Political scientist: in Volvo’s MP-discounts would be unthinkable in Sweden
21.06.2012, 16:23Andreas Bågenholm who lectures corruption in the Gothenburg University says that in Sweden it would be unthinkable that a car dealer gives MPs special discounts in buying a new vehicle.
Commenting the case where 25 Estonian MPs took the opportunity offered by Infoauto, the Volvo dealer in Estonia, and bought a brand-new car about 10,000 euros cheaper than the list price, the scientist said that the Swedish people would see it as corruption and would not tolerate it.
Bagenholm reminded the famous case where the Swedish deputy PM Mona Sahlin was forced to resign after it was found out that she had used her official credit card to buy pantyhose and chocolate.
According to the Swedish scientist, Swedish car dealer would not even consider it because it would violate ethical values of the Swedish people.
“I am pretty sure that a similar campaign where a car dealer offers discounts to MPs in Sweden would be impossible. Many Swedes find that politicians are highly paid anyway and do not need additional favours,” said Bågenholm.
He added that accepting such an offer would question the politicians credibility since they would be owing a favour to the car dealer.
“The public would not tolerate it and the politicians should neither. This is about common sense,” added the political scientist.