The budget framework - expenditure ceiling, expenditure frameworks and income in the state budget

The plan requires a fundamentally different economic direction from the current one, with far more resources to welfare, climate investments and jobs and with increased taxes on large fortunes and capital gains. A framework decision built on its own guidelines, its own spending limits and its own revenue calculation is the form such an alternative must take in the budget process. The counter-proposal's substance is not specified, so the support rests on the plan in substance rejecting the spending levels and direction that form the basis of the committee's framework.

• significantly increased spending frameworkdecisive»mycket mer resurser ska och kan satsas på välfärd, klimatinvesteringar, vård och jobbpolitik än vad de andra partierna gör« (2022 manifesto ↗)“far more resources should and can be invested in welfare, climate investments, care and job policy than what the other parties do”
• own revenue calculation, raised capital taxes»Vi vill inte höja skatten för vanliga löntagare utan på mångmiljonarv, lyxvillor och stora aktievinster som man inte ens behöver jobba för.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We do not want to raise taxes on ordinary wage earners but on multi-million inheritances, luxury villas and large stock gains that you don't even have to work for.”
• massive green investment programme»Vänsterpartiet föreslår ett massivt investeringsprogram för den gröna industrin.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Left Party proposes a massive investment programme for the green industry.”
• full employment as goal»Vi vill se en samlad strategi för full sysselsättning« (party programme ↗)“We want to see a comprehensive strategy for full employment”

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 sets out its own budgetary policy direction: state grants to municipalities and regions shall continue to increase and large tax cuts make this impossible, at the same time as the framework shall be developed and the surplus target be replaced by a balance target. The counter-proposal's demands that expenditure caps, expenditure ceilings and income calculation be built on own guidelines for economic policy thereby follow the plan's own line rather than the government's. The plan does not, however, express itself on concrete levels for the expenditure cap, so coverage is derived.

• increased state grants before tax cutsdecisive»Vi vill fortsätta öka statens bidrag till kommuner och regioner. Stora skattesänkningar omöjliggör det.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to continue increasing state grants to municipalities and regions. Large tax cuts make it impossible.”
• balance target for investments»För att frigöra mer utrymme för nödvändiga investeringar vill vi övergå till ett balansmål.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“To free up more room for necessary investments we want to move to a balance target.”
• developed fiscal framework»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 framework and want to develop it to meet the challenges of our time.”
• progressive taxation»Progressiv och utjämnande beskattning efter bärkraft.« (party programme ↗)“Progressive and redistributive taxation according to ability to pay.”

The plan requires a budgetary direction that differs sharply from the one the committee's framework expresses: at least 100 billion per year in transformation investment, raised welfare compensation and progressive taxation of capital. The counter-proposal requires precisely that spending ceilings, spending frameworks and income calculation rest on their own guidelines with their own changes in tax and fee rules, which is the order the plan's commitments presuppose. The plan however states no own ceiling or framework levels in kronor, so the conclusion is derived from the spending and tax commitments.

• large state climate investmentdecisive»investera minst 100 miljarder per år i att ställa om så att Sverige blir ett fossilfritt välfärdsland senast år 2030« (2022 manifesto ↗)“invest at least 100 billion per year in transforming so that Sweden becomes a fossil-free welfare state by 2030 at the latest”
• progressive capital taxation»att de med mest pengar, som också orsakar större utsläpp, ska bidra mer till omställningen och välfärden genom en progressiv beskattning av kapital« (2022 manifesto ↗)“those with the most money, who also cause greater emissions, should contribute more to the transformation and welfare through progressive taxation of capital”
• use strong state finances»Sverige behöver dra nytta av sina starka statsfinanser och starka utgångsläge i den gröna« (party programme ↗)“Sweden needs to benefit from its strong state finances and strong starting position in the green”
• raised welfare spending»höja garantipensionen och reformera pensionssystemet med syfte att höja pensionerna, mest för de med de lägsta pensionerna« (2022 manifesto ↗)“raise the guaranteed pension and reform the pension system with the aim of raising pensions, most for those with the lowest pensions”

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 sets out its own budget direction — lower total tax burden, no tax increases that harm jobs and a protected fiscal policy framework — but says nothing about the spending ceiling levels or whose guidelines should form the basis for the framework decision. The counter-proposal's demand is described without clear direction, so only the closest principle can be applied: the party wants to see different economic policy than proposed, with lower taxes on jobs and business. That weakly supports a framework decision built on its own guidelines, but the basis is thin.

• reduced total tax burdendecisive»Det totala skattetrycket måste ner nästa mandatperiod. Vi kommer inte att medverka till några skattehöjningar som skadar jobben, det egna sparandet eller gör det dyrare att bo.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The total tax burden must be reduced during the next parliamentary term. We will not participate in any tax increases that harm jobs, personal savings or make housing more expensive.”
• protect fiscal policy framework»Det finanspolitiska ramverket ska värnas och förstärkas, och Sveriges långsiktiga ekonomiska stabilitet ska försvaras. Politiken ska hushålla med skattebetalarnas pengar. Mer pengar ska läggas på välfärdens kärna, mindre på bidrag.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The fiscal policy framework must be protected and strengthened, and Sweden's long-term economic stability must be defended. Policy must be prudent with taxpayers' money. More money must go to the core of welfare, less to benefits.”
• reduced tax for low incomes»Sverige behöver en ekonomisk politik som skapar fler jobb, mer frihet och starkare hushåll. Därför vill vi sänka skatten, särskilt för dem med lägre inkomster och för de viktiga småföretagen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden needs economic policy that creates more jobs, more freedom and stronger households. Therefore, we want to lower taxes, especially for those with lower incomes and for the important small businesses.”
• taxes that reward work»Det ska också löna sig att utbilda sig och arbeta hårdare, att skapa och bygga upp företag.« (party programme ↗)“It should also pay to educate yourself and work harder, to create and build up businesses.”

flags: motforslag_utan_saklig_riktning

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 does not take a position on the expenditure cap's level or on an alternative income calculation for the relevant years. The closest lying principle is that the party's own budget line is built on stable public finances combined with reduced tax on work, and an alternative framework built on others' guidelines with further tax changes does not follow from the plan. The position thus rests on weak ground.

• 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 government debt create space for Sweden to meet crises without welfare being threatened.”
• reduced tax on work»För att stärka arbetslinjen och hushållens ekonomi i ett oroligt ekonomiskt läge vill vi skyndsamt genomföra ett nytt brett jobbskatteavdrag.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“To strengthen the work line and households' economy in a turbulent economic situation, we want quickly to implement a new broad job tax deduction.”
• fully financed tax reform»Reformen ska vara fullt finansierad och tydligt sänka skatten på jobb och företagande.« (party programme ↗)“The reform shall be fully financed and clearly lower the tax on jobs and entrepreneurship.”

The plan specifies the party's own budget priorities — healthcare, security, and reduced tax on pensions — and demands restraint in public expenditure, but says nothing about the levels of the expenditure ceiling or about the alternative guidelines on which the counter-proposal is based. A framework decision based on other guidelines than the plan's own priorities cannot therefore be said to have the plan's support. The stance rests on the closest adjacent principle and is uncertain.

• restraint in public expendituredecisive»återhållsamhet i de offentliga utgifterna.« (party programme ↗)“restraint in public expenditure.”
• healthcare is prioritized in the budget»Vi prioriterar vården, för alla dem som lider i väntan på vård.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We prioritize healthcare for all those who suffer while waiting for care.”
• reduced tax on pensions»Sänkt skatt på pension.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Reduced tax on pensions.”

The plan requires that the surplus target is protected, that all reforms are financed within it and that total taxes are not raised during the term of office. An alternative budget framework based on its own guidelines and further changes to tax and fee rules is not supported by these commitments. The plan therefore speaks against the counter-proposal's demands.

• protected surplus targetdecisive»Överskottsmålet ska värnas och det är inte aktuellt att övergå till ett balansmål.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The surplus target shall be protected and it is not current to transition to a balanced budget target.”
• tax-raise freeze»Införa ett skattehöjarstopp under den kommande mandatperioden som innebär att de samlade skatterna inte höjs« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Introduce a tax-raise freeze during the coming term of office which means that total taxes are not raised”
• financed reforms»Alla nya löften och reformer – som till exempel våra inkomstskattesänkningar – behöver finansieras eller rymmas inom överskottsmålet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“All new promises and reforms – such as for example our income tax reductions – need to be financed or fit within the surplus target.”

The matter concerns an alternative expenditure ceiling and an alternative income calculation whose substantive content is unclear, and the plan does not take a position on other parties' budget alternatives. The closest principle is the requirement for sound public finances, respect for the fiscal framework and that economic policy prioritizes Swedish citizens' interests. Based on that principle, there is no support in the plan for replacing the framework with an indefinite alternative.

• sound public financesdecisive»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 framework are basic preconditions for being able long-term to maintain a high level of welfare.”
• Swedish interests first»Prioritera svenska medborgares intressen i den ekonomiska politiken« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Prioritize Swedish citizens' interests in economic policy”