2025-10-222025/26:KrU2 · p.8KrUCulture
Broadcasts in national minority languages and sign language
Requirements for public broadcasting output in national minority languages and sign language
What's at stake: The outcome affects how much content national minorities and sign-language users can access in their own language, as well as Sweden's fulfilment of international commitments on minority languages. A higher level of ambition would require more resources but strengthen the visibility of these groups in the media landscape.
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 requirements on public broadcasters' output in the national minority languages (Sami, Meänkieli, Romani Chib, Finnish, Yiddish) and sign language should be tightened beyond the government's proposal, or whether the approach set out in the bill is sufficient.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee backs the government's proposal for how the content mandate should be designed and considers it, in line with previously agreed frameworks, to be well balanced. The committee therefore rejects the motions calling for a higher level of ambition for broadcasts in minority languages and sign language.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 7 (S, V, MP)
The reservation (S, V, MP) calls for a higher level of ambition for output in the national minority languages and sign language than the government proposes. The reasoning is that this is needed for Sweden to meet its international commitments (including the Council of Europe's framework convention and language charter) and the law on national minorities, and that a higher level of funding makes it possible to increase output also in Sami, Meänkieli and Romani Chib - citing, among other things, the recommendations of the truth and reconciliation commissions.
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 7 by S, V, MP.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
The decision would have gone the other way
Explicit commitments that contradicted the vote: CCenterpartiet, KDKristdemokraterna
Ja 173–129Nej 135–167
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 0/18/0/4 | match | confidence: high | not addressed |
| S | No | No 0/93/0/13 | match | confidence: medium | derived |
| MP | No | No 0/15/0/3 | match | confidence: high | explicit |
| C | No | Yes 21/0/0/3 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: medium | explicit |
| L | No | Yes 13/0/0/3 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 17/0/0/2 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: medium | explicit |
| M | Yes | Yes 59/0/0/9 | match | confidence: low | not addressed |
| SD | Yes | Yes 63/0/0/9 | match | confidence: low | not addressed |
Committee proposal
Parliament rejects the motions 2024/25:3435 by Vasiliki Tsouplaki et al. (V) request 7, 2024/25:3436 by Lawen Redar et al. (S) request 6 and 2024/25:3439 by Mats Berglund et al. (MP) request 7.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2024/25:3435 av Vasiliki Tsouplaki m.fl. (V) yrkande 7, 2024/25:3436 av Lawen Redar m.fl. (S) yrkande 6 och 2024/25:3439 av Mats Berglund m.fl. (MP) yrkande 7.
Riksdag decision: Parliament approved the Government's legislative proposal that rules for the public service assignment and the financing of the assignment shall be gathered in a new law on public service. Parliament also approved the Government's other proposals on among other things the design of the public service assignment and the financial conditions for the public service companies during the assignment period 2026-2033. The law on public service and amendments to the Radio and Television Act shall enter into force on 2 December 2025 and other legislative changes on 1 January 2026.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants detailed regulation of text use in public service broadcasting not to be introduced. (S, V, MP) — Reservation 7
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 gives Sweden a special task to strengthen indigenous peoples' and national minorities' rights to identity, language and cultural heritage, explicitly in light of the state's historical injustices.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan gives Sweden a special task to strengthen indigenous peoples' and national minorities' rights to identity, language and cultural heritage, explicitly in light of the state's historical injustices. Higher broadcast offerings in Sami, Meänkieli and Romani chib are a concrete expression of exactly that commitment, and the demand for sign language follows from all parts of society being made accessible. The counter-proposal's higher ambitions are therefore supported by the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen ger Sverige en särskild uppgift att stärka de nationella minoriteternas och urfolkens rättigheter till identitet, språk och kulturarv, uttryckligen i ljuset av statens historiska oförrätter. Ett höjt sändningsutbud på samiska, meänkieli och romani chib är ett konkret uttryck för just det åtagandet, och kravet på teckenspråk följer av att alla delar av samhället ska göras tillgängliga. Motförslagets högre ambitioner stöds därför av planen.
- minorities' language rightsdecisive»Sverige har en särskild uppgift att stärka urfolks och de nationella minoriteternas rättigheter till identitet, språk, kulturarv och religion som behöver ses i ljuset av den historien.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden has a special task to strengthen indigenous peoples' and national minorities' rights to identity, language, cultural heritage and religion that need to be seen in light of that history.”
- historical injustices»Den svenska staten har genom historien utsatt urfolk och nationella minoriteter för allvarliga oförrätter.« (party programme ↗)“The Swedish state has through history subjected indigenous peoples and national minorities to serious injustices.”
- accessibility for all»Vi vill skapa ett mer inkluderande samhälle genom att stärka välfärden och göra alla delar av samhället tillgängliga.« (party programme ↗)“We want to create a more inclusive society by strengthening welfare and making all parts of society accessible.”
- broad public service mission»Vi vill se en stark, bred och självständig roll för public service« (party programme ↗)“We want to see a strong, broad and independent role for public service”
The plan establishes rights for national minorities and wants to see cultural diversity with active exchange across linguistic and cultural boundaries.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes rights for national minorities and wants to see cultural diversity with active exchange across linguistic and cultural boundaries. A broad, jointly financed public service shall reach everyone, and culture shall be present in everyone's everyday life. Higher ambitions for offerings in minority languages and sign language follow from these commitments, which is why the counter-proposal is supported.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast rättigheter för nationella minoriteter och vill se kulturell mångfald med aktivt utbyte över språkliga och kulturella gränser. En bred, gemensamt finansierad public service ska nå alla, och kulturen ska vara närvarande i alla människors vardag. Högre ambitioner för utbudet på minoritetsspråk och teckenspråk följer av dessa åtaganden, varför motförslaget stöds.
- national minorities' rightsdecisive»Rättigheter för nationella minoriteter.« (party programme ↗)“Rights for national minorities.”
- cultural and linguistic diversity»Kulturell mångfald med aktivt utbyte över språkliga, nationella och kulturella gränser.« (party programme ↗)“Cultural diversity with active exchange across linguistic, national and cultural boundaries.”
- broad 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.”
- culture in everyone's everyday life»Kulturen ska vara närvarande i alla människors vardag.« (party programme ↗)“Culture shall be present in everyone's everyday life.”
The plan requires that the national minority languages be preserved and developed and that minorities and the Sámi people can fully exercise their rights under international conventions.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that the national minority languages be preserved and developed and that minorities and the Sámi people can fully exercise their rights under international conventions. It also establishes that children shall have access to culture in minority languages and that Swedish Sign Language is covered by the right to mother tongue. The counter-proposal's requirement for higher ambitions for supply in minority languages and sign language thus follows directly from these commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att de nationella minoritetsspråken bevaras och utvecklas och att minoriteter och urfolket samerna fullt ut kan tillvarata sina rättigheter enligt internationella konventioner. Den slår också fast att barn ska ha tillgång till kultur på minoritetsspråk och att svenskt teckenspråk omfattas av rätten till modersmål. Motförslagets krav på högre ambitioner för utbudet på minoritetsspråk och teckenspråk följer direkt av dessa åtaganden.
- minority languages shall be developeddecisive»De fem erkända nationella minoritetsspråken: finska, jiddisch, meänkieli, romani chib« (party programme ↗)“The five recognized national minority languages: Finnish, Yiddish, Meänkieli, Romani Chib”
- strengthened minority rights»stärka nationella minoriteters och urfolket samernas rättigheter« (2022 manifesto ↗)“strengthen national minorities' and the Sámi people's rights”
- international commitments shall be fulfilled»rättigheter de har enligt internationella konventioner, som Sverige har åtagit sig att följa.« (party programme ↗)“rights they have under international conventions, which Sweden has undertaken to follow.”
- sign language as mother tongue»Det gäller också barn med svenskt teckenspråk som modersmål.« (party programme ↗)“This applies also to children with Swedish Sign Language as mother tongue.”
The plan explicitly commits to strengthening the protection of minorities and the position of minority languages.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly commits to strengthening the protection of minorities and the position of minority languages. Higher ambitions for public service provision in national minority languages and sign language are precisely such a strengthening, and the plan also wants culture and media coverage to reach the whole country. The counter-proposal's demands are thereby in line with the plan's commitment.
Original (Swedish)
Planen åtar sig uttryckligen att stärka minoritetsskyddet och minoritetsspråkens ställning. Högre ambitioner för public services utbud på nationella minoritetsspråk och teckenspråk är just en sådan förstärkning, och planen vill dessutom att kultur och mediebevakning ska nå hela landet. Motförslagets krav ligger därmed i linje med planens åtagande.
- strengthened position for minority languagesdecisive»Vi vill stärka bland annat äganderätten, diskrimineringsförbudet, minoritetsskyddet och minoritetsspråkens ställning« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to strengthen, among other things, property rights, the prohibition of discrimination, the protection of minorities and the position of minority languages”
- culture throughout the country»Att tillhandahålla kultur i hela landet är en viktig utgångspunkt för Centerpartiet. Kulturen ska vara fri och oberoende« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Providing culture throughout the country is an important starting point for the Center Party. Culture should be free and independent”
- comprehensive media coverage»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 vital media coverage throughout the country is crucial for democracy. Press freedom should be protected and independent public service defended.”
- everyone's equal rights and worth»Alla människor har lika rätt och värde, alla har samma grundläggande rättigheter och skyldigheter.« (party programme ↗)“All people have equal rights and worth, all have the same fundamental rights and obligations.”
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 the public shall support a language, culture and media offering with a minority language profile and that the individual's opportunities to use minority languages shall be strengthened.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that the public shall support a language, culture and media offering with a minority language profile and that the individual's opportunities to use minority languages shall be strengthened. It also wants instruction in sign language to be freely available to all who need it. Higher ambitions for the offering in national minority languages and sign language in public service are thus in line with the plan's commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att det offentliga ska understödja ett språk-, kultur- och medieutbud med minoritetsspråksprofil och att individens möjligheter att använda minoritetsspråk ska stärkas. Den vill också att undervisning i teckenspråk är fritt tillgänglig för alla som behöver det. Högre ambitioner för utbudet på nationella minoritetsspråk och teckenspråk i public service ligger därmed i linje med planens åtaganden.
- media offering in minority languagesdecisive»språk-, kultur- och medieutbud med minoritetsspråksprofil.« (party programme ↗)“language, culture and media offering with a minority language profile.”
- strengthened minority language use»minoritetsspråk i kontakten med myndigheter ska stärkas.« (party programme ↗)“minority language use in contact with authorities shall be strengthened.”
- accessible sign language»Undervisning i teckenspråk ska vara fritt tillgänglig för alla som behöver det, liksom anpassade« (party programme ↗)“Instruction in sign language shall be freely available to all who need it, as shall adapted”
- protection for national minorities»Skolor med inriktning mot de lagskyddade nationella minoriteterna ska alltid kunna finnas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Schools focused on the legally protected national minorities shall always be able to exist.”
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 explicitly says that an important part of the public service remit is to meet minorities' needs and wishes and to make the offering accessible to persons with disabilities, and that minority languages shall be given a strong position.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme explicitly says that an important part of the public service remit is to meet minorities' needs and wishes and to make the offering accessible to persons with disabilities, and that minority languages shall be given a strong position. The counter-proposal's requirement for higher ambitions for broadcasts in national minority languages and sign language follows directly from these commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Principprogrammet säger uttryckligen att en viktig del av public service-uppdraget är att möta minoriteters behov och önskemål och att göra utbudet tillgängligt för personer med funktionsnedsättning, samt att minoritetsspråken ska tillförsäkras en stark ställning. Motförslagets krav på högre ambitioner för sändningar på nationella minoritetsspråk och teckenspråk följer direkt av dessa åtaganden.
- public service meets minorities' needsdecisive»En viktig del av uppdraget är att göra utbudet tillgängligt för personer med funktionsnedsättning och möta minoriteters behov och önskemål.« (party programme ↗)“An important part of the remit is to make the offering accessible to persons with disabilities and meet minorities' needs and wishes.”
- strong position for minority languages»Ett sätt att göra detta är att tillförsäkra minoritetsspråken en stark ställning genom lagstiftning.« (party programme ↗)“One way to do this is to give minority languages a strong position through legislation.”
- independent public service»Betydelsen av oberoende och reklamfria radio- och TV-kanaler utan vinstintressen är stor.« (party programme ↗)“The importance of independent and advertisement-free radio and TV channels without profit interests is great.”
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's media policy concerns protecting and strengthening public service's core mission and demands for factuality and impartiality, not expanding the offering on more language areas.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's media policy concerns protecting and strengthening public service's core mission and demands for factuality and impartiality, not expanding the offering on more language areas. Raised ambition levels and higher average grants are moreover a new expense that according to the plan must fit within the surplus target. The plan therefore speaks against the counter-proposal's demand.
Original (Swedish)
Planens mediepolitik handlar om att värna och stärka public services kärnuppdrag samt kraven på saklighet och opartiskhet, inte om att bygga ut utbudet på fler språkområden. Höjda ambitionsnivåer och högre medelstilldelning är dessutom en ny utgift som enligt planen måste rymmas inom överskottsmålet. Planen talar därför emot motförslagets krav.
- focus on core missiondecisive»Värna och stärka public services kärnuppdrag och kravet på saklighet och opartiskhet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Protect and strengthen public service's core mission and demands for factuality and impartiality”
- financed reforms»Alla nya löften och reformer – som till exempel våra inkomstskattesänkningar – behöver finansieras eller rymmas inom överskottsmålet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“All new commitments and reforms – such as our income tax cuts – need to be financed or fit within the surplus target.”
- cautious media policy»offentlig finansiering och politiska ambitioner utgör en risk.« (party programme ↗)“public financing and political ambitions constitute a risk.”
The plan's main cultural policy line is to create cohesion around Swedish culture and to reduce public economic control and costs in the media sphere.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's main cultural policy line is to create cohesion around Swedish culture and to reduce public economic control and costs in the media sphere. The counter-proposal requires higher ambitions and increased funding for broadcasts in minority languages, which expands the public media assignment. The party programme's promise of cultural autonomy for national minorities is about exemption from assimilation, not expanded state funding.
Original (Swedish)
Planens kulturpolitiska huvudlinje är att skapa sammanhållning kring den svenska kulturen och att minska det offentligas ekonomiska kontroll och kostnader inom mediesfären. Motförslaget kräver högre ambitioner och ökad medelstilldelning för sändningar på minoritetsspråk, vilket utvidgar det offentliga medieuppdraget. Partiprogrammets löfte om kulturell autonomi för nationella minoriteter handlar om undantag från assimilering, inte om utökad statlig finansiering.
- Swedish cultural cohesiondecisive»Skapa sammanhållning kring den svenska kulturen och den nationella identiteten« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Create cohesion around Swedish culture and national identity”
- 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”
- minorities' cultural autonomy»ska de som grupper undantas från allmänna assimileringssträvanden och ges långtgående kulturell autonomi« (party programme ↗)“they as groups shall be exempted from general assimilation efforts and given far-reaching cultural autonomy”
- restraint in public funds»Skala bort onödiga utgifter i det offentliga« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Eliminate unnecessary expenses in the public sector”
Share and embed
Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2025/26:KrU2)
- Committee report full text (HD01KrU2)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2024/25:3435 — med anledning av prop. 2024/25:166 En lag om public service och riktlinjer för verksamheten 2026-2033 av Vasiliki Tsouplaki m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2024/25:3436 — med anledning av prop. 2024/25:166 En lag om public service och riktlinjer för verksamheten 2026-2033 av Lawen Redar m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2024/25:3437 — med anledning av prop. 2024/25:166 En lag om public service och riktlinjer för verksamheten 2026-2033 av Catarina Deremar m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2024/25:3439 — med anledning av prop. 2024/25:166 En lag om public service och riktlinjer för verksamheten 2026-2033 av Mats Berglund m.fl. (MP)
- Proposition 2024/25:166 — En lag om public service och riktlinjer för verksamheten 2026-2033
Source: The Swedish Parliament