2022-11-162022/23:KU4 · p.1KUConstitution
Dormant proposal
Parliament votes on adopting the dormant constitutional proposal on freedom of association and terrorist organisations
What's at stake: Approval is the first of the two parliamentary decisions the constitution requires to amend the Instrument of Government, and would pave the way for legislation restricting freedom of association for organisations linked to terrorism. The decision affects such organisations as well as the constitutional protection of freedom of association that otherwise applies to everyone.
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 parliament should approve the proposal to restrict freedom of association for organisations that engage in terrorism, as a dormant constitutional proposal pending a second, confirming vote after the next election, or reject it.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee proposes that the constitutional proposal be adopted as dormant, the first step in the process of amending the constitution. The full reasoning for this point is missing from the available material.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 1 (V)
The reservation advocates a different position on this point than the committee's. The text of the reservation is missing from the available material.
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: Riksdagen antar slutligt det vilande förslaget i bilaga 2 till lag om ändring i regeringsformen.
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 1 by V.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
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 | No | No 0/21/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | explicit |
| S | Yes | Yes 94/0/0/13 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | Yes 10/4/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| C | No | Yes 21/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| L | Yes | Yes 14/0/0/2 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| KD | Yes | Yes 17/0/0/2 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | Yes | Yes 60/0/0/8 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| SD | Yes | Yes 62/0/0/11 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | explicit |
Broke with the party line
| MPElin Söderberg (MP, Västerbottens län) | No — party line: Yes |
| MPMarielle Lahti (MP, Södermanlands län) | No — party line: Yes |
| MPMärta Stenevi (MP, Stockholms län) | No — party line: Yes |
| MPUlrika Westerlund (MP, Stockholms kommun) | No — party line: Yes |
MPs whose vote differs from their party's majority position in this division. Marked with a dark ring in the chamber view.
Committee proposal
The Riksdag finally adopts the dormant proposal in Annex 2 to the Act amending the Instrument of Government.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen antar slutligt det vilande förslaget i bilaga 2 till lag om ändring i regeringsformen.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag said yes to a constitutional proposal that means expanded possibilities to through ordinary law restrict freedom of association for associations that engage in or support terrorism. The proposal is a so-called dormant constitutional proposal, which means that the Riksdag has made a decision on the matter at an earlier time. To amend a constitutional law, it is required that the Riksdag votes in the same way twice on the proposal and there must be an election between the votes. The first decision on the proposal was made on 6 April 2022 and then the Riksdag voted yes. The amendment to the law shall enter into force on 1 January 2023.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to reject the proposal because it restricts freedom of association. (V) — Reservation 1
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 programme rejects special anti-terrorism legislation and declares the party opposed to politically motivated organizational bans; acts of violence should be prosecuted within ordinary legal frameworks.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The programme rejects special anti-terrorism legislation and declares the party opposed to politically motivated organizational bans; acts of violence should be prosecuted within ordinary legal frameworks. Freedom of association is pointed out as one of democracy's most important foundations and this right should be defended and deepened, not restricted in the constitution. The objection to approving the constitutional change therefore aligns with the plan. The plan also states that constitutional changes should be submitted to the people's assessment.
Original (Swedish)
Programmet avvisar en särskild terroristlagstiftning och förklarar partiet motståndare till politiskt motiverade organisationsförbud; våldsbrott ska lagföras inom ordinarie rättsramar. Föreningsfriheten pekas ut som en av demokratins viktigaste byggstenar och den rätten ska försvaras och fördjupas, inte inskränkas i grundlag. Invändningen mot att godkänna grundlagsändringen ligger därför i linje med planen. Planen uttalar sig också om att grundlagsändringar ska underställas folkets prövning.
- no to special anti-terrorism legislationdecisive»avvisar en särskild terroristlagstiftning« (party programme ↗)“rejects special anti-terrorism legislation”
- no to organizational bans»politiskt motiverade organisationsförbud« (party programme ↗)“politically motivated organizational bans”
- freedom of association fundamental»föreningsfriheten, yttrande- och tryckfriheten, offentlighetsprincipen« (party programme ↗)“freedom of association, freedom of expression and of the press, the principle of public access”
- constitutional change assessed by the people»beslutas av riksdagen men underställas folkets prövning i allmänna val« (party programme ↗)“are decided by the Riksdag but are submitted to the people's assessment in general elections”
flags: motforslagets_motivering_ej_tillganglig
The election manifesto promises increased penalties for those who support organized crime and an uncompromising fight against crime, and identifies terrorism as a threat requiring joint action.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto promises increased penalties for those who support organized crime and an uncompromising fight against crime, and identifies terrorism as a threat requiring joint action. This speaks for the basic law being able to restrict freedom of association in relation to terrorist organizations, thus against the counter-proposal's objection. The plan's protection of a strong civil society is a counterweight, but weighs less than the explicit demands for action against those who support terror and organized crime.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet lovar skärpta straff för den som understödjer organiserad kriminalitet och en kompromisslös kamp mot brottsligheten, och pekar ut terrorism som ett hot som kräver gemensamma åtgärder. Det talar för att grundlagen ska kunna begränsa föreningsfriheten i förhållande till terroristorganisationer, alltså mot motförslagets invändning. Planens värn om ett starkt civilsamhälle är en motvikt, men väger lättare än de uttalade kraven på åtgärder mot dem som stödjer terror och organiserad brottslighet.
- penalties for supporting crimedecisive»Vi vill skärpa straffen bland annat för gängrelaterad brottslighet, för den som begår upprepade och allvarliga brott och för den som understödjer organiserad kriminalitet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to increase penalties including for gang-related crime, for those who commit repeated and serious crimes, and for those who support organized crime.”
- terrorism as a common threat»Inte minst klimatfrågan, migrationen och hotet från terrorism och gränsöverskridande brottslighet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Not least the climate issue, migration, and the threat from terrorism and transnational crime.”
- uncompromising crime fighting»Kampen mot kriminaliteten ska vara kompromisslös.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The fight against crime shall be uncompromising.”
- protection of freedom of association»Ett starkt och levande civilsamhälle är demokratins underbyggnad.« (party programme ↗)“A strong and vibrant civil society is democracy's foundation.”
The plan establishes that crime and counterterrorism are important but must not occur at the expense of human rights, and the election manifesto explicitly wants to protect the constitution against hasty changes.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that crime and counterterrorism are important but must not occur at the expense of human rights, and the election manifesto explicitly wants to protect the constitution against hasty changes. A constitutional amendment that restricts freedom of association is an infringement on precisely the freedoms and rights the plan builds society upon. The plan therefore speaks for the objection to approving the pending proposal. The counter-proposal's more detailed reasoning does not appear in the supporting material.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att brotts- och terrorbekämpning är viktigt men inte får ske på bekostnad av mänskliga rättigheter, och valmanifestet vill uttryckligen skydda grundlagen mot snabba förändringar. En grundlagsändring som begränsar föreningsfriheten är ett ingrepp i just de fri- och rättigheter planen bygger samhället på. Planen talar därför för invändningen mot att godkänna det vilande förslaget. Motförslagets närmare motivering framgår inte av underlaget.
- counterterrorism not before rightsdecisive»viktigt men ska inte ske på bekostnad av mänskliga« (party programme ↗)“important but must not occur at the expense of human”
- the constitution is protected against haste»skydda Sveriges grundlag mot snabba förändringar« (2022 manifesto ↗)“protect Sweden's constitution against hasty changes”
- freedoms and rights as foundation»behöver byggas på en grund av mänskliga fri- och rättigheter« (party programme ↗)“must be built on a foundation of human freedoms and rights”
- democratic rights are protected»Det fria ordet, minoriteters rättigheter och skydd mot diskriminering är viktiga för demokratisk utveckling« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Free speech, minorities' rights, and protection against discrimination are important for democratic development”
flags: motförslagets motivering saknas i underlaget
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 party programme makes freedom of association an inalienable principle, and the election manifesto moreover wants to make it harder to amend the constitution.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme makes freedom of association an inalienable principle, and the election manifesto moreover wants to make it harder to amend the constitution. The plan explicitly says no to collective punishment and demands that all legislation be tested against its impact on personal integrity. Based on this, an objection to approving the constitutional restriction comes close to the plan, but the counter-proposal's own reasons do not appear from the material, which makes the assessment uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet gör föreningsfriheten till en orubblig princip, och valmanifestet vill dessutom göra det svårare att ändra grundlagen. Planen säger uttryckligen nej till kollektiv bestraffning och kräver att all lagstiftning prövas mot sin påverkan på den personliga integriteten. Utifrån detta ligger en invändning mot att godkänna grundlagsinskränkningen närmast planen, men motförslagets egna skäl framgår inte av underlaget vilket gör bedömningen osäker.
- freedom of association is inalienabledecisive»Yttrandefrihet, religionsfrihet och föreningsfrihet är därför orubbliga« (party programme ↗)“Freedom of expression, freedom of religion, and freedom of association are therefore inalienable”
- restrictiveness with constitutional amendments»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 parliament, and strengthen the courts' independence.”
- no to collective punishment»Rättsstaten och individens rättigheter gentemot staten måste försvaras. Vi säger därför nej till visitationszoner, kollektiv bestraffning, omvänd bevisbörda, anonyma vittnen, preventiv avlyssning och inskränkningar av religionsfriheten.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The rule of law and individuals' rights against the state must be defended. We therefore say no to stop-and-search zones, collective punishment, reversed burden of proof, anonymous witnesses, preventive wiretapping, and restrictions on freedom of religion.”
- proportionality review of lawsweak support»All lagstiftning bör prövas mot dess påverkan på människors personliga integritet.« (party programme ↗)“All legislation should be tested against its impact on people's personal integrity.”
flags: motforslagets motivering saknas i underlaget, citat_svagt
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 wants to take back power from separatists and Islamists and give the justice system more tools against terrorism, and the party programme establishes that no tax money shall go to activities that want to change society by violence.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto wants to take back power from separatists and Islamists and give the justice system more tools against terrorism, and the party programme establishes that no tax money shall go to activities that want to change society by violence. The plan therefore speaks for, not against, changing the Constitution so that participation in terrorist organizations can be limited. The fact that freedom of association in itself is a fundamental liberal value qualifies but does not outweigh this.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet vill ta tillbaka makten från separatister och islamister och ge rättsväsendet fler verktyg mot terrorism, och partiprogrammet slår fast att inga skattemedel ska gå till verksamheter som vill förändra samhället med våld. Planen talar därför för, inte mot, att grundlagen ändras så att deltagande i terroristorganisationer kan begränsas. Att föreningsfriheten i sig är ett bärande liberalt värde kvalificerar men väger inte över.
- stop separatists and Islamistsdecisive»Vi vill ta tillbaka makten från separatister i utsatta områden, värna en skolgång fri från separatistisk påverkan och pröva möjligheten att införa vistelseförbud för dömda kriminella i utsatta områden.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to take back power from separatists in vulnerable areas, value schooling free from separatist influence and consider the possibility of introducing residence bans for convicted criminals in vulnerable areas.”
- combat terrorism»Sverige ska delta fullt ut i EU:s brottsbekämpning och den europeiska polismyndigheten Europol ska ges ett tydligare operativt mandat att bekämpa internationell brottslighet och terrorism.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden shall participate fully in the EU's crime-fighting and the European police authority Europol shall be given a clearer operational mandate to combat international crime and terrorism.”
- no support for violence-endorsing activities»Inga skattemedel ska gå till verksamheter som vill förändra det demokratiska samhället med våld« (party programme ↗)“No tax money shall go to activities that want to change the democratic society by violence”
- freedom of association as a core value»Tryck- och yttrandefrihet, föreningsfrihet, mötes- och demonstrationsfrihet är nödvändiga« (party programme ↗)“Freedom of the press and freedom of expression, freedom of association, freedom of assembly and freedom of demonstration are necessary”
The counter-proposal objects to approving the dormant constitutional amendment on freedom of association in relation to terrorist organizations.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal objects to approving the dormant constitutional amendment on freedom of association in relation to terrorist organizations. The election manifesto's security section states that the power of criminal gangs and Islamist extremists must be broken, and the party programme requires that Sweden can meet attacks from terrorism. The plan thus speaks for the constitutional amendment and against the objection, even though freedom of association is simultaneously a protected constitutional value.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget invänder mot att godkänna den vilande grundlagsändringen om föreningsfrihet i förhållande till terroristorganisationer. Valmanifestets trygghetsavsnitt slår fast att kriminella gängs och islamistiska extremisters makt måste brytas, och principprogrammet kräver att Sverige kan möta angrepp från terrorism. Planen talar därför för grundlagsändringen och mot invändningen, även om föreningsfriheten samtidigt är ett skyddsvärt grundlagsvärde.
- break extremists' powerdecisive»Det finns också områden där islamistiska extremister har en avgörande påverkan på samhällslivet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“There are also areas where Islamist extremists have decisive influence on public life.”
- capability against terrorism»möta angrepp från internationell kriminalitet, terrorism, cyberkrigföring, biologiska vapen, kemiska vapen« (party programme ↗)“meet attacks from international crime, terrorism, cyber warfare, biological weapons, chemical weapons”
- protection of freedom of association»samt anonymitetsskyddet, liksom för mötes- och före- ningsfriheten, är av stor vikt för en levande demokrati.« (party programme ↗)“as well as anonymity protection, as well as for meeting and freedom of association, are of great importance for a living democracy.”
flags: motforslagets_motivering_saknas, citat_migrerat
The election manifesto explicitly promises to prohibit participation in organizations with violent activities and to make it punishable to be a member of a criminal gang, which requires precisely the constitutional amendment on freedom of association that the proposal entails.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto explicitly promises to prohibit participation in organizations with violent activities and to make it punishable to be a member of a criminal gang, which requires precisely the constitutional amendment on freedom of association that the proposal entails. The party programme states that tolerance cannot be extended to the enemies of the open society. An objection to approving the pending proposal therefore goes against the plan and is rejected.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet lovar uttryckligen att förbjuda deltagande i organisationer med våldsbejakande verksamhet och att göra det straffbart att vara med i ett kriminellt gäng, vilket kräver just den grundlagsändring om föreningsfriheten som förslaget innebär. Partiprogrammet slår fast att toleransen inte kan utsträckas till det öppna samhällets fiender. En invändning mot att godkänna det vilande förslaget går därför emot planen och avvisas.
- prohibition of violent organizationsdecisive»Förbjuda deltagande i organisationer med våldsbejakande verksamhet samt förbjuda deltagande i kriminella gäng« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Prohibit participation in organizations with violent activities and prohibit participation in criminal gangs”
- criminalize gang membership»Göra det straffbart att vara med i ett kriminellt gäng« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Make it punishable to be a member of a criminal gang”
- limits of tolerance»Den kan inte utsträckas till det öppna samhällets fiender.« (party programme ↗)“It cannot be extended to the enemies of the open society.”
- strengthened Security Police»Stärka Säkerhetspolisen för att öka deras förmåga att skydda den liberala demokratin och landets alla medborgare« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen the Security Police to increase their ability to protect liberal democracy and all citizens of the country”
flags: motforslagets_motivering_saknas
The plan explicitly requires that participation in and association with terrorist organizations be prohibited, which is precisely what the dormant constitutional amendment on freedom of association enables.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly requires that participation in and association with terrorist organizations be prohibited, which is precisely what the dormant constitutional amendment on freedom of association enables. An objection to approving the dormant proposal therefore goes against the plan's commitment in substance. The plan is at the same time clear that terrorists and extremists should not be allowed to operate in Sweden.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver uttryckligen att deltagande i och samröre med terrororganisationer förbjuds, vilket är just vad den vilande grundlagsändringen om föreningsfrihet möjliggör. En invändning mot att godkänna det vilande förslaget går därför emot planens åtagande i sak. Planen är samtidigt tydlig med att terrorister och extremister inte ska tillåtas verka i Sverige.
- ban on association with terrorist organizationsdecisive»Förbjuda deltagande i, och samröre med, terrororganisationer.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Prohibit participation in and association with terrorist organizations.”
- participation in terrorist organization criminalized»Det kan inte vara tillåtet att delta i, eller stödja, terrororganisationer.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It cannot be permitted to participate in or support terrorist organizations.”
- harsh measures against security threats»Införa hårda restriktioner och förvar för säkerhetshot som befinner sig i Sverige.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Introduce harsh restrictions and detention for security threats in Sweden.”
- combat terrorism»Bekämpa internationell terrorism och islamism« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Combat international terrorism and Islamism”
Worldstate weighed in: Terrorist attack in central Istanbul in November 2022 — Emphasizes the plan's requirement for effective measures against terrorist organizations and argues against postponing the constitutional amendment
flags: motforslagets_motivering_okand
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2022/23:KU4)
- Committee report full text (HA01KU4)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Source: The Swedish Parliament