This evening's first topic was taxes and benefits, and above all whether the government and the Sweden Democrats are doing the right thing when they prioritize tax cuts.
Nearly half of the reform space of 60 billion kronor goes to various tax cuts. And most of it goes to those who earn the most.
It's completely detached from reality, says S leader Magdalena Andersson.
She would have instead wanted to see investments in families with children and welfare.
"Completely absurd"
V leader Nooshi Dadgostar also attacks the government for prioritizing tax cuts in a situation where both families with children and regions are struggling to make ends meet.
It's completely absurd. They haven't just lost touch with reality, they're in a different galaxy, she says.
But Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) defends that high-income earners receive larger tax cuts, both in kronor and ören and in percent, in the government's budget, since they also pay more in taxes.
It's right and fair. More people will want to work more if the marginal tax is reduced.
Divided in the opposition
The government parties and the Sweden Democrats are targeting the opposition parties' shadow budgets, which diverge significantly when it comes to taxes. Above all, the Center Party stands out, which in some points wants to cut taxes more than the government.
The only thing that's possibly more unpredictable than the Social Democrats' lottery is Magdalena Andersson's government base, says KD leader Ebba Busch.
Even under the next topic – anti-Semitism and Islamophobia – the debate heated up.
V leader Dadgostar has previously had to defend herself against anti-Semitism within the party, where several party representatives have been investigated or expelled for spreading hate against Jews.
We will never pit people and groups against each other, it's in our DNA. We will never, ever blame Swedish Jews for what a regime does far away from here, she says.
The Left Party has gigantic problems with this. It permeates the entire Swedish left, replied Jimmie Åkesson.
Gave a phone number on a note
There was also a row between KD on one side and S and C on the other in the energy issue, where the latter accused the government of not inviting them to cross-block talks on Sweden's energy supply.
Then Busch walked over to Andersson and handed her a note.
Here's my number. I'm completely serious. I'd be happy to meet for this, Sweden needs it.
All party leaders participated in Agenda's party leader debate on SVT, which lasted for two hours.
The topics that were debated were:
Taxes and benefits
Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia
Youth crime
Nuclear power and wind power
