Red-Greens present election manifesto

The centre-left coalition - the Social Democrats, the Green Party and the Left Party - presented their election manifesto on Tuesday, promising to cut taxes for pensioners, cheaper daycare, and incentives for employers to recruit young people.

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Social Democrat leader Mona Sahlin opened the press conference on Tuesday afternoon and promised that a Red-Green government the "tax gap" between different groups in society would be removed during the coming mandate period, if the economy allows it.

The Red-Greens also announced an intention to cut the so-called "maxtaxa" ceiling on daycare charges (currently 3 percent of household income up to 1260 kronor ($169) for the first child). The pledge is calculated to cost 2.1 billion kronor 2012-2014.

"The 'maxtaxa' has meant a lot, not least for single parents," Mona Sahlin said.

Further measures within family policy include the provision of 30 hours of daycare even for unemployed parents (currently a maximum of 15 hours in many municipalities). The coalition also pledges an investment in training of pre-school staff, and to "stimulate" municipalities to offer daycare outside of regular office hours.

The coalition's reforms total 12.8 billion kronor for 2011 - meaning that the centre-left accept the finance minister Anders Borg's estimation of state finances.

"It is not there that the differences are," Mona Sahlin said. "Our government platform is based on equality."

The parties proposed a retention of the ROT tax deduction for work on the home during the whole mandate period. They furthermore pledge a new climate deduction for households who want to make investments in energy efficiency and other climate-friendly measures.

The coalition furthermore proposed an expansion of subsidies for employers who employ unemployed young people to also cover trainee and apprentice places.

"We are in a hurry to find new ways into the labour market for young people," Sahlin said.

The coalition proposes that a household which installs new window or cuts energy use by 30 percent while be exempt from property taxes for three years.

The Red-Greens followed the Alliance proposal to cut sales tax on the restaurant sector, if finances allow.

The coalition also opened up the possibility of sales tax cuts in other service sectors as well as a cut payroll taxes, sickness pay costs, or the introduction of a venture capital deduction.