2025-03-262024/25:KU24 · p.10KUConstitution
Media Support
State support for the media
What's at stake: The outcome affects how media support and media diversity across the country develop, and whether there is room for independent, commercial media coverage alongside public service.
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 the government should take new initiatives on state support for the media and nationwide media diversity, or whether the committee should decline to act, citing that the issue was recently addressed.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee notes that motions on state media support, media diversity, and support for periodicals have recently been addressed, and is therefore not prepared to take any new initiative on the matter.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 11 (SD)
The reservation (SD) wants the government to work for a broad range of media actors that scrutinize and spur each other toward sound journalism, warning that media diversity suffers if public service becomes the sole Swedish player in audio and video; a commercial, independent media sector is needed for democracy to function.
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 11 by SD.
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: MModeraterna
Ja 185–63Ja 125–123
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 | Abstain 0/0/20/4 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | Yes 93/0/0/13 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | Abstain 0/0/16/2 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | No | Abstain 0/0/20/4 | differs | confidence: high | explicit |
| L | No | Yes 14/0/0/2 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 17/0/0/2 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 60/0/0/8 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| SD | No | No 0/62/0/10 | match | confidence: high | explicit |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2024/25:856 by Lorena Delgado Varas et al. (V) motion 10, 2024/25:1336 by Alexander Christiansson et al. (SD) motion 1, 2024/25:1774 by Mats Berglund et al. (MP) motion 43, 2024/25:2958 by Catarina Deremar et al. (C) motion 16, 2024/25:3057 by Elin Söderberg et al. (MP) motion 24 and 2024/25:3159 by Malin Björk et al. (C) motions 25 and 26.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2024/25:856 av Lorena Delgado Varas m.fl. (V) yrkande 10, 2024/25:1336 av Alexander Christiansson m.fl. (SD) yrkande 1, 2024/25:1774 av Mats Berglund m.fl. (MP) yrkande 43, 2024/25:2958 av Catarina Deremar m.fl. (C) yrkande 16, 2024/25:3057 av Elin Söderberg m.fl. (MP) yrkande 24 och 2024/25:3159 av Malin Björk m.fl. (C) yrkandena 25 och 26.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag rejected approximately 70 proposals concerning freedom of the press and expression issues and mass media matters. The proposals came in motions during the general motion period 2024 and address, for example, personal data and digital search services, freedom of expression on the internet, and regulation of tech giants. The Riksdag refers, among other things, to work already underway in several of the matters addressed by the proposals.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to regulate major social media platforms to protect freedom of speech and user rights against arbitrary moderation and suspension. (SD) — Reservation 11
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 requires a diversity of channels for information and news and comprehensive journalistic coverage at national, regional, and local levels, which is the counter-proposal's substantive requirement for a range of media actors.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires a diversity of channels for information and news and comprehensive journalistic coverage at national, regional, and local levels, which is the counter-proposal's substantive requirement for a range of media actors. However, the plan bases diversity on independence from both state and capital interests, and at the same time wants strong and independent public service, not a curtailed one.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver en mångfald av kanaler för information och nyheter och en heltäckande journalistisk bevakning på nationell, regional och lokal nivå, vilket är motförslagets sakkrav på en bredd av mediala aktörer. Planen grundar dock mångfalden i oberoende från både stat och kapitalintressen och vill samtidigt ha en stark och självständig public service, inte en tillbakaträngd sådan.
- diversity of media channelsdecisive»Det behövs en mångfald av kanaler för information, nyheter« (party programme ↗)“There is a need for a diversity of channels for information, news”
- comprehensive local journalism»bevakning på nationell, regional och lokal nivå.« (party programme ↗)“coverage at national, regional, and local levels.”
- strong independent public service»Vi vill se en stark, bred och självständig roll för« (party programme ↗)“We want to see a strong, broad, and independent role for”
- independent democratic infrastructure»Därför är det särskilt viktigt att satsa på och utveckla folkbiblioteken, folkbildningen och public services oberoende ställning.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Therefore, it is particularly important to invest in and develop public libraries, adult education, and public service's independent position.”
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 establishes that media support shall provide conditions for independent and locally anchored news distribution across the country, and the party programme that preventing power concentration and maintaining diversity shall be central parts of media policy.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that media support shall provide conditions for independent and locally anchored news distribution across the country, and the party programme that preventing power concentration and maintaining diversity shall be central parts of media policy. The counter-proposal's demand for a breadth of media actors scrutinising each other is in line with this, even though the plan simultaneously wants to constitutionally protect public service. The position is therefore derived.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att mediestödet ska ge förutsättningar för oberoende och lokalt förankrad nyhetsförmedling i hela landet, och partiprogrammet att motverkad maktkoncentration och upprätthållen mångfald ska vara centrala delar av mediepolitiken. Motförslagets krav på en bredd av mediala aktörer som granskar varandra ligger i linje med detta, även om planen samtidigt vill grundlagsskydda public service. Ställningstagandet är därför härlett.
- independent news distributiondecisive»Mediestödet ska ge förutsättningar för oberoende och lokalt förankrad nyhetsförmedling i hela landet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Media support shall provide conditions for independent and locally anchored news distribution across the country.”
- media diversity»Att motverka maktkoncentration och att upprätthålla mångfald ska vara centrala delar av« (party programme ↗)“Preventing power concentration and maintaining diversity shall be central parts of”
- free opinion formation»Media spelar en betydelsefull roll för den fria opinionsbildningen och det fria« (party programme ↗)“Media plays a significant role for free opinion formation and the free”
- protected public service»Vi vill grundlagsskydda public service.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to constitutionally protect public service.”
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 strengthening freedom of expression and supporting independent media throughout the country, and the party programme wishes to protect press support so that it strengthens smaller players and counteracts excessive ownership concentration.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto commits to strengthening freedom of expression and supporting independent media throughout the country, and the party programme wishes to protect press support so that it strengthens smaller players and counteracts excessive ownership concentration. The requirement that the state works for a breadth of media players that scrutinise one another aligns with this, while the plan also protects strong and independent public service.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet åtar sig att förstärka yttrandefriheten och stödja oberoende medier i hela landet, och partiprogrammet vill värna presstödet så att det stärker mindre aktörer och motverka för stora ägarkoncentrationer. Kravet att staten verkar för en bredd av mediala aktörer som granskar varandra ligger i linje med detta, samtidigt som planen också värnar ett starkt och oberoende public service.
- support for independent mediadecisive»förstärka yttrandefriheten och stödja oberoende medier i hela landet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“strengthen freedom of expression and support independent media throughout the country.”
- media support for smaller players»Vi värnar presstödet och vill att det omformas så att det stärker mindre aktörer.« (party programme ↗)“We protect press support and wish to reform it so that it strengthens smaller players.”
- media diversity and strong public service»För att garantera en mångfald av åsikter och yttrandefrihet i samhället behöver vi ett oberoende och starkt public service samt lagar som motverkar för stora ägarkoncentrationer.« (party programme ↗)“To guarantee a diversity of opinions and freedom of expression in society, we need independent and strong public service and laws that counteract excessive ownership concentration.”
- investigative journalism for democracy»Ett demokratiskt samhälle kräver saklig information, aktiv samhällsgranskning och grävande journalistik.« (party programme ↗)“A democratic society requires factual information, active social scrutiny and investigative journalism.”
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 demands comprehensive, independent and vigorous media monitoring throughout the country, and the party programme that media monopolies — private as well as public — should be countered and that access to independent media is crucial for democracy.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto demands comprehensive, independent and vigorous media monitoring throughout the country, and the party programme that media monopolies — private as well as public — should be countered and that access to independent media is crucial for democracy. The counter-proposal's demand for a range of media actors, and the warning that plurality is damaged if public service becomes the only actor in sound and image, follow from these commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet kräver en allsidig, oberoende och livskraftig mediebevakning i hela landet, och partiprogrammet att mediemonopol — privata som offentliga — ska motverkas och att tillgången till oberoende medier är avgörande för demokratin. Motförslagets krav på en bredd av mediala aktörer, och varningen för att mångfalden skadas om public service blir den enda aktören inom ljud och bild, följer av dessa åtaganden.
- comprehensive media monitoring throughout the countrydecisive»En allsidig, oberoende och livskraftig mediebevakning i hela landet är avgörande för demokratin. Pressfriheten ska skyddas och oberoende public service försvaras.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Comprehensive, independent and vigorous media monitoring throughout the country is crucial for democracy. Press freedom shall be protected and independent public service defended.”
- counter media monopolies»privata som offentliga, ska motverkas.« (party programme ↗)“private as well as public, should be countered.”
- independent media»Tillgången till oberoende medier som står fria från såväl politisk kontroll och censur« (party programme ↗)“Access to independent media that stand free from both political control and censorship”
- arm's length distance»Politiken ska bidra till goda förutsättningar men hålla armlängds avstånd.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Politics should contribute to good conditions but keep an arm's length distance.”
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 wants to remake press and media support to promote local scrutinizing quality journalism throughout the country and establish an independent fund for scrutinizing journalism, which assumes a breadth of independent actors outside public service.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to remake press and media support to promote local scrutinizing quality journalism throughout the country and establish an independent fund for scrutinizing journalism, which assumes a breadth of independent actors outside public service. The counter-proposal's demand that the state works for media diversity is therefore in line with the plan. The plan simultaneously protects public service's broad assignment and legally protected independence.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill göra om press- och mediestödet för att främja lokal granskande kvalitetsjournalistik i hela landet och inrätta en fristående fond för granskande journalistik, vilket förutsätter en bredd av oberoende aktörer utanför public service. Motförslagets krav på att staten verkar för mediemångfald ligger därför i linje med planen. Planen värnar samtidigt public service breda uppdrag och lagskyddade oberoende.
- media support for scrutinizing journalismdecisive»Vi vill göra om press- och mediestödet för att främja en lokal granskande kvalitetsjournalistik i hela landet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to remake press and media support to promote local scrutinizing quality journalism throughout the country.”
- independent media»Mediernas oberoende måste värnas.« (party programme ↗)“Media independence must be protected.”
- fund for scrutinizing journalism»fristående fond ska inrättas för att stödja granskande journalistik.« (party programme ↗)“independent fund shall be established to support scrutinizing journalism.”
- public service protected»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.”
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 requires strong protection for freedom of expression and freedom of the press, that competition policy counters monopolies, and that a rich cultural life revitalizes democracy.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires strong protection for freedom of expression and freedom of the press, that competition policy counters monopolies, and that a rich cultural life revitalizes democracy. A breadth of scrutinizing media actors alongside public service, whose independent news coverage the plan simultaneously protects, follows from these commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver ett starkt skydd för yttrande- och meddelarfriheten, att konkurrenspolitiken motverkar monopol och att ett rikt kulturliv vitaliserar demokratin. En bredd av granskande medieaktörer vid sidan av public service, vars oberoende nyhetsförmedling planen samtidigt värnar, följer av dessa åtaganden.
- strong freedom of expressiondecisive»Ett starkt skydd för yttrande- och meddelarfriheten« (party programme ↗)“Strong protection for freedom of expression and freedom of the press”
- counter monopolies»motverkar oligopol, monopol och illojal konkurrens« (party programme ↗)“counters oligopolies, monopolies and unfair competition”
- cultural life revitalizes democracy»Ett rikt kulturliv vitaliserar även demokratin.« (party programme ↗)“A rich cultural life also revitalizes democracy.”
- independent news coverage»Public service ska tillhandahålla oberoende och saklig« (party programme ↗)“Public service shall provide independent and objective”
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's media policy has as an explicit objective a broad range of media that can operate freely, independently and in competition with each other, and it states that a diversity of free and independent media is essential for a democratic society.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's media policy has as an explicit objective a broad range of media that can operate freely, independently and in competition with each other, and it states that a diversity of free and independent media is essential for a democratic society. Media support shall be reformed to support the transition. The counter-proposal's demand for a range of media actors beyond public service is therefore the plan's own line.
Original (Swedish)
Planens mediepolitik har som uttryckligt mål ett brett utbud av medier som kan verka fritt, självständigt och i konkurrens med varandra, och den slår fast att en mångfald av fria och oberoende medier är avgörande för det demokratiska samhället. Mediestödet ska reformeras för att stödja omställningen. Motförslagets krav på en bredd av mediala aktörer utöver public service är därmed planens egen linje.
- broad and competitive media rangedecisive»Moderaternas mediepolitik har som mål att skapa förutsättningar för ett brett utbud av medier i olika format som kan verka fritt, självständigt och i konkurrens med varandra.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Moderates' media policy aims to create conditions for a broad range of media in various formats that can operate freely, independently and in competition with each other.”
- media diversity for democracy»En mångfald av fria och oberoende medier som håller hög kvalitet spelar en helt avgörande roll för det öppna och demokratiska samhället.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“A diversity of free and independent media of high quality plays a crucial role for an open and democratic society.”
- reformed media support»Reformera mediestödet för att stödja den digitala transformationen och omställningen« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Reform media support to support digital transformation and transition”
- free media as foundation»Fria medier och ett fritt kulturliv är fundament i ett pluralistiskt« (party programme ↗)“Free media and a free cultural life are foundations in a pluralistic”
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 establishes that media independence shall increase through reduced political control and measures for increased diversity, and that public economic control over the media sphere shall decrease.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto establishes that media independence shall increase through reduced political control and measures for increased diversity, and that public economic control over the media sphere shall decrease. The counter-proposal's demand for a breadth of media actors and an independent commercial media watch alongside public service is precisely this. The plan also emphasises diversity of perspective in both traditional and new media.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet slår fast att mediernas oberoende ska öka genom minskad politisk styrning och åtgärder för ökad mångfald, och att det offentligas ekonomiska kontroll över mediesfären ska minska. Motförslagets krav på en bredd av mediala aktörer och en oberoende kommersiell mediebevakning vid sidan av public service är just detta. Planen betonar dessutom mångfald av perspektiv i såväl traditionella som nya medier.
- media diversity and independencedecisive»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.”
- less public media control»Minska det offentligas ekonomiska kontroll över samtidskulturen och mediesfären« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Reduce public economic control over contemporary culture and the media sphere”
- free opinion formation»En fri debatt och åsiktsbildning som präglas av transparens och mångfald av perspektiv i såväl traditionella som nya medier, hämmas av strukturer och politik.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“A free debate and opinion formation characterised by transparency and diversity of perspective in both traditional and new media is hampered by structures and politics.”
- value-neutral opinion formation»Stärka möjligheten till fri och värdeoberoende åsiktsbildning« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen the possibility of free and value-neutral opinion formation”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2024/25:KU24)
- Committee report full text (HC01KU24)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2024/25:1169 — Skydd av personuppgifter av Yusuf Aydin (KD)
- Motion 2024/25:1262 — Åtgärder mot deepfakes och AI-driven desinformation av Aida Birinxhiku (S)
- Motion 2024/25:1286 — Ökat skydd av personuppgifter av Carita Boulwén (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1336 — Mediefrågor av Alexander Christiansson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1384 — Konsumentpolitik av Mikael Eskilandersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1449 — Yttrandefrihet på internet av Tobias Andersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:151 — Sociala medier-plattformar av Denis Begic (S)
- Motion 2024/25:1538 — Skydd för barn på sajter som har pornografiskt och våldsamt innehåll på nätet av Marléne Lund Kopparklint (M)
- Motion 2024/25:1774 — Stärkt kulturpolitik - stärkt demokrati av Mats Berglund m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2024/25:1829 — Person-id för konto på sociala medier av Jennie Wernäng och Marléne Lund Kopparklint (båda M)
- Motion 2024/25:1934 — Konstitutionella frågor av Jessica Wetterling m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2024/25:2413 — Begränsade möjligheter för kriminella att ta del av personuppgifter via söktjänster av Magnus Resare (M)
- Motion 2024/25:2483 — Stärkt arbete för att motverka spridning av våldsam pornografi - ett digitalt barnskydd av Helena Vilhelmsson (C)
- Motion 2024/25:2590 — Översyn av lagen om hets mot folkgrupp av Jan Ericson och Lars Beckman (båda M)
- Motion 2024/25:270 — Förstärkt integritetsskydd gentemot söktjänster av Gudrun Brunegård (KD)
- Motion 2024/25:2733 — Begränsning av personuppgifter på digitala söktjänster av Sten Bergheden (M)
- Motion 2024/25:293 — Begränsning av offentliggörande och försäljning av personuppgifter av Ingemar Kihlström (KD)
- Motion 2024/25:2958 — Kultur, civilsamhälle och medier av Catarina Deremar m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2024/25:3057 — För en hållbar samhällsutveckling i lands- och glesbygd av Elin Söderberg m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2024/25:3110 — Utgiftsområde 17 Kultur, medier, trossamfund och fritid av Lawen Redar m.fl. (S)
Source: The Swedish Parliament