“The government is considering introducing begging ban,” said the civilian Minister Ardalan Shekarabi (S) to DN in an article published at 20 on Thursday.
“Begging is not a crime in Sweden and the Government does not intend to amend this legislation, “countered MP’s team leader Maria Ferm with a few hours later.
Now threatens yet another divisive split within the government.
It all started at 20 on Thursday. DN then reported that the government is considering a ban begging and want to study the neighboring Nordic countries’ models.
– Our starting point is that begging is not a solution to exclusion, discrimination and poverty. We can not pass on the responsibility for the problem in the Swedish municipalities so that they will develop homegrown alternatives. It needs to develop a national legislation giving municipalities the right tools to handle it, says Ardalan Shekarabi (S), Civil and Municipal Affairs, who now meets his Nordic colleagues in Reykjavik, Iceland.
– The whole point the government’s work is that we must defend and develop the Swedish model. There is hardly a part of the Swedish model to solve poverty by begging, he says to DN.
A couple of hours later commented Social Democrat government partners the Green Party – which does not seem to agree that the Government is open to a begging ban – the thing TT.
“Begging is not a crime in Sweden and the Government does not intend to change this law. It is not possible to ban poverty. the Government’s policy is not to use the criminal law against people who ask others for help” wrote Maria Ferm, group leader and spokesperson on migration issues, in a brief comment.
Clear retraction
the party declines an interview with TT and has not responded to Aftonbladet interview request. Hanna Hessling, press secretary of Gustav Fridolin, referring at present to Maria Ferm statement.
– It is obvious that there is no consensus in view of the Green Party as clearly denied that this would be government policy, says Andreas Johansson Heino, political scientist and publishing director at Timbro.
He continues:
– This is not improvised but an anchored gambit. Then you can choose to see it as a trial balloon or a lively conflict within the government.
“The issue has strong symbolic value”
According to Andreas Johansson Heinö it is likely that the Green Party knew the opening lead beforehand.
What can be split to get the consequences?
– the question is how long the Green Party can stay in the government. To go along with this would be a very hard blow. The border is close to what you can agree to, said Andreas Johansson Heinö.
– This is more difficult to justify than the tightening refugee policy. Where did all that it was an untenable situation for Sweden.
Would MP to leave the government?
– If S would put hard against hard the government would be able to fold. Now I do not think S is prepared to go that far. But the issue has such a magnitude that it could have that effect.
The Moderates welcome the initiative, but the party secretary Tomas Tobé doubt what the government really thinks.
– We welcome if the Social Democrats now woken up and are ready to take vigorous action against this serious social problem. But it is very unclear what this announcement means. Prime Minister Stefan Löfven has previously spoken out against begging ban and last I checked, the Green Party part of the government, he said.
Criticism from liberals
Even Alliance parties are divided on the issue. Liberals right political spokesperson, Roger Haddad, is critical.
“It would be a grave encroachment on freedom of movement within the EU and with regard to several other conventions we should prohibit people collect money,” he writes in a statement, according to news agency TT.
Sweden Democrats information officer Henrik Gustafsson writes in an email to Aftonbladet:
“It is relevant in a policy proposal should not be who the sender is, why of course we welcome all parties who submit our policies as their own. At the same time, it is with some surprise we have read media reports about the government announced begging ban, when Stefan Löfven previously noted that the ban does not lead anywhere and that he had previously said that our underground campaign against begging unmarked. “
national prohibition
Denmark has a national ban on begging and can provide up to six months in prison. In Norway, the municipalities have the right to introduce local bans.
– We need to look at the experiences and effects of the legislation in other countries. What are the positive and negative consequences? We must be honest and admit that this is a problem, despite the active efforts of the government, said Ardalan Shekarabi.
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