Ebba Busch Considers Following Hungary's Example to Boost Birth Rates

KD leader Ebba Busch is open to following Hungary's example to increase birth rates. "I fundamentally prefer lower tax pressure on families rather than more benefits," she tells the newspaper.

The decline in birth rates in Sweden is no secret. The Swedish government recently initiated an investigation to find out why birth rates have decreased and how to stimulate them.

In Hungary, special tax reductions for families have been introduced to counteract the declining birth rates. Hungarian women are offered half a million kronor for having three children.

Ebba Busch emphasizes in GP that it is important to give people hope for the future. However, she also states that she is open to considering economic measures to increase birth rates in Sweden.

"If there are high taxes on forming a family, it is clear that it has an impact as well. I fundamentally prefer lower tax pressure on families rather than more benefits. That is my standpoint as a conservative."

Believes in a Comeback for Conservative Values

The party leader believes that in Sweden, we need to be less afraid to talk about how to stimulate birth rates. Among other things, Busch tells GP that they want to "support women."

"It is still the case that sick leave rates are twice as high among women. They often skyrocket after the second child. We need to make the labor market more family-friendly."

At the same time, she believes in "a conservative wave" among young people, which she believes will increase birth rates.

"I think it will be interesting to see how this changes within a ten-year cycle. Because if you look at the young generation in Sweden, conservatism has made a comeback. We see a value-based upswing for long-term sustainable relationships and the value of family," Busch tells GP.