Response to interpellation 2023/24:128 on national commitment against segregation
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
L argues that exclusion affects everyone and requires interventions within school, social services, and the labor market 1. L proposes resources for demanding schools, special education teachers, a new social services act 1, vocational adult education, benefit ceilings, and activity requirements 1. L emphasizes the need for a strong judiciary and stricter citizenship requirements 2. L argues that Social Democratic labor market policy led to high unemployment 3 and that the focus is now on the business climate, adult education, and school 3. L argues that the school must return to the basics 3, that inflation and high interest rates cause reduced housing investments 3, and that language, education, and work are the way forward 3. S criticizes the government's passivity, the closure of Delmos, and cuts in labor market policy 4. S argues that housing segregation requires measures 4 and that the government lacks concrete reforms 4 5. S argues that the current budget prioritizes tax cuts for high-income earners over welfare 5. S argues that the Liberals need more self-reflection 6. S believes that the government does not listen to the voices of reality but repeats empty promises 7.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)
Madam Speaker! Serkan Köse has asked the Prime Minister if the Prime Minister can elaborate on his statements regarding the importance of breaking segregation and specify what concrete measures the Prime Minister and the government plan to implement to achieve this. The work within the government is distributed in such a way that it is I who shall answer the interpellation.
The exclusion that characterizes parts of society affects us all. Particularly affected are people who live in areas where exclusion is great and whose lives, freedom, and life chances are limited because of where they live. The work to address exclusion cannot solely be carried out in project form but needs to take place within ordinary structures. This involves, for example, measures regarding school, social services, and the labor market, as well as for improved integration and reduced crime and insecurity. Let me describe some of the initiatives that the government is implementing to push back exclusion.
For children and young people in areas where exclusion is great, school is particularly important. A good education strengthens the future prospects of children and young people and is one of the most important protective factors against crime and exclusion. In the budget bill for 2024, the government has proposed resources to make it more attractive to work at the most demanding schools and to give schools better conditions to implement early support measures. The government is also implementing a large state grant initiative with the aim of increasing access to special education teachers in schools and strengthening the possibility of establishing special teaching groups.
Last summer, a new law on the municipalities' responsibility for crime prevention work entered into force, with the aim of creating conditions for structured crime prevention work throughout the country. The Government is working on a new Social Services Act, for a more preventive and knowledge-based social service, which will be presented during 2024. The Government has also proposed a specific staffing initiative for the social service. In the budget bill for 2024, the Government has additionally proposed a three-year initiative on crime prevention measures against gang crime.
Every individual needs to take a great personal responsibility for their own livelihood and for their children's upbringing, schooling, and future prospects. Exclusion as a result of a low level of education and weak connection to the labor market is particularly noticeable in certain areas. Transitions from labor market policy to regular education need to increase, especially among the unemployed with short education. The Government is therefore making a comprehensive investment in regional vocational adult education. The Government also wants to strengthen the incentives for work, among other things through upcoming proposals on benefit ceilings, activity requirements for subsistence support, as well as a new model for qualification for social insurance and financial assistance.
Resources should be directed to the areas that need them most. By uplifting areas where exclusion is great, society becomes stronger while simultaneously strengthening the future prospects and life chances for the individuals who live there.
Serkan Köse (S)
Madam Speaker! Even though the question was addressed to the Prime Minister, I would like to thank Minister for Employment and Integration Johan Pehrson for the answer.
Madam Speaker! We live in a wonderful country with enormous opportunities. But today we face difficult challenges. It is increasing segregation and growing social divides, which threaten the cohesion in our country. Therefore, it is deeply worrying to see the current government's passivity and lack of action.
Minister for Employment and Integration Johan Pehrson has been minister responsible for these issues for more than a year, and we still have not seen any concrete reforms to break the segregation. Until now, the list of reforms is empty, but I hope that it will change.
Instead, one of Johan Pehrson's first measures as minister was to abolish the Delegation against Segregation, Delmos. It was an agency that played a key role in the work against segregation. The Government Offices pointed out in a report that the abolition of Delmos has affected the state's long-term work against segregation and worsened coordination.
Madam Speaker! To effectively combat inequality and segregation, political will is required, and a clear vision is also required. This includes addressing segregation within the school system, on the labor market, and on the housing market.
We have today a school segregation that not only contributes to inequality in educational outcomes but also to a deeper societal divide. We see how children from different socioeconomic backgrounds are separated not only geographically but also in opportunities and future prospects. To address this problem, a better redistribution of resources to our most vulnerable schools is required, along with improved quality of education and support for both teachers and students.
In labor market policy, we face the challenge of integrating the most vulnerable in our society, including newcomers and those with low education. It is therefore worrying, Madam Speaker, to see the cut of 2 billion SEK in active labor market policy that Johan Pehrson has presented. This means less money for Arbetsförmedlingen and less money for labor market policy programs and interventions. This needs to be reassessed in light of the policy's long-term effects on social integration.
Madam Speaker! We also see a growing residential segregation that reinforces exclusion and leads to unequal living conditions and increased crime. This development makes housing segregation an urgent issue that requires rapid and effective measures.
Therefore, again, it is remarkable that the SD-led government with Johan Pehrson does not present any concrete reforms and solutions to tackle this challenge. Even here, the list of reforms is empty.
The government's decision to abolish the investment support undermines the possibilities to build affordable and sustainable housing and, above all, to renovate million program areas, which is crucial for reducing segregation in society but also for promoting a more inclusive and more equal society.
We must invest in our community builders, that is to say our teachers, field assistants and sports clubs, who play a central role in the work against segregation. They are crucial, Johan Pehrson, to inspire and strengthen our young people. They give hope and future prospects to those who would otherwise be left out. We must give community builders the resources required, and we need to continue to support them in their valuable work.
In conclusion, it can be stated that a comprehensive plan with a strong political will and a clear vision is needed to effectively combat the growing segregation in our country.
Does the government, Johan Pehrson, have a long-term plan, a vision or a political will to break the segregation? And if so - what concrete reforms are on the table for Johan Pehrson for us to achieve this?
Sofia Amloh (S)
Madam Speaker! I intend to begin by saying that I absolutely believe in what I have heard several times when the Minister, among others today, speaks about the importance of integration. We have also heard the Prime Minister, to whom the interpellation was addressed, speak about cohesion and the importance of community.
But those are just words. In practice, we see proposals and investigations that show the exact opposite. It is about reporting legislation, where they are investigating the precise opposite. It is about making people suspicious and creating an insecurity between people. We have actually seen it the whole time.
Furthermore, we can try to zoom out and see what has happened during the time of just over a year that we have had this government and its government base. It goes quite fast. We see how the Sweden Democrats incite when the Qurans are burned day in and day out, as it was for a while. We heard unacceptable and appalling statements during the Pride weeks this summer, not least during Stockholm Pride. Now this weekend, we heard how Åkesson threatens the constitutional legislation.
I really wonder what it is like for the Minister for Integration in a government that rests on the second-largest party as a government basis in the form of the Sweden Democrats. They spend their time, day in and day out, splitting, threatening, and polarizing. When Johan Pehrson goes to work and is to work with integration, I wonder what conditions exist for that.
We have during the autumn seen how both the internal and the external threat in our country and in the world has increased. Given what happened most recently, we have after the weekend read how terror researchers warn about how serious this is. It is truly dangerous with this type of heated atmosphere.
It is with this basis and with the granted hand that Johan Pehrson goes to work every day. How long is Johan Pehrson to tolerate this? How long do you think it would work? How long does the Minister for Integration intend to allow the Sverigedemokraterna to escalate the tone and remain in Rosenbad? Is it not time to say that enough is enough and time to say that we do not allow this space for this government basis?
I do not know how it feels for Johan Pehrson, but perhaps he can still express it in his post. How does it feel to go to work as Minister for Integration with this government base?
Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)
Madam Speaker! It feels good. It is very important to tackle Sweden's extensive problems. The interpellation concerns segregation, the lack of integration, and exclusion.
I am pleased that Sofia Amloh and Serkan Köse have read the newspapers over the weekend. I have also read the newspapers over the weekend, Madam Speaker. There I read that the Social Democrats mean that everything they have done in both 10 and 20 years in this area has been wrong. They want to throw everything they have done during 10-20 years into the trash bag, because they have not dared. They have not dared to say as it is regarding the work line, the education line, and the language line.
Or was it just a press conference? I look forward to the day when the Social Democrats stand up for the language line, the education line, and the work line and ensure that there are both opportunities and demands on the individual. One must be clear against the fundamentalism that exists in various forms of activities that cause the School Inspectorate to have to shut them down.
We have a long way to go, but the government has presented a budget bill where we, among other things, are making major investments in the justice system. It is also something that came up at the press conference in that report where the Social Democrats have said that what they have done over the last 10-20 years has not been much to hang on the Christmas tree. But the sinner shall wake up late! I look forward to your new proposals that meet the problems that exist.
To upgrade the justice system is perhaps the most important thing that exists to create safety and respect for the people who today live in environments where they are very socially vulnerable but also vulnerable to crime.
We are investing heavily in preventive work. I have debated this before. The investments can be summarized as 2.8 billion. It is school social teams, outreach activities, home visit programs to support families early, parenting support, and investments in sports clubs. We are taking a multitude of measures so that more young people are not only met by a school with high expectations but are also given opportunities if there are problems at home. If the parents do not have the capacity to take their responsibility, there are other interventions that are made. Take, for example, this with the new Social Services Act. Finally, interventions are coming that allow one to intervene earlier and, above all, without the parents' consent in all situations. More power is being given to the so-called intermediate authority.
We are working on citizenship. It must be clear that more is required to become a citizen in Sweden, because citizenship in Sweden is something very special and something to be cherished. We combine this with language requirements but also with a Sweden course, which will mean that one must know a bit more about Sweden and what values we have that are expressed in our constitution. Otherwise, one has come to the wrong place. It is a matter of making it very clear for people.
The government also says that it is reasonable that we have a fairly strict migration. And that is also what the Social Democrats said at a press conference yesterday, the day before, or whenever it was. But you have not said that during the last few years. You have spent time out and time in constantly facilitating a policy that is supposed to satisfy Vänsterpartiet, Miljöpartiet, and Centerpartiet. But that is how it has gone. Now you are critical.
Serkan Köse (S)
Madam Speaker! I thank the Minister again for the answer, even though it was not really an answer to the questions that I asked, nor to the questions that Sofia Amloh asked.
It is also important as an opposition politician to reassess one's own policy. That is why one can develop it in opposition. One develops policy all the time.
I am glad that my party, unlike Johan Pehrson's party, is reviewing our own policies. We are looking at in which parts we have failed and in which parts we can strengthen and improve in order to come back. That is how politics works. One constantly re-evaluates one's own policies. It is a pragmatic attitude towards development in society, and that is also what characterizes social democracy.
Back to the discussion on segregation. I agree that it is a rather complex issue that requires careful analysis. We need to ground ourselves in the problem and in the solutions that are on the table today.
Johan Pehrson mentioned very many different parts in his answer. But when it comes to the parts education, labor market and housing, we can state that the Minister does not really answer the questions about the cuts that are being made on the education side, in the housing area and within the labor market policy.
To make a difference in the fight against segregation, more than just good intentions are required. Concrete strategies and actions are required. During the previous Social Democratic government's time, we took some steps, Madam Speaker, including long-term reforms for reduced segregation from 2015 onwards. It was we who developed that strategy. Even though there were flaws in the implementation, it was a step in the right direction.
The current government's cuts to welfare are creating concern and risk worsening the situation further in already vulnerable areas. It is alarming to see Johan Pehrson's budget, which prioritizes tax cuts for high-income earners, while welfare is underfunded, which risks deepening the welfare crisis. Very many municipalities are now sitting and looking at how they are going to balance their budgets.
The general state grants from Johan Pehrson are not sufficient to compensate for the ongoing cost crisis within the welfare system. This shows once again, Johan Pehrson, the need for strengthened resources for our schools, field assistants and sports clubs, as well as to improve the active labor market policy and manage the residential segregation. The investment support, Johan Pehrson, was important. But Johan Pehrson has removed it.
On the Liberals' website, one can read the following: Segregation is one of our greatest societal problems. It is a breeding ground for low school results, shootings and unemployment. On the government's website, one can read that the work against segregation is about improving the situation in areas with socioeconomic challenges and countering structural causes of segregation by creating equal and egalitarian upbringing and living conditions as well as good life chances for all.
Fantastic! In all of this, I agree fully, both with what the Liberals have written and what the government has written. Therefore, it is remarkable, Madam Speaker, and unfortunate that the government is once again reducing investments in housing construction and the resources for welfare and for active labor market policies - to mention a few examples of things that can worsen and cement segregation.
Madam Speaker! In view of all these challenges, I ask again how Johan Pehrson intends to address and counter the deep-rooted causes of segregation in our society. What is on the table, Johan Pehrson?
Sofia Amloh (S)
Madam Speaker! I have always been very careful to say that we have not always been right, that we have not done everything right as the Socialdemokraterna have stood for decade after decade. The strength perhaps lies precisely in the ambition and the will in what one faces there and then, that which is on the table and that which one believes will be right. If it turns out one day that some decision is not right, it is important to reconsider it. The strength lies in that.
Self-reflection is something I seek from the Liberals. It may be that we in politics do not always dare to admit that not everything has been right, precisely because it might be used as a political whipping boy. I think it is unfortunate that we cannot welcome a better debate on this. The need for self-reflection, I want to address to Johan Pehrson and the Liberals. It is high time for self-reflection by the Minister for Integration and the Liberals, when will the sinner wake up in you? I hope it does not happen too late.
Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)
Madam Speaker! First, I want to say to Serkan Köse that we tested the Social Democratic labor market policy. It was supposed to lead to Europe's lowest unemployment, but it became one of the highest. Then one might think that perhaps something should be done in a different way, to put fundamentals in the center. It might be very much about the business climate.
People who are unemployed today can be hired in a company if the company's investments in Sweden grow and increase, if there is good access to energy, for example, or a relevant tax system that does not hate that investments are made in Sweden. It is a very important beginning.
It is completely correct that we are trying to create more efficiency in the labor market policy. We want to ensure that the money is used in a responsible way. We focus on adult education, because we all know that there is a gigantic language debt and education debt among people today. We must meet this in different ways and also give people the opportunity to make demands. We have spoken about this here in the chamber, so it seems to have reached the Social Democrats nonetheless that we have a different line. Whether you then think it is good or not is another matter.
Then it is about the school and ensuring that young people manage in school today. It is absolutely crucial that students learn to read, count, and write. When, after eight years with the Socialdemokraterna, 20 percent who are ten years old, are in fourth grade and cannot read, it is clear that it is a rather difficult problem, because then one has difficulty learning all the other subjects as well. Then it is difficult to keep up, and then there is a risk of ending up in exclusion, especially if the family does not speak Swedish at home.
This must be met with investments in the school. That is why one must go back to the basics of the Swedish school, back to that which creates young, safer, independent individuals, namely the ability to read, count, and write. That is why we remove social democratic experiments with digitalization and the screen hysteria that several Social Democrats here in this chamber have championed through the years.
School is central. The best labor market policy is a policy that makes Sweden grow again. We have a very difficult inflation, which was the subject of the interpellation debate before this.
When it comes to welfare, this government is trying to protect those who are most vulnerable in difficult times, those who have the hardest time making their food last. Everyone from students to people living on social assistance, sickness benefit or guarantee pension receives a substantial increase, because we want to protect them during this difficult time.
At the same time, we cannot be irresponsible in economic policy. If we do not beat down inflation, there will be no investments.
It is the inflation and the high interest rate level that are preventing the housing investments from coming through. Whether it concerns Norrbotten or Västerbotten, whether it concerns the whole Mälardalen or Stockholm, we see that one cannot calculate the figures because one does not know what it looks like. That is what is decisive, and not Social Democratic subsidies to builders. But I know that this is an old policy that you have tried, namely that state subsidies should be given. We believe in another way.
Yes, Sofia Amloh, we have reconsidered. We saw where the Socialdemokraterna were heading and that we were speaking to deaf ears. Now you have, so to speak, washed your ears, and that pleases me. I will listen with great interest to a new policy from the Socialdemokraterna.
Serkan Köse (S)
Madam Speaker! I thank Johan Pehrson for the answer. When it comes to the discussion about Europe's lowest unemployment, we can take that in the next interpellation debate.
We have now listened to Johan Pehrson for half an hour, and it is clear and plain that we are facing a minister who seems to live by the motto see nothing, hear nothing, say nothing. It is a minister whose strategy seems to be that if he does not acknowledge the problems, they do not exist.
Johan Pehrson may listen, but often it seems to be an echo of his own voice repeating empty promises that have become his signature melody. I can state that it is a symphony of missed opportunities and wasted resources that echoes in the background while society cries out for concrete actions, Johan Pehrson.
The question remains: When will the government, with Johan Pehrson at the helm, take off its blindfold, clear its ears, and begin to listen to the voices of reality? Or are we doomed to continue witnessing this theatrical performance where Johan Pehrson plays the leading role as the invisible spectator in his own drama?
On the Liberals' website, as I mentioned, stands everything one wants to hear about social problems. You write about areas with limited life chances, high unemployment, poor school results, reduced safety, and a lack of trust in society's institutions. You point out the problems that we discuss – an outstanding analysis. But how do we translate this into concrete action, Johan Pehrson?
Instead, he chooses to cooperate with a party that, contrary to this analysis, does not contribute to solutions for segregation but rather reinforces the society's division by pointing out specific groups and undermining the society's cohesion.
I am more than willing to discuss with Johan Pehrson the deep problems with segregation and how we are to arrive at the solutions that are required. But for this to be possible and happen, Johan Pehrson and the Liberals must decide which side of history they want to stand on.
Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)
Madam Speaker! There is talk of various musical pieces here. But this death metal must cease at some point. We must have music that one can take in without needing to wear headphones.
We are quite convinced that the language line – that is, that we speak Swedish in Sweden – the education line and the work line are the correct ones, together with a line where one ensures that it leads to new jobs. It generates increased tax revenues.
I can take Skellefteå municipality as an example where it is growing. It can grow even more. But they have, therefore, over 1 billion in surplus, and there they can invest large resources in expanding the welfare, invest in the school and so on.
There is no other way forward than for Sweden to become a country where the investments come. That is the absolute focus.
I will also say something about the Swedish course which is completely central. And I look forward to the Social Democrats either coming with additions or saying that something should be removed. But in Sweden, one must learn that we have equality. We have the right to religion, and we have the right from religion. We have freedom of speech. People are allowed to say how strange things as they please as long as it is not a matter of hate speech, defamation or other things, as you know. All that which has built Sweden so strongly, we must hold onto now in a time when we are worried that people will come here and perhaps have other values.
One can never beat values into other people. But through the Sweden course, one can ensure that they at least know which ones apply in Sweden. We have missed this Sweden course, and I am glad that it is now coming.
The Liberals are completely certain that the Swedish situation can be turned around. But it will take time. But there is no other way than language, education and work.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.