Vänsterpartiet Proposes Major Boost in Healthcare and Family Support in 2025 Budget
Vänsterpartiet's 2025 budget plan proposes substantial increases for healthcare funding and family support, criticizing the government's handling of regional finances and social benefits.
- • Vänsterpartiet plans to raise child allowance by 400 kronor, costing nearly 9 billion kronor annually.
- • The party proposes allocating 10 billion kronor to regional healthcare to address long waiting times.
- • Healthcare queues have increased by 80,000 since January 2021, marking Sweden's longest in history.
- • Vänsterpartiet criticizes the government's broken promises on healthcare funding and opposes tax cuts favoring high earners.
Key details
Vänsterpartiet has unveiled its 2025 budget proposal focusing on significantly increased funding for healthcare and families with children. The party, led by Nooshi Dadgostar, plans to raise the child allowance by 400 kronor, which would cost the state nearly 9 billion kronor annually. In addition, the party aims to allocate 10 billion kronor to regional healthcare authorities to combat the worsening queue times, which have swelled by 80,000 patients since January 2021.
Ida Gabrielsson, Vänsterpartiet's economic-political spokesperson, emphasized that Sweden is currently experiencing the longest healthcare queues in its history, attributing this to the government’s insufficient funding and support of regional healthcare. Dadgostar criticized Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson for breaking his promises regarding regional funding, stating that the government's budget is causing households to be "skinned" financially.
Beyond healthcare, the party is advocating for increased housing benefits and higher unemployment benefits to support households, especially single-parent families. They oppose tax cuts that primarily benefit high-income earners, arguing such policies fail to stimulate economic growth. Instead, Vänsterpartiet proposes investing in climate initiatives, transport infrastructure, and housing development to address sluggish economic performance.
Further proposals include halving the high-cost protection for electricity customers during winter, intending to make energy costs more manageable for households.
Overall, Vänsterpartiet criticizes the current government's handling of social and healthcare policies and offers a budget focused on strengthening public services and support systems to improve the welfare of Swedish families and address the healthcare crisis.
This comprehensive plan highlights the party’s commitment to reversing the growing healthcare queues and enhancing support for families, indicating a clear alternative approach ahead of the government’s budget.