2026-04-012025/26:KU30 · p.34KUConstitution
Constitutional protection for public service etc.
Constitutional protection for public service broadcasting
What's at stake: Without constitutional protection, the terms for public service broadcasting can be changed through ordinary legislation and a simple majority, making its independence more exposed to political shifts, whereas constitutional protection would give it more stable, long-term conditions but also make future adjustments to the rules harder.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether public service broadcasting's independence should be protected in the constitution, with a qualified-majority requirement for decisions affecting it, or whether the recently enacted public service law already provides sufficient protection.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee notes that a new law on public service has recently entered into force that clarifies the conditions for its operation, and points out that an earlier parliamentary committee did not propose constitutional regulation, and therefore rejects the motion calling for constitutional protection for public service.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 21 (V)
The reservation argues that public service broadcasting's independence should be strengthened through effective constitutional protection, with a qualified-majority requirement for parliamentary decisions affecting it, to prevent increasing political control and a narrowing of its mandate over time.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 21 by V.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
The decision would have held
Explicit commitments that contradicted the vote: LLiberalerna, SSocialdemokraterna
Ja 255–19Ja 153–121
Counterfactual: the parties above are moved to the position their own documents explicitly point at, carrying their whole contingent present. Every other party keeps its real figures, including dissenters and absentees.
How the AI parties would have voted
For each party: what its own plan – election manifesto and party programme – argues for in this case, next to how the party actually voted. The AI can only answer Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| AI | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | No 0/17/0/5 | match | confidence: high | explicit |
| S | No | Yes 90/0/0/16 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| MP | No | Abstain 0/0/15/3 | differs | confidence: high | explicit |
| C | No | Yes 19/0/0/5 | differs | confidence: high | derived |
| L | No | Yes 12/0/0/4 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| KD | No | Yes 16/0/0/3 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 55/0/0/11 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| SD | Yes | Yes 59/0/0/11 | match | confidence: medium | not addressed |
Committee proposal
Parliament rejects the motions 2025/26:861 by Magnus Manhammar (S), 2025/26:2790 by Jessica Wetterling et al. (V) points 9 and 10 and 2025/26:3405 by Emma Berginger et al. (MP) point 15.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2025/26:861 av Magnus Manhammar (S), 2025/26:2790 av Jessica Wetterling m.fl. (V) yrkandena 9 och 10 samt 2025/26:3405 av Emma Berginger m.fl. (MP) yrkande 15.
Riksdag decision: Parliament rejected 83 proposals in motions on constitutional questions from the general motion period 2025. The proposals concern, among other things, questions about abolishing the monarchy, the head of state's immunity from prosecution, and increased transparency in the royal court's finances. Other proposals address political communication, bans on anonymous or foreign party donations, a national lobbying register, and constitutional provisions on national minorities and minority languages. Parliament refers, among other things, to ongoing work in the areas covered by the proposals.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants the monarchy to be abolished and Sweden to become a republic. (V) — Reservation 21
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The plan wants to see a strong, broad, and independent role for public service with a mandate that stems from the constitution but stands independent from political power.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to see a strong, broad, and independent role for public service with a mandate that stems from the constitution but stands independent from political power. The election manifesto particularly lifts public service's independent position in a time when right-populist forces try to steer information and content harder. Effective constitutional protection and the demand for qualified majority is precisely the safeguard against political control the plan seeks.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill se en stark, bred och självständig roll för public service med ett uppdrag som utgår från grundlagen men står oberoende från den politiska makten. Valplattformen lyfter särskilt public services oberoende ställning i en tid då högerpopulistiska krafter försöker styra information och innehåll hårdare. Ett effektivt grundlagsskydd och krav på kvalificerad majoritet är just det värn mot politisk styrning planen efterfrågar.
- constitutionally anchored public servicedecisive»public service, med ett uppdrag som utgår från grundlagen men står« (party programme ↗)“public service, with a mandate that stems from the constitution but stands”
- independent from political power»oberoende från den politiska makten, och heltäckande journalistisk« (party programme ↗)“independent from political power, and comprehensive journalistic”
- public service's independence»Därför är det särskilt viktigt att satsa på och utveckla folkbiblioteken, folkbildningen och public services oberoende ställning.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Therefore it is especially important to invest in and develop public libraries, public education, and public service's independent position.”
- safeguard against political control»Vi lever i en tid då högerpopulistiska krafter försöker styra information och innehåll allt hårdare.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We live in a time when right-populist forces try to steer information and content ever harder.”
The election manifesto explicitly states that the party wants to constitutionally protect public service, and the party programme demands broad, independent and constitutionally protected public service.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto explicitly states that the party wants to constitutionally protect public service, and the party programme demands broad, independent and constitutionally protected public service. The counter-proposal's demand for effective constitutional protection and qualified majority for decisions on public service is therefore exactly the plan's position, motivated by the need to protect democratic institutions against political control.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet säger uttryckligen att partiet vill grundlagsskydda public service, och partiprogrammet kräver en bred, oberoende och grundlagsskyddad public service. Motförslagets krav på ett effektivt grundlagsskydd och kvalificerad majoritet för beslut om public service är därmed exakt planens ståndpunkt, motiverad av att de demokratiska institutionerna måste skyddas mot politisk styrning.
- constitutionally protected public servicedecisive»Vi vill grundlagsskydda public service.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to constitutionally protect public service.”
- independent public service»Bred, oberoende och grundlagsskyddad public service som är gemensamt finansierad.« (party programme ↗)“Broad, independent and constitutionally protected public service that is jointly financed.”
- protect democracy's institutions»De demokratiska institutionerna måste skyddas.« (party programme ↗)“Democratic institutions must be protected.”
- free media»Fri och oberoende media.« (party programme ↗)“Free and independent media.”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The election manifesto explicitly requires that independent public service is protected in the constitution and that the constitution is protected against rapid changes.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto explicitly requires that independent public service is protected in the constitution and that the constitution is protected against rapid changes. The counter-proposal's requirement for effective constitutional protection and qualified majority for decisions on public service are precisely these two commitments. The party programme furthermore stands guard over broad and independent public service as a guarantee for diversity of opinion.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet kräver uttryckligen att ett oberoende public service skyddas i grundlagen och att grundlagen skyddas mot snabba förändringar. Motförslagets krav på ett effektivt grundlagsskydd och kvalificerad majoritet för beslut om public service är precis dessa två åtaganden. Partiprogrammet slår dessutom vakt om ett brett och oberoende public service som garant för åsiktsmångfald.
- constitutional protection for public servicedecisive»skydda ett oberoende public service i grundlagen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“protect independent public service in the constitution.”
- protection against rapid constitutional changes»skydda Sveriges grundlag mot snabba förändringar.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“protect Sweden's constitution against rapid changes.”
- independent public service»Miljöpartiet slår vakt om ett brett och oberoende public service och en mångfald av kommersiella medier, för att garantera en mångfald av åsikter.« (party programme ↗)“The Green Party stands guard over broad and independent public service and a diversity of commercial media, to guarantee a diversity of opinions.”
- strengthened freedom of expression»förstärka yttrandefriheten och stödja oberoende medier i hela landet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“strengthen freedom of expression and support independent media throughout the country.”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The election manifesto promises that press freedom shall be protected and independent public service defended, and wants to make it harder to amend the constitution and protect the position of the opposition.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto promises that press freedom shall be protected and independent public service defended, and wants to make it harder to amend the constitution and protect the position of the opposition. Effective constitutional protection and requirements for qualified majority are precisely such protection against political control. The party programme requires media free from political control and censorship.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet lovar att pressfriheten ska skyddas och oberoende public service försvaras, och vill samtidigt göra det svårare att ändra grundlagen och skydda oppositionens ställning. Ett effektivt grundlagsskydd och krav på kvalificerad majoritet är just sådana skydd mot politisk styrning. Partiprogrammet kräver medier fria från politisk kontroll och censur.
- defend independent public servicedecisive»Pressfriheten ska skyddas och oberoende public service försvaras.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Press freedom shall be protected and independent public service defended.”
- stronger constitutional protection»Vi vill göra det svårare att ändra grundlagen, skydda oppositionens ställning i riksdagen och stärka domstolarnas oberoende.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to make it harder to amend the constitution, protect the opposition's position in the Riksdag and strengthen the courts' independence.”
- media free from political control»Tillgången till oberoende medier som står fria från såväl politisk kontroll och censur, som snävt ekonomiska« (party programme ↗)“Access to independent media that stand free from both political control and censorship, as well as narrow economic”
- independent media monitoring»En allsidig, oberoende och livskraftig mediebevakning i hela landet är avgörande för demokratin.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Comprehensive, independent and vigorous media monitoring throughout the country is crucial for democracy.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The election manifesto requires that SVT, SR and UR get increased legal protection for their independence from political control, and simultaneously wants to see strengthened Basic Law protection for democratic system of government.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto requires that SVT, SR and UR get increased legal protection for their independence from political control, and simultaneously wants to see strengthened Basic Law protection for democratic system of government. The counter-proposal's demand for effective Basic Law protection and qualified majority for decisions on public service is that tightening. The party programme establishes that financing shall safeguard the companies' independence and that the assignment shall remain broad.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet kräver att SVT, SR och UR får ökat skydd i lagen för sitt oberoende från politisk styrning, och vill samtidigt se ett förstärkt grundlagsskydd för det demokratiska statsskicket. Motförslagets krav på ett effektivt grundlagsskydd och kvalificerad majoritet för beslut om public service är den skärpningen. Partiprogrammet slår fast att finansieringen ska slå vakt om bolagens oberoende och att uppdraget ska förbli brett.
- legal protection for public servicedecisive»Därför ska Sveriges Television, Sveriges Radio och Utbildningsradion ha ökat skydd i lagen för sitt oberoende från politisk styrning, och public service-bolagen ska fortsätta ha ett brett programutbud.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Therefore Swedish Television, Swedish Radio and Educational Radio shall have increased legal protection for their independence from political control, and public service companies shall continue to have a broad programme range.”
- strengthened Basic Law protection»Vi vill se ett förstärkt grundlagsskydd för vårt demokratiska statsskick, öka domstolarnas oberoende och verka för en författningsdomstol som ska kunna häva lagar eller bestämmelser som strider mot grundlagsskyddade fri- och rättigheter.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to see strengthened Basic Law protection for our democratic system of government, increase courts' independence and work for a constitutional court that can overturn laws or provisions that conflict with Basic Law-protected freedoms and rights.”
- independent financing»Finansieringen av public servicemedierna ska slå vakt om bolagens oberoende.« (party programme ↗)“The financing of public service media shall safeguard the companies' independence.”
- broad public service assignment»Public service ska fortsatt ha ett brett uppdrag och sträva efter kvalitet och relevans.« (party programme ↗)“Public service shall continue to have a broad assignment and strive for quality and relevance.”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The plan establishes that independent and advertising-free channels without profit interests are of great importance and that public broadcasting shall provide independent and factual news reporting.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that independent and advertising-free channels without profit interests are of great importance and that public broadcasting shall provide independent and factual news reporting. It also requires that the constitution ensures the rights that shall always exist and that the authorities shall not interfere with freedom of expression except in the manner prescribed by the constitution. An effective constitutional protection against political control of public broadcasting follows from this.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att oberoende och reklamfria kanaler utan vinstintressen har stor betydelse och att public service ska ge oberoende och saklig nyhetsförmedling. Den kräver också att grundlagen säkerställer de rättigheter som alltid ska finnas och att det allmänna inte får ingripa mot yttrandefriheten annat än enligt grundlagens ordning. Ett effektivt grundlagsskydd mot politisk styrning av public service följer av detta.
- independent public broadcastingdecisive»Public service ska tillhandahålla oberoende och saklig nyhetsförmedling« (party programme ↗)“Public broadcasting shall provide independent and factual news reporting”
- independent media without profit interest»Betydelsen av oberoende och reklamfria radio- och TV-kanaler utan vinstintressen är stor.« (party programme ↗)“The importance of independent and advertising-free radio and TV channels without profit interests is great.”
- constitutional protection of freedom of expression»inte får ingripa mot yttrandefriheten, annat än i de fall och den ordning som föreskrivs i« (party programme ↗)“may not interfere with freedom of expression, except in the cases and manner prescribed in”
- constitution protects rights»Grundlagen ska säkerställa de rättigheter som alltid ska finnas för den enskilda människan« (party programme ↗)“The constitution shall ensure the rights that shall always exist for the individual”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The election manifesto commits to protecting and strengthening public service's core mission and the requirement for objectivity and impartiality, and that the constitution shall provide a clear catalogue of freedoms and rights with strengthened protection for citizens' rights.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto commits to protecting and strengthening public service's core mission and the requirement for objectivity and impartiality, and that the constitution shall provide a clear catalogue of freedoms and rights with strengthened protection for citizens' rights. The party programme states that the goal is independent media institutions that are free from state and politics. Effective constitutional protection against increased political control of public service follows from these commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet åtar sig att värna och stärka public services kärnuppdrag och kravet på saklighet och opartiskhet, och att grundlagen ska ge en tydlig katalog av fri- och rättigheter med stärkt skydd för medborgarnas rättigheter. Partiprogrammet slår fast att målet är självständiga medieinstitutioner som står fria från stat och politik. Ett effektivt grundlagsskydd mot ökad politisk styrning av public service följer av dessa åtaganden.
- protected public servicedecisive»Värna och stärka public services kärnuppdrag och kravet på saklighet och opartiskhet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Protect and strengthen public service's core mission and the requirement for objectivity and impartiality”
- media free from politics»Målet ska vara självständiga institutioner som i sin verksamhet står fria från stat och politik.« (party programme ↗)“The goal shall be independent institutions that in their activities are free from state and politics.”
- stronger constitutional protection»Vår svenska grundlag ska ha en tydlig katalog av fri- och rättigheter.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Our Swedish constitution shall have a clear catalogue of freedoms and rights.”
- strengthened constitutional protection»Stärka domstolarnas oberoende och skyddet för medborgarnas fri- och rättigheter« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen the independence of the courts and protection for citizens' freedoms and rights”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan wants to reduce public economic control over the media sphere and increase diversity, not to enshrine in the constitution and lock in today's public service structure.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to reduce public economic control over the media sphere and increase diversity, not to enshrine in the constitution and lock in today's public service structure. A requirement for a qualified majority would also prevent parliament from shaping the assignment, while the plan itself sets requirements for what public service shall broadcast. The plan does, however, share the goal that media independence from political control shall increase.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill minska det offentligas ekonomiska kontroll över mediesfären och öka mångfalden, inte grundlagsfästa och låsa fast dagens public service-konstruktion. Ett krav på kvalificerad majoritet skulle dessutom hindra riksdagen från att forma uppdraget, samtidigt som planen själv ställer krav på vad public service ska sända. Planen delar däremot målet att mediernas oberoende av politisk styrning ska öka.
- reduced public media powerdecisive»Minska det offentligas ekonomiska kontroll över samtidskulturen och mediesfären« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Reduce public economic control over contemporary culture and the media sphere”
- politically formulated assignment»Att public service ska sända stora idrottsevenemang« (2022 manifesto ↗)“That public service shall broadcast major sports events”
- diversity in opinion formation»Stärka möjligheten till fri och värdeoberoende åsiktsbildning« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen the possibility of free and value-neutral opinion formation”
- independent media»Mediernas oberoende ska öka genom minskad politisk styrning från statsmakten och åtgärder för en ökad mångfald.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Media independence shall increase through reduced political control from the state authorities and measures for increased diversity.”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2025/26:KU30)
- Committee report full text (HD01KU30)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2025/26:1049 — Representativ demokrati och vikten av förankring av Jamal El-Haj (-)
- Motion 2025/26:1271 — Skydd för gemensam egendom av Niklas Karlsson och Joakim Sandell (båda S)
- Motion 2025/26:1384 — Avskaffande av den kungliga dispositionsrätten till statens fastigheter av Karin Sundin (S) och Niels Paarup-Petersen (C)
- Motion 2025/26:1385 — Ett modernt statsskick av Karin Sundin m.fl. (S, V, MP, C, L)
- Motion 2025/26:1556 — Ansvar för granskning av kommunsektorn under Riksrevisionen av Yusuf Aydin (KD)
- Motion 2025/26:1647 — Grundlagsskydd för rätten att behålla minst hälften av sin inkomst av Ludvig Ceimertz och Noria Manouchi (båda M)
- Motion 2025/26:1698 — Skydda även svensk kultur i regeringsformen av Staffan Eklöf (SD)
- Motion 2025/26:1703 — Folklig granskning inför ratificering av internationella avtal av Staffan Eklöf (SD)
- Motion 2025/26:1708 — Former för att säkerställa medborgarnas informerade och fria åsikter vid folkomröstning av Staffan Eklöf (SD)
- Motion 2025/26:1710 — En mer demokratisk process vid ingående av avtal för Sveriges räkning av Staffan Eklöf (SD)
- Motion 2025/26:1711 — Förstärkt skydd av vår demokrati av Ann-Sofie Alm (M)
- Motion 2025/26:1741 — Minskning av antalet riksdagsledamöter av Jan Ericson (M)
- Motion 2025/26:1743 — Utöka Riksrevisionens uppdrag av Jan Ericson m.fl. (M)
- Motion 2025/26:1757 — Granskning av partinära affärsverksamheter av Boriana Åberg (M)
- Motion 2025/26:193 — Om krav på enbart svenskt medborgarskap för statsråd och riksdagsledamöter av Rashid Farivar (SD)
- Motion 2025/26:1950 — Reglering av hemlig politisk påverkan av Mattias Vepsä m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2025/26:2163 — Minskning av antalet ledamöter i Sveriges riksdag av Sten Bergheden (M)
- Motion 2025/26:2290 — Införande av ett lobbyregister av Linnéa Wickman (S)
- Motion 2025/26:2576 — Skydd från påtvingad partisponsring för arbetare av Oliver Rosengren och Lars Beckman (båda M)
- Motion 2025/26:2751 — Om transparens och ett lobbyregister av Mathias Tegnér m.fl. (S)
Source: The Swedish Parliament