In Sweden, political parties are clashing over who deserves credit for the decision to lower the food tax. While the government coalition parties, including the Moderates, Liberals, Christian Democrats, and Sweden Democrats, all claim responsibility, internal tensions have surfaced. The Sweden Democrats' early claims of success have sparked irritation within the government, as the proposal was significantly revised from its original form.
Political Tensions Rise Over Credit for Reduced Food Tax in Sweden
Political Tensions Rise Over Credit for Reduced Food Tax in Sweden
All four Tidö parties are claiming credit for the reduced food tax. High up in the government, there is irritation over the Sweden Democrats portraying it as their victory in the negotiations, according to Expressen's sources.
– It's ridiculous, says a source.
Now the food tax is set to be lowered, thanks to the Moderates and the youth league Muf. Or the Liberals. Or the Christian Democrats. Or the Sweden Democrats. It seems to depend on who you ask.
On social media, the Tidö parties are broadcasting their own explanations, with everyone taking credit for the proposal that aims to make everyday life easier and butter cheaper.
Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson (M) is shopping for green apples at Munkbrohallen in Gamla Stan, Stockholm, and says that the Moderate-led government is behind the decision, in a video clip on Instagram.
The Christian Democrats' Nike Örbrink claims it as a pure KD victory and elaborates for Expressen:
– It was one party that brought up the falukorv and put Swedish families' household economy at the center during the election campaign. Now it's us delivering in this area, slice by slice.
Alice Landerholm is the campaign manager for the Moderate Youth League.
– As usual, we come up with something and then it becomes reality! We demanded this already in March before the last budget process. Two months later, M and SD picked it up.
Dispute Over “Jimmie Bag”
In his summer speech, SD leader Jimmie Åkesson said they had good prospects of getting the proposal through in budget negotiations with the government, and that it was a contentious issue for the party.
At the government level, there is irritation that the Sweden Democrats early on claimed they had pushed through the so-called “Jimmie bag.”
The irritation is found high up in the government and concerns the fact that the proposal is completely reworked compared to the original proposal from SD. There, Swedish food would be particularly prioritized.
– SD's proposal would never have been approved by the EU, says a government source.
– It's ridiculous for SD to say they pushed this through, it simply isn't true, says another source.
Åkesson: “Don't Know Whose Idea”
SD leader Jimmie Åkesson himself says that the Tidö parties had different approaches in the budget negotiations. He doesn't think it's possible to say who had the idea of lowering the food tax first but emphasizes that he personally fought for the reduced food tax.
– We have had this very high on the agenda throughout this year, and now we see the result of us pushing this very hard.
SD is currently running a social media campaign claiming credit for the reform and stating that it is SD that has pushed through a “historic reduction” in the negotiations.
But the SD leader doesn't go that far.
– It is the coalition parties together that should take credit for both the sweet and salty in the budget.
Simona Mohamsson (L) disagrees with the description that it would be a particularly moderate or Sweden Democrat grocery bag.
– This is the Swedish people's bag.