Government sets aside four million kronor for Victoria’s 50th birthday

Sweden’s transition government plans to earmark four million kronor for Crown Princess Victoria’s 50th birthday celebrations next year, SVT reported. Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson said the spending was a reasonable exception to the government’s plan for a budget without new policy.

The government is preparing a budget for 2027. Under the rules, it should be as non-political as possible and contain no new initiatives, Svantesson said. Exceptions are possible when funding is needed to maintain “necessary societal functions”.

Asked whether the celebrations qualified, Svantesson said many Swedes considered them important. She added that the government could proceed if eight parties, or at least a large majority, agreed.

Svantesson said she had not taken part in discussions about whether all parties supported the funding. She assumed they would, but said the government would withdraw the proposal if that proved not to be the case.

More details of the budget are due to be presented when it is submitted to parliament on November 12.