Today, the Riksdag will decide on the framework for next year's budget. Ahead of the debate, S and M prepared themselves by holding press conferences where they criticized each other's economic policies.
Sweden has a party for growth and that is S, and we are the party for the wallet issues, says the Social Democrats' candidate for Minister of Finance Mikael Damberg.
He claims that the government has abdicated from growth policies and that Sweden has thus become poorer in recent years. In addition, unemployment has increased, which not only affects individuals, but also reduces tax revenues.
The government doesn't seem to understand how expensive unemployment is for Sweden, says Damberg.
If you can't handle the jobs, you can't handle the public finances either, he says, pointing out that Sweden will borrow 167 billion next year to cover the budget deficit.
Have calculated
S has had the Riksdag's investigative service calculate which budgets will bring the most to households' wallets next year. According to these calculations, households will receive 1.6 billion more with S's policy, compared to the government's. S is proposing, among other things, increased child benefits, increased housing benefits and the abolition of the qualifying period deduction. But it is also proposing increased taxes on ISK savings and a phased-out earned income tax deduction.
Minister of Finance Elisabeth Svantesson (M) claims that the S budget is not coherent and that there are large unfunded proposals.
It is not S who should be trusted. If you want to see reduced taxes for hard-working people, then it is the Moderates you should vote for, she says.
"S is careless"
Svantesson claims that the S budget is underfunded by at least 50 billion kronor, but then she has calculated what the effects will be in 2028.
For example, she points out that it is unclear how Sweden will finance aid of one percent of GNI, an indexation of government grants to municipalities, an increased unemployment fund, and an abolition of the qualifying period deduction - if companies are not to bear the costs of sick pay.
"I expect more from a party that wants to take on the leadership role after the next election. Then you can't be careless and irresponsible," says Svantesson.
Damberg's answer is that the Moderates are based on a "made-up" budget for 2028 that does not exist and think it shows desperation.
Svantesson also warns against voting for the red-greens in troubled times and points out that they do not agree.
"I know my budget will be met. There is a great sense of security and peace in that," she says.
