Left Party Criticizes Government for Neglecting Norrland's Needs

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Left Party Criticizes Government for Neglecting Norrland's Needs
Photo: Henrik Montgomery/TT

The Left Party accuses the government of failing Norrland and wants the region to receive billions in repayment for its natural resources. The V-leader also demands that the Minister for Enterprise visits Kiruna to see how the state can support the municipality.

Prior to the Left Party leader Nooshi Dadgostar's summer speech in Luleå, the report "Norrland in the center" was presented, which was developed by a working group in the party.

In the report, the government, and also previous Social Democratic-led governments, are accused of having failed Norrland. It claims that state reinvestments have been lacking and that residents have been left with failing services and poorly maintained infrastructure.

Dadgostar promises to fight for Norrland in a potential government cooperation with the Social Democrats after the next election, even if the Left Party has not taken a final position on exactly how the proposals should be designed.

Demand justice

It's time for Norrland to get paid for its riches, said Dadgostar in her summer speech to just under a hundred listeners.

The report proposes that Norrland receive a refund of the profits from natural resources that benefit the entire country.

The refund consists mainly of 5 öre per produced kWh going to the municipalities via energy tax. Some will also go to the regions so that the difference between municipalities does not become too large.

Another proposal is that revenue from property tax for electricity-producing properties should stay in the municipality and not go to the state.

The tax that forest owners pay for the sale of forest is proposed to be taxed in the municipality where the forest property is located.

Six billion

Together with a significant increase in the mineral fee that mining companies pay, the Left Party estimates that Norrland could get around six billion kronor per year back for its natural resources.

Dadgostar also demands that Minister of Trade Ebba Busch (Christian Democrats) travel to Kiruna, after the announcement that an additional 6,000 Kiruna residents must move to make way for the mine.

She needs to immediately travel to Kiruna and explain how she will solve this issue, says the Left Party leader.

It's not one or two municipalities that can solve the major issues associated with the urban relocation. It's a matter for the government.

In her speech, Dadgostar ridiculed the fact that none of the government ministers come from north of the Dalälven and she called Busch and Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson "our time's colonial lords".

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By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for our readers

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