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The Swedish Moderates party will stick to the middle as party conference come to close
Sunday, 20 October 2013
The Swedish economy is doing well and all indications suggest that
Sweden is a good country to live in. This is the line the Swedish prime
minister, Fredrik Reinfeldt choose to use as he closed his party
conference in Norrköping on Sunday. He also added that the moderate
party has made Sweden even better.
Fredrik Reinfeldt did his best to pep up his party supporters despite
persistent poor poll numbers, as he finished moderate the meeting on
Sunday. In his speech he continued to point to the positive in Sweden's
economic and social development in recent years. “Sweden's economy is
the strongest in 40 years,” he said.
“We know what it's like to fight an uphill battle,” he said. “We
have now used four days to prepare the responsibility that extends over
four years. I feel a great energy, a great joy, a great inspiration by
listening to you, and out of respect for all the decisions that we now
have to become a reality in this country. Here we have to go and win
the 2014 election,” said Fredrik Reinfeldt.
Reinfeldt pointed out in his speech that the Swedish economy is growing
faster than for example Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, Denmark and
the UK.
"Most of the so - called rich countries of the world are heavily indebted. Sweden has gone in the opposite direction, "he said.
Reinfeldt said that payments on interest on debts has fallen from Skr50
to Skr22 billion since he took office, while the tax burden has
decreased by four percentage points, tax revenues increased by Skr40
billion. If growth forecast of 2.5 percent is hit in the next year, it
will bring Skr15 billion more to local governments, according to the
Prime Minister.
Reinfeldt also pointed out what he believes the next election campaign will come down to be about taxes.
"The battle will be about taxes, "he said.
He posit that the Social democrats has adapted to the Moderates party’s
tax policy, citing example of that they do not want to raise property
taxes and income taxes.
"But that's not entirely true,” he countered. “It starts with the Skr30
billion they have in their budget, then they will increase to Skr10 -
Skr20 billion from Green Party's taxes, then the additional billions
when they notice that they have to finance what they promised, "he said.
Reinfeldt also claimed that the battle will be about whether resources
should go to welfare or benefit system. His strategy to tie the Social
democrats to benefits system persisted and wordlessness continues.
Anyone who does not have control over sick leave has no control over the public finances.
The party leadership had broad support from the congress to continue
with middle or policies on the central. Requirements to loosened labour
laws or abolished austerity tax was less noisy than in previous
meetings. Proposed privatization of the Employment Service were out
rightly rejected.
A number of other points came in to look like congress was dancing
towards the policies similar to the Social Democrats. Homework support
will now be offered to all who are in schools that provide extra work
for home learning. Children of unemployed should be entitled to more
pre-schools places, primary schools should be ten year of compulsory
pre-school and benefits should be a percent of GNP. As usual were also
a number of traditional harder – tag decisions in criminal policy.
The congress was seeking that the Conservatives government should work
for continued tax cuts for low and middle income earners and
pensioners, increased the tax threshold limit and corporate tax cut.
But the message from both Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt and Minister
for Finance Anders Borg was that we cannot afford and will not go to
the polls on.
The only sharp promise, from head of the party was that public finances
must be put in order first before any thought of tax cuts are initiated.
Thus, the conservative voters will hear what they want while the party
leadership will pulls the rug from under the Social Democratic election
strategy to warn that Moderates will lowers the tax instead of focusing
on jobs and welfare.
The meeting will be the starting point for the party's autumn campaign,
whose slogan has already been accused to clashing with that of the
Social Democrats.
By Scancomark.com Team