Neither Magdalena Andersson (S) nor Stefan Löfven (S) were present when the Center Party's Annie Lööf and the Liberals' Nyamko Sabuni on Thursday presented the planned billion cuts in income tax in the government's upcoming autumn budget.
According to SVT's political commentator Mats Knutson, it is a clear signal that the issue is sensitive for the Social Democrats.
- This is of course very difficult for the Social Democrats.
The traditional conflict in Swedish politics has been about taxes, where the Social Democrats in every election campaign have set tax cuts against welfare.
Now they have this collaboration with Center Parity and the Liberals, and then they are forced to implement proposals that they have previously been against in all respects, says Mats Knutson in SVT's Report.
"Forced to pay a high"
According to Mats Knutson, it is all ultimately about government power, where the Social Democrats have been forced to make concessions for the support of the Center Party and the Liberals.
- This means that they are forced to pay a high price for this in every budget negotiation, he says.
At the same time, he says, it is clear that the Social Democrats have passed certain parts of the proposal.
He points out, among other things, that the tax reduction also applies to pensioners and people who go on social benefits.
- There is a clear profile of low- and middle-income earners.
So in that sense, the Social Democrats have put a little social democratic touch on this employment tax deduction, says Mats Knutson.