The government no longer has confidence in Kinberg Batra. On Thursday next week, she will officially leave her post as governor.
– The notice to Anna Kinberg Batra is given against the background of the serious criticism directed at her by the Ombudsman, says Minister of Civil Affairs Erik Slottner (KD) in a press release.
Yesterday, JO announced that it believes that Anna Kinberg Batra did not follow the constitutional requirement for objectivity in the recruitments.
Ulf Kristersson: “Trust must not be undermined”
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson writes in a text message to SVT Nyheter that whoever is the head of the county administrative board must “carry out his mission in a way that earns the public’s trust”.
“I have said it many times: Trust is one of the finest things we have in Swedish society. Trust must not be undermined.” writes Kristersson.
Furthermore, he writes that after JO’s criticism, it is clear that trust in the County Administrative Board in Stockholm cannot be restored in any other way than by appointing a new governor.
Recruited acquaintances
Anna Kinberg Batra, who was previously party leader for the Moderates, took office as governor of Stockholm last year.
Last spring, Aftonbladet was able to reveal that she had recruited two acquaintances, one of whom is a close friend, for jobs at the county board.
The one position was only advertised through a note in the county administration’s reception. The other was not announced at all. A third position went to a person who did not meet the requirements for an academic degree, TV4 Nyheterna then revealed.
The county board: Respects the decision
“Anna Kinberg Batra respects the government’s assessment and currently has no further comments regarding the civil minister’s announcement,” writes Jonas Johansson, head of communications at the County Administrative Board in Stockholm in an email to SVT.
Anna Kinberg Batra will be transferred to the government office and will retain her salary until 2029.
The union: “A relief”
Susann Sass Jonsson, chairman of Saco-S at the county board in Stockholm, says she is relieved after the government’s announcement.
– From the very beginning, when she came here as governor, we noticed that she had a different agenda and a different leadership than what we are used to, she says.
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