'Abolish Sweden's monarchy': Juholt

Newly installed Social Democratic party leader Håkan Juholt thinks Sweden's monarchy should be abolished, he said in an interview on Sunday.

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Juholt also argued that Sweden should re-introduce some form of wealth tax and that the country also needs a new model for levying property taxes.

He added, however, that he wasn't opposed to another round of income tax cuts.

Juholt made the comments during an interview on Agenda, a current affairs new programme broadcast on Svergies Television (SVT).

In the interview, which included six questions to which he could only answer yes or no, Juholt took a long pause before answering yes to the question of whether the monarchy should be abolished.

He also said the licenced hunting of wolves should be continued, and that petrol taxes should be raised.

However, Juholt did not think that headscarves which cover one's entire face should be prohibited in Swedish schools or that parents should be forced to share parental leave benefits equally.

He also doesn't think Sweden should adopt the euro.

When asked for his views on Sweden's household services tax relief (RUT-avdrag), Juholt said that taxpayer money should be used as effectively as possible.

"Household services tax relief is, at this time, not a priority for us Social Democrats," he said.

Juholt's newly appointed economic policy spokesperson, Tommy Waidelich, has said previously that his wife had used the tax-relief programme, which makes it cheaper for people to take advantage of household services ranging from housecleaning to babysitting.

He explained that the tax break made everyday life easier for his family.

Juholt didn't rule out that his party, like the current centre-right Alliance government, would carry out a fifth round of tax relief under the government's in-work tax credit programme

However, he emphasised that such a step would be taken only if it was seen as the best way to foster growth in the economy, jobs, and investment.

He pointed out that Sweden's tax system is currently the subject of an internal review by the Social Democratic party, adding that, should his party resume power, it would push for a reintroduction of the wealth tax.

"Yes, some form of taxation for those with the highest wealth," he said.

In addition, Juholt said his party is reviewing possible reforms to Sweden's property tax system.

"The old system of property tax was no good; let's see if we can come up with a new model," he said.

Juholt also attacked the government's reforms to Sweden's system of sickness benefits.

"It's not right that people who are worried about their illnesses also have to worry about supporting themselves," he said.

He added that Sweden's unemployment insurance funds (a-kassa) require that those who lose their jobs actively seek employment, but was hesitant in his answer to the question of whether there should be an additional limit.

"People shouldn't be able to stay on a-kassa for an unlimited time, but society as a whole, not only the individual, must take responsibility," he said.