← Everyone who has spoken in the chamber
Åsa Karlsson (S)
What Åsa Karlsson has said in the chamber of the Swedish Riksdag, debate by debate. The lines under each debate sum up a speech; they are written and translated by AI in advance and may contain errors, so check against the speech.
Kammarkoll has the Riksdag's speeches from 26 September 2022 onwards; older debates are not included.
Ostlänken funding and railway appropriations debate
- Argues that Ostlänken is a necessary investment for jobs, growth, and the climate transition because the capacity on the tracks has already been reached. Criticizes the delays in the construction and argues that the appropriations have practically decreased. Read the speech
- Argues that Sweden needs a long-term and reliable infrastructure policy. Criticizes the delays in Ostlänken and requests clear statements on timelines to enable societal planning. Wants increased pace and political decisiveness to build the country together. Read the speech
Transport service rules and permits for Transport Agency
- Argues that case law has been tightened so that visually impaired people are increasingly denied transport services despite the issue having been discussed for three years. Asks when the government will come forward with concrete proposals to restore the right to transport services. Read the speech
- Argues that the criticism from Synskadades Riksförbund is reasonable and that the lack of action affects individuals. Wants the government to proceed with concrete measures such as clearer guidelines or legislative changes and asks when decisions will be made. Read the speech
Night train traffic in northern Sweden funding and accessibility
- Argues that northern Sweden is treated like a stepchild by the government. Criticizes the decommissioning and reduction of night train traffic to northern Sweden as a fatal blow. Asks how the government views the importance of night trains for infrastructure, the tourism industry, and defense. Read the speech
- Argues that it is unreasonable for regions and municipalities to bear large parts of the costs for night train traffic when Trafikverket lacks compensation for increased costs. Asks if the Minister will take measures for a well-functioning night train traffic. Read the speech
Government budget, security and cultural policy debate
- Argues that the state has a responsibility to secure critical infrastructure so that society remains intact in a crisis. Asks how the government intends to ensure long-term robustness over short-term market solutions in the maintenance of critical infrastructure. Read the speech
Regions' costs for socially important transport and state funding
- Argues that the state is reducing its funding for socially important transport in northern Sweden without reducing the requirements for accessibility. Demands that the state compensates the regions for the costs that arise when the state does not fund its own agreements. Read the speech
- Criticizes that the government's policy does not live up to the ambition of good accessibility. Argues that the regions should not pay the price for state agreements and demands full compensation of at least 100 million kronor. Read the speech
- Argues that the state must finance the availability instead of shifting the costs onto the regions. Claims that it is most cost-effective for the state to provide the funds required to avoid reduced traffic. Read the speech
Railway maintenance investments: KD claims progress, S demands more
- Argues that the government's investment is not sufficient to reduce the maintenance debt at the level required. Asks if the minister considers the investment sufficient to actually reduce the debt and not just slow it down. Read the speech
- Criticizes that the government's policy continues to postpone costs and consequences for future generations. Argues that digitalization is a complement and not a replacement for resources. Wants significantly increased investments and a long-term financing model. Read the speech
- Underlines that the condition of the railway is crucial for people's everyday lives, the industry's competitiveness, and the climate transition. Argues that new technology is a complement and that the railway has not been maintained at a sufficient pace for decades. Read the speech
Removal of objects in national corridors and budget cuts
- Criticizes that previously decided projects have been removed, which damages trust in the state and hinders a coherent infrastructure network. Asks whether it is socio-economically profitable to maintain long 80-sections on a European route. Read the speech
- Hope that the government takes responsibility for the interests of the entire country when the referral response is processed. Argues that the government should focus on sustainable corridors instead of individual objects and criticizes that decided objects are removed as it creates uncertainty. Read the speech
Crime policy, social reforms and economy: prison rental
- Asks about the need for a Nordic ministerial council for infrastructure due to the changed security situation. Argues that infrastructure connecting Norway, Sweden and Finland is important for Finland's security. Read the speech
Night trains: S criticizes discontinued Gothenburg-north links
- Criticizes that the night trains between Göteborg and Duved as well as Umeå have stopped running. Argues that these connections are important for the tourism industry and Sweden's preparedness and asks if the government will work towards a procurement and restart of these routes. Read the speech
- Criticizes the government for standing by passively as important train connections are being decommissioned. Argues that redundancy and alternative routes between northern and western Sweden without passing through Stockholm are required to strengthen the tourism industry and defense. Read the speech
- Argues that current travel options with long waiting times and transfers make night trains less attractive. Points out that it is currently not possible to travel by train between Göteborg and Jämtland. Read the speech
Legal certainty, healthcare, economy and infrastructure debate
- Questions about whether the government will work towards a procurement and restart of the night trains between Göteborg and Duved as well as Göteborg and Umeå. Argues that the night trains are important for both the tourism industry and Sweden's preparedness. Read the speech
Funding of cooperation agreements and infrastructure in Sweden
- Criticizes that the government says one thing but does something else by not budgeting to maintain cooperation agreements. Argues that the state transfers costs to regions that already have economic problems and asks if the Minister for Civil Affairs has discussed this with the State Secretary. Read the speech
- Argues that the government's budget proposal does not cover Trafikverket's demands, which transfers large costs to financially pressured regions. Asks what responsibility the government takes for the regions' increased expenses and whether they will work to maintain the traffic flow. Read the speech
- Criticizes that the government is deprioritizing the countryside and northern Sweden. Argues that the regions are given tougher conditions at short notice, which risks that important train and bus lines will disappear. Asks if the Minister means the words he used about good accessibility throughout the country. Read the speech
Government management of economy, infrastructure, and health
- Asks when the construction start notice for the Dåva-Skellefteå section will arrive. Criticizes that the handling of the Norrbotniabanan is unusually slow and that a timetable for the municipalities is missing. Read the speech
Healthcare, crime, energy and infrastructure debate in Riksdag
- Asks how the Minister for Civil Affairs views the transfer of costs from the state to the regions and municipalities after the cooperation agreements expire. Argues that the affected regions lose significant amounts on short notice. Read the speech
Norrbotniabanan social utility and role in national infrastructure
- Argues that the model for assessing social benefit needs to be reviewed as it does not reflect the development taking place in northern Sweden. Requests a promise that the Norrbotniabanan shall be built in its entirety. Read the speech
- Argues that the Norrbotniabanan is a well-investigated project with an acute need. Criticizes Trafikverket's forecasts as not matching reality and suggests that the socio-economic model must be reviewed. Read the speech
- Argues that new trunk lines are important for connecting the country with the continent and neighboring countries. Emphasizes that infrastructure such as the Botniabanan and the Öresund Bridge become socio-economically profitable once they are in place. Read the speech
Railway maintenance and management: private vs state model
- Wants to invest 500 million kronor more on railway maintenance than the right. Criticizes the government's claim that the deregulated railway market has contributed to a positive development given the repeated train delays. Read the speech
- Refers to a more modern investigation which shows that changes are required as current procurements do not work. Criticizes the government parties for refusing to investigate whether a transfer of railway maintenance to Trafikverket would improve the situation. Read the speech
- Proposes approval of reservation 2. Argues that a robust railway is crucial for growth, total defense, and green transition. Criticizes the right-wing government's halted expansions and under-investments. Suggests that the state should increasingly manage railway maintenance in its own capacity to increase expertise and enable preventive maintenance. Read the speech
- Argues that the Social Democrats invested more in railway maintenance than the government and defends the long-term planning. Claims that the Malmbanan and Norrbotniabanan are necessary for the public good and the green transition. Read the speech
- Argues that lack of maintenance has persisted under many governments. Claims that the previous government noted the maintenance debt and increased the appropriations for infrastructure and railway maintenance in the national plan. Read the speech
- Argues that the focus should be on upgrading existing main lines rather than high-speed trains. Emphasizes the need for new railways to meet the increased traffic between Sweden, Scandinavia, and Europe. Read the speech
- Argues that both planning and office services as well as personnel out in the field are necessary for Trafikverket. Reminds that the current government stopped a part of the Social Democrats' infrastructure plan. Read the speech
- Argues that the new signaling system ERTMS is functioning better now and that the problems are being rectified. Points out that the current government has the opportunity to make new decisions instead of blaming previous governments. Read the speech
- Criticizes that the government's pauses and appeals have delayed the construction of Norrbotniabanan. Argues that the current socio-economic model is misleading because it uses outdated population statistics that do not reflect the development in northern Sweden. Read the speech
- Read the speech
- Argues that the maintenance budget has been increased but that more resources are required. Requests a revised socio-economic model to prioritize the Norrbotniabanan and Malmbanan. Wants to refurbish old railways and build new tracks to connect the country. Read the speech
- Questions about whether the Sweden Democrats will vote against their own proposal and instead vote for the government's proposal in this vote. Read the speech
- Read the speech
Norrbotniabanan: Appeals rejected for Dåva-Skellefteå section
- Criticizes that it has taken almost a year to decide on the appeals, which has caused financial losses for property owners and limited the municipalities' planning conditions. Argues that the government's sluggishness is not reasonable. Read the speech
- Argues that the rejection of the appeals is a victory for the country, but criticizes that the government has not taken into account the Sami's demands for fauna crossings. Asks why the government has not met these simple demands. Read the speech
- Regrets that it has taken so long to receive a decision and argues that the delay has caused serious economic consequences for private individuals. Hopes that similar delays are avoided during the remainder of the construction. Read the speech
Housing shortage, education literacy crisis and infrastructure
- Asks what the Minister intends to do to ensure that the new Ostkustbanan is completed by 2035, as the line is currently overloaded and double tracks would quadruple the capacity. Read the speech
Nordic ministerial council for infrastructure and transport
- Argues that better coordination is crucial to achieve Vision 2030 and that the Nordic Council wants to formalize the transport cooperation. Asks if the Minister intends to work towards establishing a Nordic ministerial council for infrastructure. Read the speech
- Argues that a Nordic ministerial council for transport and infrastructure issues would further formalize the cooperation than the declaration does. Asks the Minister of State how he views the establishment of such a council to strengthen Nordic cooperation. Read the speech
- Read the speech
Norrbotniabanan planning and infrastructure for industrial investments
- Asks how the Minister intends to handle seven appeals so that they do not affect the schedule for the completion of the Norrbotniabanan. Also asks how the government views the possibility of keeping to the schedule and whether they will work to ensure that construction is intensified. Read the speech
Norrbotniabanan planning for green transition and capacity
- Criticizes the previous delay of the Norrbotniabanan and emphasizes that completion is urgent for the green industrial transition. Asks if the Minister will work to ensure that the entire railway is built and that the construction is intensified. Read the speech
- Expresses concern that long-term plans could be scrapped and requests a clear yes or no on whether the Norrbotniabanan should be built in its entirety. Argues that the railway was needed to meet the rapid growth and investments in northern Västerbotten. Read the speech
Source: The Swedish Parliament. Kammarkoll is an independent service.