On Monday next week, Norrköping's municipal council will decide whether the municipality will be one of the first in the country that requires permission from those who want to beg.

The motion comes from the Swedish Democrats and the municipal leadership has faltered on the issue. For a while there was majority for the proposal, but after internal criticism, the Social Democrats backed down.

Is begging a crime?

In our series Sweden meet we met two pensioners in Norrköping who have completely different ideas about beggars.

- We cannot be the whole social service in the world in Sweden, says Per Arne Lindholm, who wants a total ban on all types of begging.

But Birgitta Hillerström does not agree.

- I find it surprising and scary that you want to make a begging for a crime. What is the crime? That you are poor or that you are from another country? she says.

Sweden meets

In our series "Sweden meets" we let people meet eye to eye to discuss sensitive issues. See their discussion in the clip above.

Want to discuss more about this? Go to: Sweden meets website.