Wallenberg, whose family foundations hold large stakes in companies such as Astra Zeneca, Ericsson, ABB and Saab, tells the Financial Times that decades of pro-business reforms from both the left and right are now in jeopardy due to various opposition proposals.
Among other things, the business leader believes that Sweden risks losing its world-leading position in startups and that even established companies could be affected if the opposition were to win the election.
"The opposition has pointed to more government involvement, higher taxes in a number of different areas and also a discussion about working fewer hours. I am deeply concerned about these things," he says in the interview.
It seems counterintuitive that you become more competitive by working less and by making it harder for companies to develop, he adds.
Social Democratic Party leader Magdalena Andersson says she understands that Jacob Wallenberg, as chairman of the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise, wants to put forward his views in the election campaign. But he is, in short, wrong and has nothing to worry about in the event of a change of government, she claims.
"I can only state that Social Democratic-led governments have performed with growth above our potential, right-wing governments below our potential. We usually have good employment growth and order in our finances," she says.
