Support for households

The plan requires fixed frameworks for taking Sweden out of fossil dependence and that costs for emissions increase long-term and predictably. A lowered fuel tax runs straight against both commitments, while the counter-proposal's demand for support that is well-targeted and just without deepening fossil dependence answers to the plan's distribution policy. The plan also establishes that all political decisions must take account of the acute state of the climate crisis.

• out of fossil dependencedecisive»Vi vill sätta fasta ramar för att ta Sverige ur fossilberoendet« (party programme ↗)“We want to set fixed frameworks for taking Sweden out of fossil dependence”
• rising emission costs»Kostnaderna för utsläpp behöver öka långsiktigt på ett sätt som är tryggt och förutsägbart« (party programme ↗)“Costs for emissions need to increase long-term in a way that is secure and predictable”
• climate considerations in every decision»Omställningen behöver ske omgående och alla politiska beslut behöver ta hänsyn till den akuta kris som vi befinner oss i.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The transition needs to happen immediately and all political decisions need to take account of the acute crisis we are in.”
• well-targeted redistribution»det kräver en annan politik och att vi omfördelar resurserna från rika till fattiga människor« (2022 manifesto ↗)“it requires a different policy and that we redistribute resources from rich to poor people”

Worldstate weighed in: Inflation is down to 0.5 percent year-on-year — The crisis argument for broad price support weakens, which strengthens the plan's demand for targeted interventions

The election manifesto promises targeted and smart support that does not fuel inflation, and the party programme wishes to stop Swedish fossil dependence. The counter-proposal requests support that is more accurate and fair and does not strengthen fossil dependence, which coincides with the plan's line to instead increase the production of renewable fuels. That the plan protects those who must take the car does not justify a broad fuel tax cut.

• targeted and accurate supportdecisive»Med riktade och smarta stöd kan vi stötta människor utan att driva på inflationen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“With targeted and smart support we can support people without fuelling inflation.”
• reduced fossil dependence»Stopp för svenskt beroende av fossila bränslen från andra länder.« (party programme ↗)“Stop Swedish dependence on fossil fuels from other countries.”
• more renewable fuels»Vi vill öka den svenska produktionen av förnybara drivmedel, så att det blir lättare att tanka fossilfritt i Sverige.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We wish to increase Swedish production of renewable fuels, so that it becomes easier to refuel without fossil fuels in Sweden.”
• consideration for car dependence»Klimatkrisen kan aldrig lösas med att skuldbelägga människor som behöver ta bilen till affären – det är helt nödvändigt i stora delar av vårt land.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The climate crisis can never be solved by blaming people who need to take the car to the shop – it is absolutely necessary in large parts of our country.”

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 demands that fossil subsidies be phased out and that the purpose of climate taxes is to reduce emissions, not to serve as general purchasing power enhancement. The counter-proposal's demand for support to households that is more targeted and does not deepen fossil dependence corresponds to the plan's line that revenues from emissions pricing should be directed to households that have it the hardest. A reduced fuel tax goes in the opposite direction to these commitments.

• phased-out fossil subsidiesdecisive»fasa ut fossila subventioner« (2022 manifesto ↗)“phase out fossil subsidies”
• climate taxes shall reduce emissions»Syftet med klimatskatter är att minska utsläppen – inte att stärka« (party programme ↗)“The purpose of climate taxes is to reduce emissions – not to strengthen”
• targeted support to vulnerable households»Dessa intäkter bör användas till att stötta de hushåll som har det svårast att få« (party programme ↗)“These revenues should be used to support households that have the most difficulty”
• distributive policy targeting»De med minst resurser ska få mer samhällsservice, lägre skatt och mer stöd i omställningen« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Those with fewest resources shall get more public services, lower taxes and more support in the transition”

The plan's answer to high fuel costs is to maximally reduce taxes on biofuels mixed into petrol and diesel, which shall lower motorists' costs and at the same time reduce oil dependence, while green tax shift means it shall cost more to pollute. The counter-proposal's requirement for more targeted support that does not deepen fossil dependence follows from that line. The plan also wants to ease the cost shock for those with small margins.

• tax relief for biofuelsdecisive»Sänk skatten maximalt på biodrivmedel som blandas in i bensin och diesel. Det skulle sänka bilisternas kostnader, gynna klimatet, skapa jobb och minska Sveriges oljeberoende.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Maximally reduce taxes on biofuels mixed into petrol and diesel. That would lower motorists' costs, benefit the climate, create jobs and reduce Sweden's oil dependence.”
• the polluter pays»Det ska kosta mer att smutsa ner.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It shall cost more to pollute.”
• green tax shift»Omställningen kan påskyndas med grön skatteväxling, ökade skatter på klimatförstöring och sänkta skatter på arbete och annan välståndsskapande verksamhet.« (party programme ↗)“The transition can be accelerated with green tax shift, increased taxes on climate destruction and reduced taxes on work and other wealth-creating activities.”
• targeted support for households»För att möta detta krävs insatser som mildrar inflationens värsta effekter för dem med små marginaler.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“To address this requires measures that ease the worst effects of inflation for those with small margins.”

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 subsidies, including tax deductions, for fossil fuels shall progressively be abolished and that the polluter shall pay. A reduced tax on petrol and diesel is the opposite of this, while the counter-proposal's requirement for more targeted support that does not strengthen fossil dependence follows from the plan. Electrification of transport shall also be accelerated.

• abolished fossil subsidiesdecisive»Subventioner, inklusive skattelättnader och stöd, till fossila bränslen i Sverige såväl som globalt ska successivt avskaffas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Subsidies, including tax deductions and support, for fossil fuels in Sweden as well as globally shall progressively be abolished.”
• the polluter pays»Det är den som förorenar – ingen annan – som ska betala.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It is the polluter – no one else – who shall pay.”
• accelerated electrification»Elektrifieringen av transportsektorn ska påskyndas.« (party programme ↗)“Electrification of the transport sector shall be accelerated.”
• the car's role in rural areas»Transportpolitiken måste erkänna bilens roll på landsbygden.« (party programme ↗)“Transport policy must recognize the car's role in rural areas.”

Worldstate weighed in: CPI inflation 0.5 percent — The cost shock to households has subsided, which reduces the need for broad fuel subsidies

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 election manifesto explicitly requires lower petrol and diesel prices significantly for everyone, and highlights those who live outside major cities and are dependent on their car. The counter-proposal wishes instead to refrain from reduced fuel tax in favour of other support, which goes against the plan's clearest promise in the area. The plan's goal of phasing out fossil fuels does not outweigh the explicit price promise.

• lower fuel pricesdecisive»Sänk bensin- och dieselpriserna rejält för alla, främst genom minskad inblandningen av dyrt biobränsle.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Lower petrol and diesel prices significantly for everyone, mainly by reducing the addition of expensive biofuel.”
• car dependent outside major cities»Vi ser den som bor utanför storstäderna och är beroende av sin bil.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We see the one who lives outside major cities and is dependent on their car.”
• the car necessary throughout the country»Tillgång till bil är för många en förutsättning för att kunna leva och verka oavsett var i landet« (party programme ↗)“Access to a car is for many a prerequisite for being able to live and work regardless of where in the country”
• phase out fossil fuels»Fossilbränslena måste fasas ut från såväl energi- som transportsektorn.« (party programme ↗)“Fossil fuels must be phased out from both the energy and transport sectors.”

The plan explicitly promises to lower the price of petrol and diesel so that households can manage their everyday economy and points out the world's highest diesel prices as a problem to be corrected. The counter-proposal wants instead to refrain from reduced fuel tax and seek other forms of support, which is the opposite of the plan's commitment. The plan also explicitly values those who need the car in their everyday life.

• lower fuel pricesdecisive»Sänka priset på bensin och diesel så att du klarar din vardagsekonomi« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Lower the price of petrol and diesel so that you can manage your everyday economy”
• excessive diesel prices»Det har blivit orimligt dyrt att vara svensk. Världens högsta dieselpriser.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It has become unreasonably expensive to be Swedish. The world's highest diesel prices.”
• able to afford to drive»Där du som behöver åka en bit för att skjutsa dina barn till fotbollsträningen eller musikskolan har råd att ta bilen, oavsett om den går på bensin eller el.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Where you who need to drive a bit to take your children to football training or music school can afford to take the car, regardless of whether it runs on petrol or electricity.”
• no higher taxes»Införa ett skattehöjarstopp under den kommande mandatperioden som innebär att de samlade skatterna inte höjs« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Introduce a tax increase ceiling during the coming term of office which means that total taxes are not raised”

The plan explicitly requires lowered petrol and diesel prices through reduced fuel tax and reduced reduction obligation, and argues that environmental taxes on fuels already far exceed the cost of emissions. The counter-proposal instead wants to reject the motor fuel tax reduction by reference to fossil dependence and targeting accuracy. The plan furthermore considers that increased motor fuel prices provide no global climate benefit and that those with the lowest incomes are hit the hardest.

• lowered fuel taxdecisive»Sänka bensin- och dieselpriset genom sänkt bränsleskatt och minskad reduktionsplikt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Lower petrol and diesel prices through lower fuel tax and reduced reduction obligation.”
• expensive motor fuels give no climate benefit»Sverige bidrar exempelvis inte till minskade utsläpp genom att höja drivmedelspriserna, höja elpriserna och göra det mer kostsamt för företag att verka i Sverige om Kina samtidigt kan öka sina utsläpp varje år med mer än vad hela Sverige släpper ut.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden does not, for example, contribute to reduced emissions by raising motor fuel prices, raising electricity prices and making it more costly for companies to operate in Sweden if China can simultaneously increase its emissions every year by more than Sweden's total emissions.”
• distribution rationale for motorists»De största förlorarna på den bilfientliga politiken är de med lägst inkomster.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The biggest losers from the car-hostile policy are those with the lowest incomes.”
• overtaxed motor fuels»Det är rimligt att bensin och diesel beskattas, men i dag överstiger miljöskatterna vida kostnaden för utsläppen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It is reasonable that petrol and diesel are taxed, but today environmental taxes far exceed the cost of emissions.”