Report by the Swedish National Audit Office on the application of the fiscal framework 2025

The plan does not take a position on the fiscal framework. The closest principle is that the government shall be responsible to the Riksdag and that economic policy shall be reported openly and be open to scrutiny, which speaks for the counter-proposal's demand for transparency and that criticism from expert authorities be taken seriously. At the same time, the plan wants to see large public investments financed with raised taxes on the wealthy, which makes support for a strict return to the framework uncertain.

• accountability to the Riksdagdecisive»Regeringen ska vara ansvarig inför riksdagen.« (party programme ↗)“The government shall be responsible to the Riksdag.”
• needs-based tax policy»Vänsterpartiet har en skattepolitik som ser till vilka behov som finns och där de med stora kapitaltillgångar eller höga löner får bidra mer till välfärden än de gör idag.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Left Party has a tax policy that looks to what needs exist and where those with large capital holdings or high incomes contribute more to welfare than they do today.”
• criticism of fiscal policy pursued»De massiva skattesänkningar som genomförts av högerpartier och socialdemokrater under många år har resulterat i att det nu finns 350 miljarder mindre per år till välfärden än 1990.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The massive tax cuts implemented by right-wing parties and social democrats over many years have resulted in there now being 350 billion less per year for welfare than in 1990.”

The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.

The plan explicitly stands up for the fiscal policy framework and for sound and well-managed public finances, and makes credibility of the Swedish economy an own commitment. The demand for an immediate return to the framework's principles and transparent accounting thus follows directly from the plan.

• fiscal policy frameworkdecisive»Vi står upp för det finanspolitiska ramverket och vill utveckla det för att möta vår tids samhällsproblem.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We stand up for the fiscal policy framework and want to develop it to meet our time's social problems.”
• sound public finances»Starkt finanspolitiskt ramverk, för sunda och välskötta offentliga finanser« (party programme ↗)“Strong fiscal policy framework, for sound and well-managed public finances”
• credible economic policy»Garantera trovärdigheten för svensk ekonomi.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Guarantee the credibility of the Swedish economy.”
• responsibility for public finances»Socialdemokraterna kommer aldrig att medverka till att underminera Sveriges ekonomi.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Social democrats will never participate in undermining Sweden's economy.”

The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.

The plan requires long-term sustainable public finances and justice between generations, and values the ability to scrutinise power critically. The counter-proposal's requirement for transparent accounting and a return to the framework's principles follow from those principles. The plan, however, wants to be able to loan-finance large green investments, which makes the conclusion less clear-cut.

• sustainable public financesdecisive»Den ska också säkerställa långsiktigt hållbara offentliga finanser, trygga välfärden och bidra till regional utveckling så att hela Sverige kan växa och må bra.« (party programme ↗)“It shall also ensure long-term sustainable public finances, secure welfare and contribute to regional development so that all of Sweden can grow and do well.”
• justice between generations»Den ekonomiska politiken ska driva på den hållbara omställningen och bidra till ökad jämlikhet samt rättvisa mellan generationer.« (party programme ↗)“Economic policy shall drive the sustainable transition and contribute to increased equality and justice between generations.”
• scrutiny of power»Att människor och institutioner ges möjlighet att kritiskt granska makten värnas av Miljöpartiet.« (party programme ↗)“That people and institutions are given the opportunity to scrutinise power critically is valued by the Greens.”
• loan-financed green investments»Stora investeringar i omställningen som gynnar framtida generationer ska kunna lånefinansieras.« (party programme ↗)“Large investments in the transition that benefit future generations shall be able to be loan-financed.”

The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.

The election manifesto makes the fiscal framework an explicit commitment: it shall be protected and strengthened and the order in the economy defended. The counter-proposal's requirement for immediate return to the framework's principles is therefore exactly what the plan prescribes. The plan moreover emphasises increased transparency and economy with tax money, which supports criticism of inadequate reporting and overly optimistic forecasts.

• protect fiscal frameworkdecisive»Det finanspolitiska ramverket ska värnas och förstärkas, och Sveriges långsiktiga ekonomiska stabilitet ska försvaras.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The fiscal framework shall be protected and strengthened, and Sweden's long-term economic stability shall be defended.”
• order and discipline in the economy»Ett ansvarsfullt ledarskap som stärker Sveriges ekonomi långsiktigt och försvarar ordning och reda i ekonomin och det finanspolitiska ramverket.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“A responsible leadership that strengthens Sweden's economy in the long term and defends order and discipline in the economy and the fiscal framework.”
• increased transparency»Sverige ska bli ännu mer transparent.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden shall become even more transparent.”
• economy with tax money»Beskattning begränsar dock människors självbestämmande, därför bör skattemedel användas sparsamt« (party programme ↗)“Taxation however limits people's self-determination, therefore tax money should be used economically”

The plan binds the party to stable public finances and that predictability in the state's actions strengthens the individual's security. The counter-proposal's demands in substance – that policy shall be designed according to the financial policy framework and reported transparently – follow directly from that commitment, strengthened by the plan's view of transparency and scrutiny as a prerequisite for democracy. The plan does, however, not comment on how a scrutiny report shall be treated in the Riksdag.

• stable public financesdecisive»Stabila offentliga finanser och låg statsskuld skapar utrymme för Sverige att möta kriser utan att välfärden hotas.« (party programme ↗)“Stable public finances and low state debt create room for Sweden to meet crises without welfare being threatened.”
• predictable state policy»När förutsägbarheten i statens agerande ökar stärks också den enskildes trygghet.« (party programme ↗)“When predictability in the state's actions increases, the individual's security is also strengthened.”
• transparency and scrutiny»Offentlighetsprincipen har en grundläggande betydelse för att förankra och fördjupa folkstyret, och är en förutsättning för granskning och debatt.« (party programme ↗)“The principle of transparency is of fundamental importance for anchoring and deepening democracy, and is a prerequisite for scrutiny and debate.”
• fully financed reforms»Reformen ska vara fullt finansierad och tydligt sänka skatten på jobb och företagande.« (party programme ↗)“The reform shall be fully financed and clearly lower tax on jobs and business.”

The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.

The plan binds the party to responsibly managing public finances and stewardship where each decision is tested against its long-term consequences. The counter-proposal's demands for immediate return to the framework's principles and transparent reporting follow from that line. The programme additionally requires independent audit as a means against abuse of power, which speaks for a scrutiny authority's criticism to be taken seriously.

• responsibly managed public financesdecisive»ren miljö, ansvarsfullt skötta offentliga finanser och ett robust försäkringssystem måste« (party programme ↗)“clean environment, responsibly managed public finances and a robust insurance system must”
• restraint in spending»återhållsamhet i de offentliga utgifterna.« (party programme ↗)“restraint in public spending.”
• independent control of power»Det måste finnas effektiva medel mot maktmissbruk och maktkoncentration. En obunden« (party programme ↗)“There must be effective means against abuse of power and concentration of power. An independent”
• stewardship and long-termism»Alla politiska beslut bör fattas i enlighet med förvaltarskapsprincipen, vilket innebär att« (party programme ↗)“All political decisions should be made in accordance with the stewardship principle, which means that”

The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.

The plan states that the surplus target shall be safeguarded, that a balance target is not current and that all new reforms must be financed or fit within the target. The counter-proposal's requirements for an immediate return to the financial policy framework's principles and for transparent reporting follow directly from these commitments. The plan also requires strong public finances and that public waste be combated.

• the surplus target shall be safeguardeddecisive»Överskottsmålet ska värnas och det är inte aktuellt att övergå till ett balansmål.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The surplus target shall be safeguarded and it is not current to move to a balance target.”
• financed reforms»Alla nya löften och reformer – som till exempel våra inkomstskattesänkningar – behöver finansieras eller rymmas inom överskottsmålet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“All new commitments and reforms – such as for example our income tax cuts – need to be financed or fit within the surplus target.”
• strong public finances»Statens finanser ska vara starka.« (party programme ↗)“State finances shall be strong.”
• respect for taxpayers' money»Offentligt slöseri i alla former ska bekämpas.« (party programme ↗)“Public waste in all forms shall be combated.”

The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.

The plan establishes that sound public finances and respect for the fiscal policy framework are a fundamental prerequisite for welfare. The counter-proposal's demand for an immediate return to the framework's principles, following an independent review showing deviations and lack of transparency, is a direct application of that commitment. The plan furthermore requires accountability when the management of public resources falls short.

• respect for the fiscal policy frameworkdecisive»Sunda statsfinanser och respekt för det finanspolitiska ramverket är grundförutsättningar för att långsiktigt kunna bevara en hög nivå av välfärd.« (party programme ↗)“Sound public finances and respect for the fiscal policy framework are fundamental prerequisites for being able to long-term maintain a high level of welfare.”
• stewardship of shared resources»Ett varsamt hanterande av de gemensamma ekonomiska resurserna är en viktig och naturlig del av den sverigedemokratiska förvaltarskapstanken.« (party programme ↗)“Careful management of our shared economic resources is an important and natural part of the Sweden Democrats' stewardship thinking.”
• accountability»Sverigedemokraterna vill stärka möjligheter för ansvarsutkrävande när hanteringen av de offentliga resurserna brister.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Sweden Democrats want to strengthen opportunities for accountability when the management of public resources falls short.”
• results requirement»Begära tydliga resultat för varje offentlig satsning« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Demand clear results for every public investment”

The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.