The Social Democrats have presented their election programme, setting out the reforms on which the party is campaigning.
Nine out of ten Swedes benefit from the Social Democrats' policies, party leader Magdalena Andersson says at a press conference.
The election programme includes, among other things, the abolition of the qualifying period deduction, extra child and study allowance for the Christmas and summer holidays, and a maximum limit of twelve students per teacher in primary school.
In total, it will cost approximately SEK 65 billion over the next term.
This is considerably less than what some other parties have promised in their election pledges, says S's economic policy spokesperson Mikael Damberg.
Bring down unemployment
The reforms will be financed by raising taxes for those earning over 70,000 kronor a month, reducing subsidies for independent schools, and by “stopping the waste of tax money.” A new bank tax should also contribute.
The most important part of the financing is reducing unemployment, because it costs Sweden a lot of money today, Damberg says.
S's new promise in the election programme concerns building on the dental care reform implemented during the term of office.
The government has introduced high-cost protection that means people aged 67 or older pay only ten percent of the reference price for certain dental treatments.
Now S wants to go one step further and include all adults.
"We want to take the next big step in the Social Democratic welfare state and the Swedish welfare society. We are taking the fight for the dental care reform of the century to the polls," says Magdalena Andersson.
Such a reform costs around six billion kronor a year, S estimates. That price tag also includes more places in dental education.
To be done in several stages
The reform will not be implemented in its entirety at once, but S aims to have it in place during the next term.
This won't happen overnight. It will have to happen in several steps, but it will become a reality, Andersson says.
The Sweden Democrats and the Left Party are also running on similar reforms to dental care.
S also wants to reintroduce free dental care for 19- to 23-year-olds, something the government removed during its term.
Regarding the qualifying deduction, the S leader cannot promise that it will be abolished for everyone if the red-greens win the election. C wants it to be retained.
This is an important election promise that we will need to negotiate with other parties, she says.
The Social Democrats' election programme includes, among other things:
Abolished qualifying deduction
Extra child and study allowance for Christmas and summer holidays
Employees' pension for those who worked early in life but had to stop working before retirement age
A programme to reduce waste of tax funds
Free dental care for 19- to 23-year-olds
Expand dental care support to all adults
High-cost protection for pharmaceuticals restored
No tax increase for those earning less than SEK 70,000
Investigate fixed price lists in veterinary care
Investment support for rental apartments and government construction loans
Free public transport for young people and students
A broad energy agreement
A new regulation of electricity network fees
New offshore wind farms
Move the trawl limit permanently
Language requirements in elderly care
Harder pressure on banks and food chains
Language requirements in elderly care
Shorter waiting times in healthcare through national healthcare contracts
Maximum limit of twelve students per teacher in primary school
All children in primary school should have the right to free time
Mafia team vs gang leader
Continued tight migration
Indexing government grants to municipalities and regions
Protect and develop public service
A fifty-year commitment to a strengthened defence
Deepened military cooperation in Northern Europe, around the Baltic Sea and within the EU
Emergency hospitals to be established on Gotland and in Norrbotten
Source: Social Democrats' election programme
