The government-run website Sweden.se has landed in hot water for marketing Sweden abroad as a place where immigrants can receive very generous contributions and other bonuses, including health care.
On the website, the reader is informed that Sweden has the world's longest parental leave and even provides illegal immigrants with dental care. The website also provides a detailed list of benefits and allowances. For instance, a family with six children receives a monthly SEK 4,240 ($430) and SEK 7,500 ($760) in multi-child allowances.
The site is operated by the Swedish Institute (SI), a government body tasked with promoting the country's image abroad and promoting its interests.
“I have no problem with signing up to the fact that we try to inform that Sweden is a welfare state. We have a system that sparks interest”, Per-Arne Wikström, the head of communications at the Swedish Institute, told TV4. He also admitted that the purpose of the webpage is to inform of Sweden's priorities and potentially arouse interest in emigrating to the country.
The ploy to portray Sweden as a country of benefits irked politicians and ordinary Swedes alike. According to the newspaper Aftonbladet, 94 percent of the asylum seekers that arrived in Sweden since 2015 rely on state benefits.
Moderate Party leader Ulf Kristersson called the site completely unreasonable. According to him, it sends a “completely wrong signal” about Sweden.
“Incredible. The government's own authority markets Sweden abroad as a generous grant country. Everything in order to attract more people to Sweden. What Sweden needs is quotas in the welfare system and a strict migration policy. For a long time to come”, his party colleague Elisabeth Svantesson tweeted.
Sanslöst. Regeringens egen myndighet marknadsför alltså Sverige utomlands som ett generöst bidragsland. Allt för att locka fler till Sverige. Vad Sverige behöver är kvalificering in i välfärdssystem och en stram migrationspolitik. Under lång tid framöver. https://t.co/dRS5RUGaCq
— Elisabeth Svantesson (@ElisabethSvan) 28 октября 2019 г.
“Sweden should promote its equality, enterprise, research, respect for human rights. Not that everything is for free and everyone gets a grant! Do it right!” Liberal MP Robert Hannah tweeted.
Sverige ska göra reklam för sin jämställdhet, företagande, forskning, respekt för mänskliga rättigheter. Inte om att allt är gratis och alla får bidrag! Gör om, gör rätt! https://t.co/Thpxwt0Xew
— Robert Hannah (@RobertHannah85) 28 октября 2019 г.
“The Swedish Institute, a government authority, thus offers Swedish taxpayers' money as a lure for immigration. Despite the fact that pediatric psychiatry, dental care and cancer surgeries do not work in Sweden. It is so inappropriate it doesn't cease to amaze. They should be dismissed. Immediately”, Edward Nordén of the Citizens' Coalition party tweeted.
Svenska Institutet, en svensk myndighet, bjuder alltså ut svenska skattebetalares pengar som lockbete för invandring. Trots att BUP, tandläkarvård och canceroperationer inte fungerar i Sverige. Det är så olämpligt att man häpnar. De ska avskedas. Direkt. https://t.co/QBlPeAoJdi
— Edward Nordén (@Edward_Norden_) 29 октября 2019 г.
“What kind of sick people does it take to market Sweden as a country of benefits – and thus attract even more luxury migrants?! These fools seem to know no limits. It should be a criminal offence”, blogger Micke69 tweeted.
Vad är det för sjuka människor som marknadsför Sverige som ett bidragsland - och därmed lockar hit ännu fler lyxmigranter?!
— Micke K (@MickeK69) 28 октября 2019 г.
Det finns tydlingen inga gränser för dessa dårar 😡
Detta borde vara straffbart...https://t.co/NokxSkcsok#svpol #migpol
“The Swedish Institute receives government grants of SEK 500 million [about $51 million] per year. And the very same institute wants to attract migrants to Sweden's welfare system. Therefore, we pay tax to SI to pay even more tax. My tip: abolish SI”, blogger Projekt Morpheus wrote.
Svenska Institutet (SI) får statliga anslag på 500 miljoner kronor per år.
— Projekt Morpheus (@ProjektMorpheus) 29 октября 2019 г.
Ja, det är samma institut som vill locka migranter till Sveriges välfärdssystem.
Vi betalar alltså skatt till SI för att få betala ännu mera skatt.
Mitt tips: Lägg ner SI!https://t.co/6OKjf36IxI
In response to the criticism, the Swedish government said that a meeting with the authority will be arranged. People should not be attracted here by welfare alone, Foreign Trade Minister Anna Hallberg said.
The Swedish Institute earlier landed in hot water after blocking 14,000 users from Sweden's official Twitter account and sparking concerns of censorship.
