Kristersson (M): Sweden's asylum policy has been too generous

On Thursday, the Moderates proposed a ceiling on asylum immigration of about 5,000 - 8,000 people per year. According to party leader Ulf Kristersson, the proposal should not be seen as an exact figure but as a goal. Thus, the proposal does not violate the UN Refugee Convention and the right of asylum, he says.

The number of 5,000 - 8,000 people is the party's assessment of how many people Sweden has the conditions to integrate into society.

- We have said that it is reasonable to lie on the Nordic average. It is strange if Sweden receives 21,000 a year and Norway, Finland and Denmark a fraction of it. A strange situation, he thinks.

The goal should be achieved through less generous conditions for asylum seekers.

- You have to tighten the rules. Now Sweden is doing the opposite and is expanding the regulations for more immigrant families. We do not want you to enter the Swedish welfare system from day one, but to work into them. Strengthen the requirements for citizenship, one should be able to Swedish and manage oneself. These kinds of things would make it attractive to become a Swedish citizen and reduce the number of people applying for asylum in Sweden.

Next week, all parliamentary parties will gather in the report that will work with Sweden's long-term migration policy, which will apply from 2021. The investigation will, among other things, decide on rules for temporary and permanent residence permits and for family immigration. The parties are currently far from each other.

- I think it would be good if we could land in a well-thought-out and sustainable migration policy, because basically we think quite the same. This is our entry value in the investigation. If the others want to discuss it, we will be enormously constructive. If the others just want to discuss increased immigration, this will not land anywhere, says Ulf Kristersson.