Moderaterna Pledges Free Preschool and Childcare in 2026 Election Campaign

As the 2026 Swedish election approaches on September 13, the Moderaterna party has announced a significant campaign promise to abolish fees for preschool and after-school care, a move they estimate will cost approximately 10 billion kronor annually. Elisabeth Svantesson, a leading figure in the party, emphasized that preschool is crucial for Sweden's future growth and called the reform a strong initiative aimed at providing children with better opportunities.

To finance this, Moderaterna plans to reduce international aid expenditures. The proposal has received mixed reactions; Jimmie Åkesson, leader of the Sweden Democrats (SD), expressed no principled objections but questioned the high cost and highlighted SD's preference for prioritizing other welfare reforms like dental care and support for people with disabilities. Simona Mohamsson, Education Minister from the Liberals, praised the proposal, stressing its alignment with improvements in the Swedish education system.

Conversely, Social Democratic economic policy spokesperson Mikael Damberg criticized the promise as desperate and questioned its feasibility, noting prior statements about depleted government funds. He underscored the importance of maintaining quality in childcare services while discussions on social democrats’ own childcare fee priorities continue.

This proposal forms part of Moderaterna's broader economic agenda aiming to make Sweden the EU country with the highest GDP per capita by 2035, which includes public finance strengthening and tax reforms. As election campaigns intensify, childcare and family policy remain central themes amid wider debates on welfare and economic growth.