Svantesson points to the government's investments in defense, the justice system, and infrastructure, for which she makes no apologies.
I will also never apologize for supporting households in a very tough time with high prices and a tough situation for many, she says, and continues:
It is fundamentally the right policy and it will also break the recession.
Don't understand
The Fiscal Policy Council writes that the two most expensive budget reforms, the earned income tax credit and halving the food VAT, can provide "some stimulus", but that an expanded earned income tax credit is ineffective for employment and that the reduced food VAT distorts the tax system.
But they criticize us for lowering taxes for ordinary people. I don't think they really understand how ordinary people have been doing over the years, she says.
The Social Democrats' economic policy spokesman, Mikael Damberg, believes that today's sharp criticism is another burden on the Tidö government. You cannot be careless with taxpayers' money.
If the government's own expert body criticizes the government in the harshest way ever, then perhaps the Minister of Finance should show some humility in the face of that and listen to the experts' criticism, he says.
Would have been ashamed
If it were you who were in Elisabeth Svantesson's shoes now, what would you have done?
I would have been a little ashamed if it were clear that we were leaving Sweden in a worse state than necessary and where the Swedish people are more indebted than before.
Can Svantesson stay in her chair?
"The voters will decide that in September," says Mikael Damberg.
