New government faces ambitious autumn

The budget proposition is set to be the most significant, incorporating a series of election manifesto pledges.

One of the proposals included in the register addresses the extension of the mandate for the Swedish troops in Afghanistan which is due to be presented on November 4th.

The Red-Green opposition are prepared to extend the mandate, but plan to present their own motion covering a strategy for withdrawal, which could gain majority support, with the help of the Sweden Democrats.

The government will also present the delayed motion to introduce the EU’s so-called data retention directive in November. The directive requires telecom firms to save data for a fixed period of time. Sweden has been convicted in the EU court for not having adopted the regulations on time and was in the spring threatened with fines.

The reason given for the delay is that the the justice department has been waiting on an inquiry into the types of traffic that the police should have access to in connection with criminal investigations. A motion on that matter will also be presented to parliament in November.

The justice department will also in the autumn put forward motions to increase protection from stalkers, improve possibilities for clearing debts, and for new legislation covering the real estate agent sector.

Migration minister Tobias Billström, who is now also located within the justice department, will present a proposal on the implementation of the EU directive on the return of illegal immigrants.

The directive sets common minimum standards for EU countries for how people who have been refused asylum should be treated. For Sweden, this means the imposition of a limit on how long a person may sit in detention.

The education ministry will in October present its proposal for the authorization of teachers and preschool teachers. A motion to introduce grades from grade six is already under consideration by parliament for a decision later this autumn.

The Ministry of Industry is set to present a motion to introduce alcohol ignition locks for convicted drunk drivers which should be completed on October 26th.

Together with the justice ministry, the finance ministry has the busiest agenda. Aside from the budget, a supplementary budget for 2010, and a draft reform to the budget law is set to be formulated by October 12th.

The ministry of defence has only one written communication in the offing – regarding Swedish participation in the Nordic battle group.