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Second Swedish minister resigns | Second Swedish minister resigns |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Sweden's culture minister has become the second minister to resign over financial irregularities, only days since the new government took office. | Sweden's culture minister has become the second minister to resign over financial irregularities, only days since the new government took office. |
Cecilia Stego Chilo admitted she had not paid her television licence fee for 16 years, and had not paid employer taxes when taking on a nanny. | Cecilia Stego Chilo admitted she had not paid her television licence fee for 16 years, and had not paid employer taxes when taking on a nanny. |
On Saturday Trade Minister Maria Borelius resigned for similar reasons. | On Saturday Trade Minister Maria Borelius resigned for similar reasons. |
The scandal has hit Fredrik Reinfeldt's new centre-right government less than two weeks since it was formed. | The scandal has hit Fredrik Reinfeldt's new centre-right government less than two weeks since it was formed. |
Ms Stego Chilo said her failure to pay her TV fee and employer taxes "was not acceptable". | Ms Stego Chilo said her failure to pay her TV fee and employer taxes "was not acceptable". |
"I am naturally very sorry that it is necessary to leave the... culture department after so short a time," she added. | |
The 1,500 kronor (£109; US$200) per year TV licence fee funds Sweden's public broadcasting, which comes under her culture department portfolio. | The 1,500 kronor (£109; US$200) per year TV licence fee funds Sweden's public broadcasting, which comes under her culture department portfolio. |
On Saturday Ms Borelius quit after admitting hiring nannies without paying taxes and employer's fees. | On Saturday Ms Borelius quit after admitting hiring nannies without paying taxes and employer's fees. |
She said she was giving up both her cabinet post and her seat in parliament because media pressure had made "a normal family life impossible". | She said she was giving up both her cabinet post and her seat in parliament because media pressure had made "a normal family life impossible". |
Tax cuts | |
Mr Reinfeldt has ruled out any major changes for his four-party coalition, which defeated the Social Democrats in elections, and formed a government on 6 October. | Mr Reinfeldt has ruled out any major changes for his four-party coalition, which defeated the Social Democrats in elections, and formed a government on 6 October. |
The prime minister said it would be "a mistake to believe that the [media] reports of the last days will be decisive for the alliance's policies". | The prime minister said it would be "a mistake to believe that the [media] reports of the last days will be decisive for the alliance's policies". |
Mr Reinfeldt campaigned on the promise of big tax cuts, and Swedish media said he was set to announce income tax reductions of up to 40bn kronor (£2.9bn; $5.4bn), as well as freezing property taxes and halving the wealth tax. | |
He was also expected to cut unemployment and sickness benefits. |