The Social Democratic Party, the Green Party, the Left Party, and the Centre Party are strongly critical of the proposal presented by the government and the Sweden Democrats regarding how public service is to be financed.
According to the opposition parties, the funds will not be sufficient for the tasks of SR, SVT, and UR.
In recent years, public service companies have made fairly large cutbacks, which will continue, says the Green Party member Mats Berglund, who is the chairman of the Riksdag's cultural committee.
Concerned about journalism
He means that cutbacks are to be expected in drama production, news dissemination, and at the local stations.
Journalism is something one is extremely concerned about, he says.
The government and the Sweden Democrats propose that public service appropriations should increase by 3% for 2026, by 2% for 2027-2030, and then by 1% up to 2033. Previously, the appropriations have been written up by 2% annually.
Culture Minister Parisa Liljestrand (M) highlights that the change implies an increase, and a total of 83 billion kronor over eight years. However, she acknowledges that the companies must also make streamlining efforts going forward.
The opposition parties want public service to receive more money instead. Something they, among other things, motivate with the companies' requirements for security and preparedness, as part of the total defense.
The security situation has changed, a lot of things must be done now. They must strengthen their shield protection, SVT has developed a Russia desk, and I believe that more such desks will be needed, directed towards states that direct disinformation towards us, says the Social Democratic Party's cultural policy spokesperson Lawen Redar.
Want a new approach
The general price level for producing TV and film has also risen, she says.
We see that this situation requires a completely new approach.
The Centre Party's cultural policy spokesperson Catarina Deremar writes in a comment that the financing is "deeply disturbing".
"I am convinced that this will hit hard on local presence and local monitoring throughout the country. We know that public service has a good reputation in Sweden, and that then forcing them to scale down their operations in times of disinformation risks threatening democracy."
The Left Party's cultural policy spokesperson Vasiliki Tsouplaki is also critical.
"It will be noticeable in our daily lives when appreciated radio and TV programs disappear, and fewer local news are reported", she writes in a comment.
