If you thought the US auto industry was the only one in strife, then think again. The motoring sector in Sweden is in such turmoil that the leading parties are taking pot-shots at each other rather than supporting the action that is under way.
For example, the Social Democrats’ economic political spokesperson Tomas Eneroth has hit out at the government’s reaction to the problems describing them as too little, too late. The government had put together a package not dissimilar to a bailout of its own, but Eneroth appears unimpressed.
He described the package, worth 28billion kronor ($3.6billion) as taking everyone by surprise but in the end “like a soufflé, it simply collapsed.”
He questioned what the package proposed suggesting that there should be measures in place for an extension of the green car tax credit or even a tax rebate for the disposing of old cars in an environmentally friendly manner.
The Social Democrats have now called on Riksdag’s constitutional committee to review the proposed car industry aid package. The package revolves around 28billion kronor worth of credit guarantees for 20billion kronor in loans from the European Investment Bank. According to the Social Democrats, the presentation of the measures gives the impression that the loans will be ready as soon as the government submits its guarantee, but that is not the case.
In response enterprise minister Maud Olofsson said she was surprised that the Social Democrats had made such remarks stating that she thought they would want to support the vehicle aid package.
