They (read: the Sweden Democrats) have no growth or jobs policy. And they are against the new technology that Wallenberg, among others, has invested in, Andersson tells TT when asked about Jacob Wallenberg, chairman of the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise and a leading figure in the country's most powerful ownership family, speaking in the Financial Times about the Swedish election.
He said there that tax proposals and proposals for shorter working hours from one or more red-green parties were “deeply worrying.” But Andersson says there is no reason for concern.
Everyone who has followed me during my years as Minister of Finance and Prime Minister knows that we pursued an economic policy that was good for Sweden and for business, says the S leader, who at the time of the interview is on an election tour in Skåne.
Don't legislate about time
And she does not intend to legislate to shorten working hours; that is for unions and employers to negotiate.
Along with automatic indexing of government subsidies to municipalities, abolition of the waiting period in health insurance and cheaper dental care for young people and adults, the workers' pension is one of S's most important election promises. This and other election promises will be paid for through, according to S, a better growth policy that will boost the economy and create more jobs.
But also through things like a bank tax, higher taxes for those who earn over 70,000 kronor a month and the abolition of overcompensation in school fees for independent schools.
Opinion polls show that the red-green side has a lead, but a shrinking one, over the Tidö government and the SD. Support for S seems to be waning.
Within reach
Swedish elections are usually close, but I would have thought it would be even closer than it is, she says and does not seem as shaken by falling support as party secretary Tobias Baudin was when a poll this week showed around 26 percent for S.
It is within reach for Sweden to choose a new direction.
She has refused to say which parties she might consider including in government in the event of a red-green election victory. First, voters must vote for an election result.
Red lines
Regarding the Left Party, she continues to say that “they have a long way to go” when it comes to government participation. When asked if this in practice means she is excluding the Left Party from government, she says - whose only stated red line is cooperation with the SD:
If I were to start drawing a red line, there would soon be demand for me to draw the next red line and the next red line and the next red line.
It could be difficult enough anyway, she adds, to form a government if they win the election. But it would be good to cooperate with V on major issues, she says.
Employee pension
The S leader says she would like to see an agreement on a means-tested pension supplement, a "worker's pension", in the Riksdag's pension group, which now includes all parties. But if that is not possible, she will, as prime minister, ensure that it is taken through the state budget.
I'm not going to let the pension group block it.
Double child and student allowances for Christmas and summer holidays
Cheaper dental care for everyone - 10 percent off the price for adults
Abolish the qualifying deduction
Introducing workers' pensions - for those who have worked for a long time and cannot make it to retirement age
Ban on profit-making in schools and preschools
Small classes for young children, maximum twelve students per teacher
Indexing government grants to municipalities and regions
Broad energy agreement
Mafia teams against gang leaders
New line of work - strengthen unemployment insurance, more labour market training
Source: Social Democrats
59 years old, raised in Uppsala but moved to Stockholm after high school to study at the School of Economics.
Economist.
Has been Head of Planning and State Secretary in the Government Offices. Became Minister of Finance in 2014.
Took over as party leader of the Social Democrats in the fall of 2021.
Became Sweden's first female Prime Minister on November 24, 2021. However, was forced to resign after seven hours when the Riksdag voted down the budget and the Green Party left the government because of it.
Was re-elected Prime Minister on November 29 of the same year, but after the election loss in 2022, Moderate leader Ulf Kristersson took over as Prime Minister.
