Swedish Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson said she would launch an inquiry into the pros and cons of euro adoption if the current center-right government she represents remains in power after an election in September. “A thorough analysis is needed of the advantages and disadvantages, not least in light of the security situation we are currently in,” Svantesson said during a parliamentary debate on Tuesday. The finance minister’s comments suggest the question of ditching the krona is edging back onto the political agenda after more than two decades out of the limelight. Swedes voted against introducing the European common currency at a referendum in 2003, and discussions around adoption have been muted since then. About 32% of Swedes are in favor of switching to the euro while 49.5% are against, according to last year’s survey by Statistics Sweden. In addition to winning over public opinion, a change of currency in Sweden would face other serious obstacles. Only lawmakers from the smaller Liberal and Center Parties said they were in favor during Tuesday’s debate in parliament. Svantesson said she saw both advantages and disadvantages, while Mikael Damberg of the Social Democrats said his party was “not currently calling” for euro adoption. Representatives of the Green Party, the Left Party and the Sweden Democrats said they were against such a move.
last time this came up we held a referendum and
90%a majority said no. the only party campaigning on adopting it is below the number of votes required to keep their seats in the riksdag according to polls.The 2003 referdum had 42.02% wanting the Euro and 55.91% against it. So not even close to 90% of Sweds and also over 22years ago. Also there are recent polls with a majority for adopting the Euro in Sweden. It seems to vary widely, depending on the pollster though. So it seems like Sweden has not really had the debate recently.
yeah that was from memory. shouldn’t have included numbers.
Most campaigning wasn’t along party lines though.
But it’s a curious trend in Sweden, to revisit old referendums to go against the outcome.
it’s because the referendums have a tendency to be skewed
Adopting the Euro has its price as shops can use it to increase prices by minimum 20% just ask the Germans, there’s a reason they called it Teuro.
That’s not really a criticism of the euro is it? I assume they could just legislate to keep both prices for a year or two just to keep the shopkeepers honest.
They did this in Croatia. Nevertheless prices rose up across the board.
But then they would have risen even without the introduction of the euro, no? This wasn’t raising the prices by stealth because people couldn’t convert between the currencies, it was just normal price hikes. Prices go up all the time.
No, introducing Euro was 100% used as an excuse to hike up the prices even more. That’s not inherently a Euro problem, but corruption problem, yes. However, it did happen. At this point the prices are as bad as in Austria. Or even worse.
When I think about it, the downsides of the Euro are less than what is gained.
And I will confess that I still have a bit of anti EU sentiment, but have several times been happy for the EU because they straightened crazy laws introduced by member states, so over the years I am now becoming net positive for the EU.
So let Sweden get the facts on how bad the Euro inflation is, instead of my old gut feelings.
That’s a symptom of lacking regulation, though. Shops did use the introduction of the Euro as a means to hide excessive price hikes. The reason wasn’t the Euro, it was unchecked greed using whatever opportunity presented itself. Technically, the “introduction” of the Euro had already happened years before it became available as cash and was made the standard means of payment for the general public, because the Euro participants had already fixed the exchange rates of their respective national currencies in preparation.
Germans will find something to hate on on everything.
As a German, you’re not wrong :D
Well then now might be the best time to do this, as inflation might be coming below two percent in the near future.
And Finland too, usually things that was really cheap got a big hike in price.
