The reduction of aid is proposed in the autumn budget bill, which will be presented in its entirety on Thursday.
From 56 billion per year between 2023 and 2025, the new aid budget will be 53 billion for the years 2026-2028.
We are now in the process of reorganizing, where the focus is on efficiency and that the money goes to people in need, says Benjamin Dousa.
He does not want to say which part of the aid it is most important to save on.
We will return exactly to how we make that kind of prioritization. This is quite far ahead in time.
More money at home
The announcement is made now so that, among others, the aid agency Sida can have the opportunity to prioritize and reorganize its operations, according to Dousa.
He emphasizes that the reduction is also made against the background of the problems Sweden is currently struggling with.
A state's most important duty is towards its own citizens. We have a comprehensive aid budget despite the investment needs we have at home. But it means in practice that there is even more money for the police, defense, and welfare here in Sweden.
"Tough priorities"
That the government and SD want to change the aid is known. They were early in agreement to abandon the goal of aid being 1 percent of GNI.
We also made a deal with a rather strange arrangement where the aid budget constantly increased without further control or prioritization, says Dousa.
Was it difficult for the coalition parties to agree on the new framework?
It's clear that we are four parties within the framework of Tidö and everyone comes in with slightly different starting values, but we have agreed on this and I think we dare to make some really tough priorities.
He emphasizes that Ukraine is and remains the largest recipient of Swedish aid.
