The Centre Party wants to introduce a mandatory "fresh start year" for foreign-born individuals. Those who do not participate will be penalised in the form of significantly lower benefits.
At the same time, party leader Muharrem Demirok is demanding lower taxes in order to offer the Centre Party's support going forward.
The Centre Party leader began his Almedalen speech by describing the EU election as a victory for the party – despite the fact that it lost the most seats in parliament.
Demirok says that anyone who wants the Centre Party's support for a new government must lower taxes. After the speech, he clarifies his priorities.
Those who seek our support must also understand what the Centre Party is and what our vision is for Sweden, says Demirok to TT, and continues:
I mentioned, for example, the employer's contribution. I mentioned the sickness benefit responsibility for companies. And we have talked about lowering taxes for those with the lowest incomes, he says.
He wants to see an end to "Tidö politics that divide", and left-wing politics. Businesses and jobs must be at the top of the agenda, Sweden needs a "warmer liberalism", he says in the speech.
Now the time for passivity is over. The work line must return to Sweden.
"Order and stability"
The integration reform "fresh start year" will be mandatory for all who have been in Sweden for the past three years, who do not have employment and who are foreign-born.
The fresh start year will include studies, if necessary SFI, combined with practical training and matching against the labour market. After completing the year, the individual will be entitled to an establishment job, which is a subsidised employment.
The government's solution to the integration challenge is that fewer come here and more return, said Demirok earlier in the day at a press conference.
Sweden should have order and stability in its migration policy, that's what we agree on, but we don't agree that you have to focus on people who are already in Sweden.
The party estimates that the reform will cost 2.5 billion kronor per year if 50,000 people participate.
Comes with demands
Those who do not complete the fresh start year will face consequences in the form of "significantly lower benefits", according to the Centre Party. Primarily, it is the maintenance support that will be reduced.
We exclude nothing except child benefits, since child benefits are a right and important for avoiding child poverty, says the party's economic spokesperson Martin Ådahl.
Demirok calls it a "warm reform". Society should do everything in its power to help new arrivals into jobs.
He does not agree with the description that the Centre Party has adapted its proposal to a more requirement-based policy from the Sweden Democrats or the right.
Good Lord, no. I haven't heard a single integration policy proposal from the Sweden Democrats in recent years.
There is already an integration measure today called the "intensive year", a voluntary part of the Employment Service's establishment programme. The reform was introduced in 2021, but only around 800 people participated in the first year, and therefore the measure needs to be developed and made mandatory, according to the Centre Party.
