S, V and MP join forces to try to stop what they call a ”deadly blow” against study associations.
”It is irresponsible and lacking in judgement. It is anti-educational,” says Amanda Lind (MP).
Social Democrats, Left Party, and Green Party will try to push through a committee initiative in the parliamentary committee on culture. They want to prevent the government’s proposal for reduced grants to study associations from being implemented.
”It risks eroding a pillar of Swedish democratic cultural policy,” says Lawen Redar (S) at a press conference with Vasiliki Tsouplaki (V) and Amanda Lind (MP).
The cuts will have major consequences for sports, culture, pensioner activities, and associations, according to the three parties.
One of the demands in the committee initiative is for the government to return to parliament with an impact analysis of what the reduced grants will mean.
Another demand is for the other parliamentary parties to take a longer pause for thought in order to stop a proposed legislative change. Additionally, the parties want the government to wait for proposals from the investigation that will be completed in June before any changes are implemented.
According to the government’s budget proposal, study associations’ grants will be reduced by SEK 250 million in 2024. The following year, an additional SEK 350 million will be cut, and in 2026 the reduction will be SEK 500 million. Currently, the grants amount to approximately SEK 1.8 billion.
