Food prices are skyrocketing and now the Left Party demands that the Minister of Finance summons the three largest grocery stores to reach an agreement on price ceilings for certain basic goods.
- The government cannot just stand by and ask us consumers to compare prices, says party leader Nooshi Dadgostar to SVT Nyheter.
They want to see a similar agreement as in France, where the government together with leading food chains decided on a price ceiling on certain food products.
Svantesson (M): We must fight inflation
Now Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson (M) says that it is not the task of politicians to "determine prices of food".
- What we can do and must do is fight inflation, that is my priority, she says.
At the same time, she believes that the government's task is to support the households that have the hardest time.
The government does this best by continuing to push its budget, says Svantesson.
Are the price increases we have seen on food reasonable?
- I have asked myself why a Swedish food box has increased in price more than in other Nordic countries.
The Swedish Competition Authority is looking into that question and I would like to know the answer.
See the Finance Minister's response to the Left Party's demands in the video above.