Ullenhag: “Agreed surplus target in 2016″ – Swedish Dagbladet

Erik Ullenhag. Photo: TT

quarrel about government finances began in March. Then the Finance Minister Magdalena Andersson (S) out hard with wanting to abolish the surplus target, then that means that public sector savings will amount to 1 percent of GDP over a business cycle.

In response, they forced the bourgeois and Sweden Democrats government to appoint a parliamentary committee to be ready in October in 2016.

However, the opening lead stirred the pot. Basically. The surplus target has long been regarded as sacred to Sweden’s financial stability. On Saturday doing now Liberal Party as the first of the bourgeois parties, a move what they are. And the approaches in practice the government.

– The risk of eliminating surplus target and instead have a balansmål is that you do not reach the goal – and then it becomes deficit. It is not okay. We can think of a surplus at a lower level than today – at around 0.5 percent, says Erik Ullenhag who is the party’s economic-political spokesperson told SvD.

This therefore means plaintext to lower surplus target from 1 to 0.5 percent. He continues:

– We hear signals from the Social Democrats and unions – which we think is an irresponsible policy. It is about reforms not for the Sweden forward and LO even talking about a deficit.

But in the next breath says Erik Ullenhag that FP also be willing to abolish the surplus target in a few years.

What do you mean specifically?

– As we approach balance or surplus in government finances around the 2018, 2019 then there before subsidence to revise the surplus target.

Why do not you go out with the other Alliance parties?

– We have an agreement that we individually must renew each party’s policies. Otherwise we idélösa before the next election.

When will we see a common view of the bourgeoisie of the surplus target?

– Within investigation.

So that means before the October 2016, when the investigation will be completed.

Do you want a bloc agreement for the surplus target?

– Yes, I think it’s very important. There are some issues that are extremely important for Sweden. The pension system is one and the surplus target and the fiscal framework is another.

He points out that it is important that the public debt does not increase and that it is held on a, as he says, the appropriate level. In 2014 it stood at 43.9 percent of GDP.

What is an appropriate level – do you?

– There should be considerably below the targets set by the EU, 60 per cent of GDP.

What do you think – is 20 percent appropriate? You must have an idea?

– The important thing is that we get to a framework where public debt does not increase. When we begin to have surplus in 2018-19 I do not think we should pay back the national debt but instead provide money for research and infrastructure, thus such as the Sweden forward.

Erik Ullenhag then want to put something he calls an investment floor on the size of his liking major infrastructure and research investments should be.

Can you be more specific – what levels should such a floor lie on?

– Now we go into an investigation and I want to unlock levels.

Erik Ullenhag also want to further strengthen the Fiscal Council, adding that the parliament and the government to make it more independent and even let it examine the opposition.

It’s not because you are sour to the Minister of Finance in March, as you go out with this opening lead now?

– I welcomed the Magdalena Andersson went out and it thus became a parliamentary inquiry.