The party's congress in Gothenburg this week will deal with more than 4,000 motions, a new party program, and the party board's proposal for new political guidelines, which will lay the foundation for the 2026 election campaign.
Among other things, they want to "take back control" and "stop the profit hunt" in welfare. New is that the party board does not only want to ban profit-taking in elementary and upper secondary schools, but also in preschool and adult education.
Want to go further
But, among others, the S-association Reformisterna and the youth league SSU want to go further. Reformisterna write in their alternative proposal that profit-taking should be banned also in healthcare and that the goal should be that school, healthcare, and care should exclusively be driven in public or ideologically-driven management.
The party board expresses itself more vaguely – profit-driven activities should decrease and a "take back control-investigation" should be appointed.
S-leader Magdalena Andersson notes that the problems for school are obvious, unlike healthcare and care.
- Private doctors, we have always had. To regulate the healthcare market, one needs to look more closely, so one does it in a balanced way, she says.
Another hot issue is how Sweden will afford both strong welfare and hundreds of billions for military buildup and infrastructure.
Raise taxes
The party board has proposed a total defense fund of 250 billion kronor, financed with borrowed money. Loan financing is something that the left wing of S has driven for a long time.
- One must be able to make large investments that do not burden the year's budget, says SSU's chairman Lisa Nåbo.
Like previous S-congresses, there are many motions about raised taxes. For example, a new wealth tax, an inheritance and gift tax, and to tax properties more.
The party board says no to this, but wants to see a tax reform. But very little is said about how the reform should look, beyond that large capital incomes can be taxed more.
The congress 2021 was content with a decision to aim for a tax reform.
The largest left turn?
The left wing of the party has already won a victory – the party board has swung since the congress 2021 and now proposes that the deduction for sick leave in the sickness insurance should be abolished.
But other old demands from the left wing have still difficulty getting through, such as generally shortened working hours. The party board considers it a question for trade unions and employers.
Moderate leader Ulf Kristersson has criticized the new S-policy for being the largest left turn since the wage earner funds.
This does not hold with the S-leader, and she does not think that there is increased pressure in the party to go left.
- I would say that we are moving forward.
What: The Social Democrats are holding their 42nd party congress
When: May 28 to 1 June
Why: To decide on a new party program, new political guidelines, and over 4,000 motions
Raise state grants to municipalities and regions in line with inflation each year
Ban profit-taking in preschools, elementary schools, and upper secondary schools
Raise child benefits and make the strengthened housing benefit permanent
Abolish the deduction for sick leave in the sickness insurance (New)
Higher pension - worked years are given greater significance for pension levels, not just salary levels.
Create a loan-financed state defense fund
Establish a state investment bank for, for example, new AI and energy technology
Mark young people on their way into crime with personal mentors or electronic ankle tags
Crime prevention efforts for children should start from five years old.
Limit gang criminals' lives - for example with travel bans, contact bans, and business bans.
Source: The party board's political guidelines
