2026-06-152025/26:JuU40 · p.2JuUJustice
Abuse of public office
New offenses for misuse of public office
What's at stake: The proposal determines whether public employees who, for example, favor a local supplier, a relative or their own company - without any improper benefit being exchanged or offered - can be held criminally liable, which affects both protection against abuse of power and legal certainty for public employees.
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 new offenses - misuse of public office and aggravated misuse of public office - should be introduced, making public employees criminally liable even outside the exercise of public authority, or whether these parts of the proposal should be rejected.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee backs the government's proposal for expanded criminal liability for public officials, including the offenses of misuse of public office and aggravated misuse of public office, and rejects the motions calling for this part to be rejected. The committee agrees that the current regulation has gaps, including that it does not cover misuse of public funds unconnected to the exercise of public authority, or cases where an official favors a local supplier, a relative, a friend or their own company without any improper benefit being exchanged or offered, and considers that the need to strengthen trust in public administration outweighs the risks raised.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 2 (S, V, C, MP)
The reservation (S, V, C, MP) considers that parliament should reject the proposal to introduce the offenses of misuse of public office and aggravated misuse of public office, and develops its reasons in separate statements.
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 2 by S, V, C, MP.
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: CCenterpartiet
Ja 174–172Ja 198–148
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.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | Yes | No 0/21/0/0 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| S | Yes | No 0/105/0/1 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| MP | Yes | No 0/18/0/0 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| C | Yes | No 0/24/0/0 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | explicit |
| L | Yes | Yes 16/0/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| KD | Yes | Yes 19/0/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| M | Yes | Yes 66/0/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| SD | Yes | Yes 70/0/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
Committee proposal
Parliament adopts a) the government's proposal for a law amending the Penal Code in the parts concerning Chapter 20, Section 2, b) the government's proposal for a law amending the Act (1994:260) on public employment. Thereby Parliament approves proposition 2025/26:217 points 1 in this part and 2 and rejects the motions 2025/26:4099 by Teresa Carvalho et al. (S) motion 1 and 2025/26:4112 by Ulrika Liljeberg et al. (C) motion 1.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen antar a) regeringens förslag till lag om ändring i brottsbalken i de delar det avser 20 kap. 2 §, b) regeringens förslag till lag om ändring i lagen (1994:260) om offentlig anställning. Därmed bifaller riksdagen proposition 2025/26:217 punkterna 1 i denna del och 2 samt avslår motionerna 2025/26:4099 av Teresa Carvalho m.fl. (S) yrkande 1 och 2025/26:4112 av Ulrika Liljeberg m.fl. (C) yrkande 1.
Riksdag decision: Parliament approved the government's proposal which entails a new crime in the Penal Code designated as abuse of public office and that the minimum penalty for aggravated misconduct in office is increased to imprisonment for one year and six months. Through the new crime, it is punishable to intentionally, in breach of law or other regulation, take or fail to take an action in order to gain an improper benefit or for someone else to gain such a benefit, or in order to wrongfully disadvantage someone else. The new crime applies to someone who holds a public office, exercises a public assignment or other public activity. If the crime is aggravated, it shall be convicted for aggravated abuse of public office. The penalty for abuse of public office is proposed to be a fine or imprisonment for a maximum of two years. For aggravated abuse of public office, imprisonment for a minimum of one year and six months and a maximum of six years. The legislative amendments come into force on 1 August 2026.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to reject the proposal to expand criminal liability for public officials and instead focus on better control mechanisms. (S, V, C, MP) — Reservation 2
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 sets high demands on functioning accountability for crimes in public activities and wants greater public insight to combat fraud and corruption.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan sets high demands on functioning accountability for crimes in public activities and wants greater public insight to combat fraud and corruption. The counter-proposal demands that crimes of abuse of public office not be introduced, which goes against that line. The plan also talks about active work against organised economic crime which otherwise can express itself in corruption.
Original (Swedish)
Planen ställer höga krav på fungerande ansvarsutkrävande vid lagbrott inom offentlig verksamhet och vill ha större samhällelig insyn för att stävja fusk och korruption. Motförslaget kräver att brotten missbruk av offentlig ställning inte införs, vilket går emot den linjen. Planen talar också om ett aktivt arbete mot organiserad ekonomisk brottslighet som annars kan ta sig uttryck i korruption.
- accountability for crimesdecisive»höga krav på fungerande ansvarsutkrävande vid lagbrott.« (party programme ↗)“high demands on functioning accountability for crimes.”
- insight against fraud and corruption»Vi vill gå mot en större samhällelig insyn« (party programme ↗)“We want to move toward greater public insight”
- against organised economic crime»Det behövs en effektiv uppföljning av den organiserade« (party programme ↗)“There is a need for effective monitoring of the organised”
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 prevention of corruption and undue influence and the stopping of welfare crime and tax revenue leakage.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires prevention of corruption and undue influence and the stopping of welfare crime and tax revenue leakage. Refraining from introducing the crime of abuse of public office leaves the loopholes the plan wants to close. The plan's requirement for penalties in proportion to the seriousness of crimes speaks for expanded responsibility, not against it.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver förhindrande av korruption och otillbörlig påverkan och att välfärdsbrottslighet och läckage av skattemedel stoppas. Att avstå från att införa brotten missbruk av offentlig ställning lämnar kvar de luckor planen vill täppa till. Planens krav på straff i paritet med brottens allvar talar för ett utökat ansvar, inte mot det.
- prevented corruptiondecisive»Förhindrande av korruption och otillbörlig påverkan.« (party programme ↗)“Prevention of corruption and undue influence.”
- stopped welfare crime»Skattefusk, välfärdsbrottslighet och penningtvätt ska stoppas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Tax evasion, welfare crime and money laundering must be stopped.”
- combated economic crime»Bekämpande av bedrägerier och all annan ekonomisk brottslighet.« (party programme ↗)“Combating fraud and all other economic crime.”
- proportionate penalties»Straff i paritet med brottens allvar.« (party programme ↗)“Penalties in proportion to the seriousness of crimes.”
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 counter-proposal wants the crime of misuse of public office not to be introduced.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal wants the crime of misuse of public office not to be introduced. The plan proceeds from the assumption that power corrupts and must always be scrutinized critically, and it wants to strengthen work against the exploitation of common resources and give the justice system resources to prosecute crimes. This speaks for expanded accountability, even though the plan simultaneously requires that new legislation be carefully tested for legal security.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget vill att brotten missbruk av offentlig ställning inte införs. Planen utgår från att makt korrumperar och alltid ska granskas kritiskt, och den vill stärka arbetet mot att gemensamma resurser utnyttjas samt ge rättsväsendet resurser att lagföra brott. Det talar för ett utvidgat ansvarsutkrävande, även om planen samtidigt kräver att ny lagstiftning prövas noggrant mot rättssäkerheten.
- power must be scrutinized criticallydecisive»Överdriven maktkoncentration är odemokratiskt och korrumperar. Därför bör makt delas« (party programme ↗)“Excessive concentration of power is undemocratic and corrupts. Therefore, power should be shared”
- stop misuse of common funds»Vi vill också stärka arbetet mot den kriminella ekonomin. Brottsvinster ska beslagtas och« (party programme ↗)“We also want to strengthen work against the criminal economy. Criminal proceeds shall be seized and”
- crimes shall be prosecuted»Miljöpartiet vill att rättsväsendet får de resurser som behövs för att lagföra brott, skydda« (party programme ↗)“The Green Party wants the justice system to be given the resources needed to prosecute crimes, protect”
- legal security testing of new law»prövas noggrant utifrån rättssäkerhet och grundläggande fri- och rättigheter.« (party programme ↗)“tested carefully on the basis of legal security and fundamental rights and freedoms.”
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 explicitly commits to tightening rules against corruption, establishing an anti-corruption authority and making Sweden more transparent.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto explicitly commits to tightening rules against corruption, establishing an anti-corruption authority and making Sweden more transparent. A counter-proposal that wants to stop new criminal provisions for abuse of public office goes directly against that commitment. The party programme furthermore emphasizes that the exercise of state power must be controlled and that transparency is a prerequisite for preventing corruption.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet åtar sig uttryckligen att skärpa reglerna mot korruption, inrätta en antikorruptionsmyndighet och göra Sverige mer transparent. Ett motförslag som vill stoppa nya straffbestämmelser om missbruk av offentlig ställning går rakt emot det åtagandet. Partiprogrammet betonar dessutom att statens maktutövning måste kontrolleras och att transparens är en förutsättning för att förhindra korruption.
- tightened rules against corruptiondecisive»Sverige ska bli ännu mer transparent. Vi vill inrätta en antikorruptionsmyndighet, skärpa regler mot korruption och införa ett lobbyregister.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden shall become even more transparent. We want to establish an anti-corruption authority, tighten rules against corruption and introduce a lobbying register.”
- transparency against corruption»Öppenhet och transparens är grundförutsättningar för frihet, demokrati och för att förhindra korruption och övergrepp.« (party programme ↗)“Openness and transparency are fundamental prerequisites for freedom, democracy and for preventing corruption and abuse.”
- control of state power»Staten är den enda enheten i samhället som får utöva tvång och våld.« (party programme ↗)“The state is the only entity in society that is allowed to exercise coercion and violence.”
- trust in the public sector»Som medborgare ska du kunna lita på att staten, regionerna och kommunerna lever upp till sina delar av samhällskontraktet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“As a citizen you shall be able to trust that the state, regions and municipalities live up to their parts of the social contract.”
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 counter-proposal wants that crimes of abuse of public office are not introduced.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal wants that crimes of abuse of public office are not introduced. The plan on the other hand requires that the individual's possibilities to assert their rights against the authorities increase, that oversight of public power exercise is strengthened and that sentence lengths can be increased to mark the seriousness in a violation. Absence of corruption is also one of the factors the plan lifts forth as bearing for a functioning society.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget vill att brotten missbruk av offentlig ställning inte införs. Planen kräver tvärtom att den enskildes möjligheter att hävda sina rättigheter gentemot myndigheterna ökar, att tillsynen över offentlig maktutövning stärks och att straffsatser kan skärpas för att markera allvaret i en kränkning. Frånvaro av korruption är dessutom en av de faktorer planen lyfter fram som bärande för ett fungerande samhälle.
- accountability against authoritiesdecisive»Den enskildes möjligheter att hävda sina rättigheter gentemot myndigheterna måste öka.« (party programme ↗)“The individual's possibilities to assert their rights against the authorities must increase.”
- strong oversight of power exercise»Tillsynen över myndigheternas maktutövning mot enskilda behöver utvecklas genom starka tillsynsmyndigheter för bland annat polis, kriminalvård och socialtjänst.« (party programme ↗)“Oversight of authorities' exercise of power against individuals needs to be developed through strong oversight authorities for, among other things, police, criminal care and social services.”
- mark crime's seriousness»Det kan även finnas särskilda brottstyper där det kan vara befogat att skärpa straffsatserna för att underlätta rehabilitering eller markera allvaret i den kränkning som brottet utgör.« (party programme ↗)“There may also be specific crime types where it may be justified to increase sentence lengths to facilitate rehabilitation or mark the seriousness in the violation that the crime constitutes.”
- absence of corruption»Demokrati, jämställdhet, utbildning, marknadsekonomi, frihandel, privat äganderätt, rättsstat och frånvaro av korruption är de viktigaste faktorerna till utveckling.« (party programme ↗)“Democracy, equality, education, market economy, free trade, private ownership, rule of law and absence of corruption are the most important factors for development.”
The counter-proposal wants the crime of abuse of public office not to be introduced.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal wants the crime of abuse of public office not to be introduced. The plan requires effective measures against abuse of power and concentration of power, maintains that every person has a personal responsibility for their conscious actions, and that all crimes should be prosecuted without exception. Leaving loopholes where public funds are misused is at odds with that line.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget vill att brotten missbruk av offentlig ställning inte införs. Planen kräver effektiva medel mot maktmissbruk och maktkoncentration, håller fast vid att varje människa har ett personligt ansvar för sina medvetna handlingar och att alla brott ska beivras utan undantag. Att lämna luckor där allmänna medel missbrukas står i strid med den linjen.
- effective measures against abuse of powerdecisive»Det måste finnas effektiva medel mot maktmissbruk och maktkoncentration. En obunden« (party programme ↗)“There must be effective measures against abuse of power and concentration of power. An independent”
- all crimes must be prosecuted»upprätthålla de rättsregler som beslutats. Alla brott ska effektivt och utan undantag beivras,« (party programme ↗)“maintain the legal rules that have been decided. All crimes shall be prosecuted effectively and without exception,”
- personal responsibility for actions»Alla människor har ett personligt ansvar för sina medvetna handlingar. Omgivningen har« (party programme ↗)“All people have a personal responsibility for their conscious actions. The surroundings have”
- integrity as foundation»självständiga aktörer. Hederlighet och personligt ansvarstagande är viktiga fundament. De« (party programme ↗)“independent actors. Integrity and personal accountability are important foundations. These”
The plan explicitly commits to strengthening civil servant liability so that responsibility follows all public exercise of power, and wants to clarify how responsibility can be demanded for public decisions.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly commits to strengthening civil servant liability so that responsibility follows all public exercise of power, and wants to clarify how responsibility can be demanded for public decisions. Expanded criminal liability for abuse of public office is precisely such a strengthening. The counter-proposal wants the crimes not to be introduced and therefore rejects it.
Original (Swedish)
Planen lovar uttryckligen att skärpa tjänstemannaansvaret så att ansvar följer med all offentlig maktutövning, och vill förtydliga hur ansvar kan utkrävas för offentliga beslut. Ett utökat straffansvar för missbruk av offentlig ställning är precis en sådan skärpning. Motförslaget vill att brotten inte införs och avvisas därför.
- strengthened civil servant liabilitydecisive»Skärpa tjänstemannaansvaret så att du som skattebetalare vet att med all offentlig maktutövning följer ett ansvar för de beslut som fattas« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen civil servant liability so that you as a taxpayer know that with all public exercise of power comes responsibility for the decisions made”
- accountability for public decisions»Vi ser stora behov av att förstärka domstolarnas oberoende och förtydliga hur ansvar kan utkrävas för offentliga beslut.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We see great need to strengthen the courts' independence and clarify how responsibility can be demanded for public decisions.”
- tax revenue must not be abused(2022 manifesto)
- law-governed exercise of power»All offentlig maktutövning ska vara lagstyrd och vägledas av« (party programme ↗)“All public exercise of power shall be governed by law and guided by”
flags: citat_ej_verifierat
The plan explicitly requires that official liability be reintroduced and that opportunities for accountability when handling of public resources is deficient be strengthened.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly requires that official liability be reintroduced and that opportunities for accountability when handling of public resources is deficient be strengthened. The counter-proposal wants the crime of abuse of official position not to be introduced, which directly contradicts this commitment. The plan also wants to prevent both fraud and systems that encourage corruption.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver uttryckligen att tjänstemannaansvaret återinförs och att möjligheterna till ansvarsutkrävande när hanteringen av offentliga resurser brister stärks. Motförslaget vill att brotten missbruk av offentlig ställning inte införs, vilket går rakt emot detta åtagande. Planen vill också motverka både fusk och de system som lockar till korruption.
- official liability reintroduceddecisive»Återinför tjänstemannaansvaret« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Reintroduce official liability”
- official liability»Införa tjänstemannaansvar« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Introduce official liability”
- accountability in administration»Sverigedemokraterna vill stärka möjligheter för ansvarsutkrävande när hanteringen av de offentliga resurserna brister.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden Democrats want to strengthen opportunities for accountability when handling of public resources is deficient.”
- prevent corruption»Både fusk och sådana system som tenderar att locka till fusk och korruption ska motverkas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Both fraud and systems that tend to encourage fraud and corruption shall be prevented.”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2025/26:JuU40)
- Committee report full text (HD01JuU40)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2025/26:4099 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:217 Ett utökat straffrättsligt tjänstemannaansvar av Teresa Carvalho m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2025/26:4107 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:217 Ett utökat straffrättsligt tjänstemannaansvar av Samuel Gonzalez Westling m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2025/26:4112 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:217 Ett utökat straffrättsligt tjänstemannaansvar av Ulrika Liljeberg m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2025/26:4116 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:217 Ett utökat straffrättsligt tjänstemannaansvar av Mats Berglund m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2025/26:4123 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:217 Ett utökat straffrättsligt tjänstemannaansvar av Daniel Riazat m.fl. (-)
- Proposition 2025/26:217 — Ett utökat straffrättsligt tjänstemannaansvar
Source: The Swedish Parliament