Sweden Democrats claim full credit for fuel tax cut

The Sweden Democrats say the government’s planned reduction in fuel taxes is entirely their achievement, following negotiations in the ruling coalition.

Speaking to public broadcaster SVT, the party’s economic policy spokesperson Oscar Sjöstedt stated that the tax cut on petrol and diesel—unveiled in Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson’s final budget before the election—was pushed through by his party.

“We had to fight hard for this,” Sjöstedt said. “The original proposal only included electricity subsidies. We insisted on addressing high fuel prices—and I’m very pleased we succeeded.”

Asked whether the Sweden Democrats alone deserved credit for the measure, he replied: “One hundred percent yes.”

Sjöstedt declined to specify which coalition partners resisted the proposal, citing respect for the Tidö Agreement partners. He praised Svantesson’s performance as finance minister but avoided endorsing her continuation after the election, calling it “a separate discussion.”

When questioned about his party’s readiness to hold key ministerial posts, such as finance minister, Sjöstedt asserted confidence: “Absolutely. We could even handle the prime minister’s office. There’s no ministry where we couldn’t appoint competent people.”

The budget’s headline measures include additional household electricity subsidies alongside the temporary fuel tax reduction.