The subsidy will be increased from the current SEK 1,250 per child to SEK 2,000. This is to address the declining birth rate in Sweden and adjust the subsidy, which according to KD's calculations has decreased by SEK 400 in real value since 2018.
How the proposal will be financed remains to be seen, according to Ebba Busch. However, she mentions that temporary reforms such as the reduced food VAT have an end date.
Now Sweden needs to shift to a position where we hopefully turn the growth curves for our country in the long term, says Busch at a press conference after her speech in Almedalen.
Busch is confident that KD has the voters' support for the proposal - but how other Tidö parties that do not advocate an increase will be convinced is unclear.
This will be part of a government and budget negotiation that will be weighed against other measures.
“Benefit low-income earners”
Large parts of the speech in Visby were about family policy. According to Busch, the Tidö parties must now move closer to the middle of politics to attract voters in the autumn elections with softer issues such as healthcare and education.
Busch wants to lower taxes for "ordinary families" so that more people can achieve their dream of a villa, a Volvo and a dog. KD proposes an in-work tax deduction for families with children. What it will cost and exactly how it will be designed are also not clear.
Economic policy needs to benefit low-income earners and the broad middle class more than high-income earners, says Busch during her speech in front of around 3,200 people.
"European leader" in aid
Another issue the party leader raises during KD's day in Almedalen is aid, where, according to Busch, Sweden should be "leading Europe".
The Tidö parties have cut aid during their term in office and abandoned the previous goal of one percent of Sweden's gross national income going to aid. Exactly what "European leader" means in terms of money or percentage is unclear. However, Busch says that with this announcement she is drawing a line against her Tidö colleagues.
If you are worried about very large migration flows, you may not want to pursue an aid policy that ignores enormous climate-related floods, for example.
The Christian Democrats are presenting priorities for the election that they call the “Sweden Dream.” Here is a selection:
An earned income tax credit for parents, i.e. reduced taxes for families with children. Economic policy should benefit low-income earners more than high-income earners, and the overall tax burden should not increase.
Child benefit increased to SEK 2,000.
Maximum of twelve children in preschool for children 0–3 years old. Smaller classes in primary school.
Ban on burqa and niqab in public places.
The number of asylum seekers should not exceed the level of other Nordic countries.
Sweden should allocate 1 percent of its GNI to aid.
