Swedish party leaders clash on taxes and work permits in live debate

A debate in Stockholm featured Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and opposition leader Magdalena Andersson arguing over tax policy and economic outcomes. Kristersson demanded specifics on which tax increases a potential Andersson-led government would implement, and said wealthy people would pay for everything. Andersson responded that Kristersson’s approach favors keeping taxes low for the wealthy and claimed current policies have weakened growth and increased unemployment. Sweden Democrat leader Jimmie Akesson criticized the opposition’s economic policy as unreasonably shoddy and argued that chasing wealthy people would drive away investments, businesses, and jobs. In a separate debate, Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist and Simona Mohamsson clashed over stricter work-permit rules, deportations, and integration policy for children and youth.

"Kristersson demanded answers on which tax hikes a potential Andersson government would push through in the event of a centre-left election victory. "Someone else who is filthy rich is going to pay for everything," said Kristersson. But Andersson countered: "It seems like [your] way forward is that those who are wealthy should pay as little tax as possible, and that this supposedly creates jobs and growth," said Andersson, claiming that the policies of the government and the Sweden Democrats have caused growth to wither and unemployment to rise."

"Kristersson said he believed Andersson, a former finance minister, was "painting a dark picture" of the Swedish economy. Sweden Democrat leader Jimmie Akesson described the opposition's economic policy as "unreasonably shoddy". "The left wants to chase wealthy people out of the country. By doing that, you aren't just chasing out people, but also investments, businesses and jobs," he said."

"In another debate, things got heated between the Centre Party's Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist and Liberal leader Simona Mohamsson on the government's stricter rules for work permits. "These people have educated themselves, they behave, they pay taxes, and yet they are the ones to be deported," Thand Ringqvist said. "It is catastrophically bad integration policy." Mohamsson countered that the government will soon present its list of professions to be exempted from the increased salary requirement."

"Mohamsson countered that the government will soon present its list of professions to be exempted from the increased salary requirement, and wondered in turn if the Centre Party had any integration proposals for children and youth in marginalised areas. "It is very easy to stand here on stage and speak pretty words instead of saying what you are actually going to do about the integratio"

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