2022.07.04
Survey: Parties increasingly critical of electronics tax
The electronics tax has faced harsh criticism since it was introduced in 2017. Even before the tax was introduced, the Swedish Tax Agency warned about the design of the tax. In 2020, the Swedish Tax Agency and the Chemicals Inspectorate conducted an evaluation of the tax that identified major shortcomings. But how strong is the support for the tax today? APPLiA has reviewed the official positions of the parliamentary parties and interviewed the party spokespersons.
Criticism has grown
There is still no majority in the Riksdag to abolish the electronics tax. However, the Moderates, the Sweden Democrats and the Christian Democrats express support for abolishing the tax. The critical evaluation carried out by expert authorities (the Swedish Tax Agency, the Chemicals Inspectorate) has shed light on the tax's major shortcomings, and criticism has since increased.
The tax is still supported by the Social Democrats, the Green Party, the Left Party, the Center Party and the Liberals, but the shortcomings are noted by almost all of them. Of the parties behind the tax, several point out that it has not had the intended effect and the importance of addressing the problems and taking action based on the conclusions of the evaluation.
Proposal for increase falls
The GDP indexation proposed by the government looks set to fall if the parties that have expressed their opposition to it stand firm in their positions. Currently, the parties that oppose the government's latest proposal to increase the electronics tax have a large majority in parliament.
APPLiA: Don't want to see greenwashing
It is clear that more parties have become aware of the negative effects of the tax, both for the industries but above all for the environment. Environmental policy must be prioritized by the next government, but the focus must be on effective measures that have the intended effects. Otherwise, trust in environmental policy risks being eroded and undermined. A harmful tax that does not provide the environmental benefit it aims for must be abolished. Otherwise, it will be seen as political greenwashing and it is something that no one wants to see happen.
Complete map here:
Read more about each party's position in the documents via the links.
The Moderates: ”The electronics tax only functions as a punitive tax on white goods and electronics”
Sweden Democrats: ”The tax should be abolished”
The Centre Party: ”It is time to act on the tax assessment that has been made”
The Left Party: ”The tax has not had the intended effect”
Christian Democrats: ”We are critical of the tax as a whole”
Liberals: ”Now we want to follow up on the evaluation and act on it”
The Green Party: ”We see that there are some problems with the tax that need to be solved”
/Kent Oderud
