The Courier – Debate: Together we can take responsibility for Sweden and for a safer environment

Sweden is in a tough economic situation. We are in the middle of a recession, households are pressured by high costs and healthcare is in acute crisis due to the government prioritizing tax cuts for the very richest over resources for welfare.

Around Sweden, regions are now forced to notify healthcare staff, and even in our region, healthcare is facing major savings requirements.

It didn’t have to be this way. The healthcare crisis is a result of the SD government’s ignorance and inability to manage the state’s finances in the long term. We social democrats have proposed solutions that would involve long-term and stable financing of Swedish healthcare. We have proposed doubled general appropriations for welfare, and doubled resources for healthcare. Instead of dealing with the acute crisis Welfare Sweden is facing, Prime Minister Kristersson and the SD government instead prioritize the introduction of a luxury ROT and the abolition of the plastic bag tax. The SD government’s actions are out of touch with reality.

At the same time that Sweden is in the middle of an economic crisis, war is raging in our surrounding world. In Europe, Russia continues its war of aggression against Ukraine against international law, in the Middle East the conflict between Israel and Hamas is now escalating. Common to the conflicts is that thousands of civilians fall victim to the indiscriminate violence. Repeated reports show that violations of international law are committed and that it is the civilian population that suffers the worst. The humanitarian disaster in Gaza is a fact. We demand an immediate ceasefire and it is now more important than ever to stand up for humanitarian aid and for international solidarity.

In June there are elections to the European Parliament. An election that takes place at the same time as the security policy situation is more uncertain than in a very long time and at a time when right-wing populist winds are blowing hard. The election will be a question of whether the EU should stand united against authoritarian states or be torn to pieces by nationalist forces. For us social democrats, the answer is obvious – our EU is based on community and cohesion. Together, we can take responsibility for a safer environment and a freer Europe.

The Social Democrats Örebro county through Matilda Ernkrans, party district chairman