insight guides both Sweden's national and international climate policy.

Under the Swedish presidency of the EU, one of the world's most ambitious climate packages was brought to fruition. When 450 million Europeans transition, it makes a real difference. The climate package is now being carried forward into the work with an updated national climate policy. In October, the investigation on a new strategy for Swedish climate policy, which is based on the EU's new climate legislation, will be presented. It will become an important starting point for the work on the next climate action plan, which will be presented before Christmas.

This government took office after many years of mismanagement of the Swedish energy system and after more than 40 years of destructive conflict over nuclear power. Now, the reconstruction has begun. It is a matter of destiny - both for households, for the business sector, and for the climate. When the demand for electricity doubles, more fossil-free energy is required. The government is preparing a roadmap so that an efficient and powerful expansion of nuclear power can be carried out as quickly as possible. An energy policy direction proposal will be submitted during the parliamentary year.

Furthermore, the appropriations for the restoration of wetlands are strengthened, and the extensive state support for the capture and storage of biogenic carbon remains in place. The Government is making a major investment in electrification and enables continued expansion of charging infrastructure throughout the country.

Mr. Speaker! The conditions for being able to live, exist, and work in the entire country must be improved. Therefore, the government has established a special Ministry of Rural Affairs and Infrastructure.

The agricultural and food policy is being restructured. The goal is to increase the competitiveness and profitability of Swedish agriculture while we maintain and safeguard Sweden's high standards for animal welfare. The Government is working on developing legislative proposals to introduce farm sales while simultaneously protecting Systembolaget's monopoly.

The forest is a strategic resource for both the climate and Swedish competitiveness. The forest is also a source of national pride and a fundamental part of our cultural heritage. A sustainable forest policy must be able to reconcile environmental considerations with the economic conditions of forestry. A forest inquiry will be appointed.

One does not need to travel far in our elongated country to realize that large investments in the road and railway network are required. Maintenance of the Swedish road and railway network must therefore be strengthened. It is about facilitating people's everyday lives and for commuting to work, but also for freight traffic that promotes jobs and growth throughout the country.

More people shall be given the opportunity for a good home. Today, there is an excessively large regulatory burden and excessively high thresholds to enter the housing market, not least for the country's young people. The Government will therefore focus on increasing the availability of buildable land, simplifying the building regulations, and lowering the thresholds to enter the housing market. More rental apartments, more condominiums, and more villas are needed.

Mr. Speaker! Liberal democracy is strongly rooted in our country. But it must also be won for every new generation. There is a broad parliamentary consensus behind the proposal to strengthen the independence of the courts. The Government has also initiated work to strengthen the protection of democratic civil and political rights. A parliamentary committee has been tasked to investigate whether new fundamental civil and political rights, such as the right to abortion, the right to judicial review, and a general protection against discrimination, should be added to the Instrument of Government.

Culture is a strong and unifying force in Swedish society. The work to develop a new cultural canon is being concretized during the year, while the work to promote reading is being strengthened. The funding of more long-term scholarships continues, as does the work for a cultural protection council.

An important part of Swedish democracy is the realization that society is much larger than the state. This includes, among other things, free media, independent research, and a vibrant life of associations, parishes, and culture. The diversity of Swedish society is a strength when we face the challenges of the future. Here, Christians, Muslims, Jews, and non-religious people live side by side. Freedom of religion is a given in Sweden, as is the right to question religion.

Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of liberal democracy. The Government will continue the work to achieve the release of the journalist Dawit Isaak and of the publisher and poet Gui Minhai. The Government is simultaneously working intensively on other consular cases where Swedish citizens have been deprived of their liberty, most recently the EU official Johan Floderus. The Government demands that they all be released immediately.

(Applause)

Sweden shall continue to be a strong voice for equality, both here at home and globally. Several important advances were made during the Swedish presidency. The Government is now intensifying the work against honor-based oppression, among other things by reviewing the sentencing scales for forced marriage and child marriage offenses. An investigator was tasked yesterday with producing a ban on cousin marriage.

The government is raising the ambition in the work against antisemitism in a special initiative. In Sweden, people should be able to live safely, regardless of religion, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. We continue the journey of freedom that has entailed increased acceptance and equal rights for hbtqi persons by reviewing discriminatory regulations. Homosexual men shall be given the same opportunity to donate blood as everyone else.

Mr. Speaker! This year, Sweden celebrates 500 years as an independent nation-state. During this time, we have developed from one of Europe's poorest countries to a wealthy welfare society. From a country with autocracy to one of the world's strongest democracies. A country with both equality, gender equality, and a strong sense of community. An open and innovative country where successful companies export to the entire world. A country where we care for one another.

Only in recent decades have we made an impressive amount of journeys of change. We have been pioneers for fossil-free energy production, turned the 1990s crisis years into robust public finances, and replaced a widespread subsidy dependency with the work line. All of this is our collective achievement and shows what we as a country can accomplish together. Our strengths are so much greater than our problems. We can do all of this once again.

Now it is our responsibility to equip Sweden strongly for future generations so that we can continue to be a fantastic country, not just for 5 or 50 but for at least 500 years to come.

Lastly, Mr. Speaker, I want to report to the Riksdag that I consider all the ministers in the government to have had a really strong first year, and I look forward to their continued efforts.

(Applause)

They looked a bit worried there, I can say.

Solid knowledge is a light burden to carry, even in politics. One does not, therefore, Mr. Speaker, have to be a PhD coastal hunter to become a successful and respected Minister for Defence in my government, but you should know that it helps.

(Applause)

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