Liberals call for income tax cut in post-election budget negotiations
Sweden's Liberals are demanding an income tax cut in the first budget after the election, according to party leader Simona Mohamsson. The proposal is estimated to cost 30 billion kronor.
"This is a strict requirement in the upcoming right-wing negotiations," the Liberal leader was quoted by the TT news agency as saying.
The Liberals want working to be more financially rewarding, and the state income tax should be lowered in several stages starting on January 1st, 2027, according to Mohamsson. In the long term, the goal is to halve it.
"Today, it acts as a punitive tax for anyone who studies for a really difficult qualification," she told a press conference during the Almedalen political week.
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The tax affects high earners and currently stands at 20 percent on any income exceeding 643,000 kronor a year.
According to Mohamsson, it costs around three billion kronor to lower the income tax by one percentage point. The ultimate goal is to bring it down to ten percent, amounting to a total cost of 30 billion kronor.
"That will be up for negotiation, but I think we should at least be able to talk about one or two percent by the turn of the year," she said.
The other parties that make up the ruling Tidö coalition do not want to see such a tax cut.
Swedish vocabulary: income tax – inkomstskatt
Decision on whether to charge ex-Northvolt chief expected after summer
The preliminary investigation into a fatal accident at the Northvolt battery factory in Skellefteå has been handed over to the suspects' lawyers. A decision on whether to bring formal charges will come this autumn at the earliest, prosecutor Christer B Jarlås told the TT news agency.
The suspicions against Northvolt's former CEO, Peter Carlsson, concern workplace safety crimes causing another person's death, following a deadly explosion at the factory in 2023. Another senior manager at Northvolt is also a suspect in the case.
"The preliminary investigation has been sent out for final notification to the two defence lawyers," said Jarlås.
The prosecutor is now waiting for the defence to get back to him with any requests for supplementary information.
"We are awaiting the defence's response, and we don't expect to receive that until after the summer holidays," said Jarlås.
The prosecutor rejected the argument that Carlsson was too high up in the organisation to be held responsible, maintaining that the former CEO was actively involved with operations on the factory floor.
Swedish vocabulary: a prosecutor – en åklagare
Heatwave heading for Sweden as SMHI issues yellow warning
The heatwave that has been tormenting Western Europe over the last few days is now moving into Sweden, albeit at somewhat lower temperatures than the over 40C highs we've been seeing in some parts of Europe.
Swedish weather agency SMHI has issued a yellow weather warning for high temperatures in the southern parts of the country, which will remain in place until Sunday.
On Thursday and Friday, temperatures could climb past 30C in parts of Blekinge and the Kalmar region. Nights are also expected to be balmy, reducing the chances of cooling down and airing out homes.
According to the forecasts, the heatwave will then spread further north across the country. Over the weekend, temperatures could hover around 30C in many areas in southern Sweden, meaning additional warnings may be issued.
More unstable weather is on the horizon for the beginning of next week, bringing rain showers and cooler temperatures nationwide.
Swedish vocabulary: a heatwave – en värmebölja
Sweden Democrat leader calls for public map tracking convicted paedophiles
The far-right Sweden Democrats want to place people convicted of sex offences committed against children on an interactive map open to the general public.
"We need a map where you, as a parent, can see if there are paedophiles living in the area you live in or are planning to move to," Sweden Democrat leader Jimmie Åkesson told public broadcaster SVT.
Exactly what such a mapping system would look like, and how long after serving their sentence a convicted person would remain visible on the map, requires further investigation, Åkesson said. According to him, the map could be designed as a standalone app or as a filter applied to existing mapping services.
Åkesson also called for more decisive action to crack down on child sexual abuse.
"We need better national coordination regarding both victims of crime and those who are at risk of becoming practising paedophiles, so that we can prevent these abuses from happening," he said.
Swedish vocabulary: a map – en karta
Could a price hike curb Sweden's menopausal hormone therapy shortage?
Reports of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) shortages have been coming thick and fast in Sweden. The Dental and Pharmaceutical Benefits Agency (TLV) has now given the green light to a price hike aimed at curbing the shortage of hormone patches.
HRT patches release oestrogen into the bloodstream to relieve menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes, mood swings and vaginal dryness.
Sandoz, the pharmaceutical company behind the Estradot hormone patch, had warned that the supply crisis could worsen, and has now been granted permission to charge more for the product, Dagens Medicin reports.
TLV, the government agency responsible for the decision, stated that without the price increase, there is a real risk that the medication could disappear from the Swedish market entirely.
In its application for the price hike, Sandoz pointed to a sharp increase in global demand which could impact availability for years to come. The company warned of even more severe shortages if prices were not permitted to rise.
The price increase will take effect on July 1st, bringing a 55-60 percent hike for the 50, 75 and 100 microgram/24-hour strengths.
Are you affected by the HRT shortages in Sweden? We'd love to hear from you. Please email me at emma.lofgren@thelocal.com.
Swedish vocabulary: to come thick and fast – att dugga tätt