2024-05-222023/24:KU22 · p.3KUConstitution
Evaluation
Evaluation of the tightened provision on incitement against a population group
What's at stake: An evaluation could show whether the tightened provision leads to an unwanted expansion of the punishable area or to important discussions – about genocide, for instance – being stifled, which affects anyone who speaks publicly about sensitive historical and political events. Without a dedicated evaluation, parliament relies on existing follow-up of the legislation.
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 take the initiative to have the effects of the bill on incitement against a population group evaluated, for example five years after it takes effect, or whether no special evaluation is needed because the changes are considered to be limited clarifications of existing law.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee rejects the motion. Since the proposed legislative changes are considered limited and mainly concern clarifications of criminalisation that already exists, the committee sees no reason for parliament to take any special initiative to evaluate the effects of the bill.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 1 (SD)
The reservation (SD) points out that several consultation bodies have criticised the bill and argues that it may become difficult to delimit the punishable area, that the area risks being expanded, and that this in turn risks stifling discussions about, for example, genocide and crimes of aggression – partly because the proposals do not appear to cover denial of genocide that has not been established by a court. The reservation questions whether such a restriction of freedom of expression is justified, but still sees grounds for clarifying the legislation – provided its effects are evaluated five years after the changes take effect, to check whether the consultation bodies' concerns have been borne out.
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 1 by SD.
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 | Yes 19/0/0/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | Yes 93/0/0/13 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| MP | No | Yes 16/0/0/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | No | Yes 19/0/0/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 11/0/0/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| KD | No | Yes 17/0/0/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 60/0/0/8 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| SD | No | No 0/62/0/10 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects motion 2023/24:2859 by Matheus Enholm et al. (SD).
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motion 2023/24:2859 av Matheus Enholm m.fl. (SD).
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag said yes to the government's proposal for amendment to the Penal Code and adopted as standing the government's proposals for amendments to the Freedom of the Press Ordinance. The amendments mean that the provisions on hate speech targeting ethnic groups are clarified. The clarifications mean, among other things, that denial of the Holocaust and certain other international crimes are explicitly criminalized. The proposals also mean that individual persons in protected groups shall be given protection, victim status and the right to compensation. The changes to the Penal Code begin to apply on 1 July 2024. The changes to the Freedom of the Press Ordinance the Riksdag said yes to as standing and they shall begin to apply on 1 January 2027. Since parts of the proposals concern an amendment to the Freedom of the Press Ordinance, a basic law, the Riksdag must vote equally twice on the proposal and there must be an election between the votes.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants the bill's effects to be evaluated five years after it takes effect to ensure the changes have not led to unwanted consequences. (SD) — 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 party programme counts freedom of expression and freedom of the press among democracy's most important building blocks and wants the fundamental laws to protect people's freedoms and rights.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme counts freedom of expression and freedom of the press among democracy's most important building blocks and wants the fundamental laws to protect people's freedoms and rights. When a criminal provision risks broadly restricting discussion of genocide and crimes of aggression, the plan's requirement for legislation tested against its actual effects speaks for an evaluation to be carried out. The plan does not comment on this specific criminalization.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet räknar yttrande- och tryckfriheten till demokratins viktigaste byggstenar och vill att grundlagarna värnar människors fri- och rättigheter. När en straffbestämmelse riskerar att svepande begränsa diskussion om folkmord och aggressionsbrott talar planens krav på lagstiftning som prövas mot sina faktiska effekter för att en utvärdering ska göras. Planen uttalar sig inte om just denna kriminalisering.
- freedom of expression as building blockdecisive»är föreningsfriheten, yttrande- och tryckfriheten« (party programme ↗)“are freedom of association, freedom of expression and freedom of the press”
- constitutionally protected rights»Grundlagarna ska värna demokratin och människors fri- och« (party programme ↗)“The fundamental laws shall protect democracy and people's freedoms and”
- laws shall be tested against effects»förslag som visar sig effektiva och rättvisa den dag de genomförs.« (party programme ↗)“proposals that prove effective and fair the day they are implemented.”
- critical scrutiny of legislative proposals»Att utveckla kloka politiska lösningar kräver alltid tid och eftertanke.« (party programme ↗)“Developing wise political solutions always requires time and reflection.”
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 expression part of democracy's core while society has an absolute duty to stop incitement to hatred against groups.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme makes freedom of expression part of democracy's core while society has an absolute duty to stop incitement to hatred against groups. The counter-proposal accepts the clarification but wants to check whether concerns about expanded criminality are confirmed through an evaluation after five years, which is exactly the balance the plan is built on. However, the plan says nothing about evaluation of criminal law, so the conclusion is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet gör yttrandefriheten till en del av demokratins kärna samtidigt som samhället har en absolut skyldighet att stoppa hets mot folkgrupp. Motförslaget accepterar förtydligandet men vill kontrollera om farhågorna om en utvidgad straffbarhet besannas genom en utvärdering efter fem år, vilket är just den avvägning planen bygger på. Planen säger dock inget om utvärdering av strafflagstiftning, så slutsatsen är härledd.
- freedom of expression as democracy's coredecisive»Demokrati handlar om frihet. Den innefattar friheten att få uttrycka sin mening, kritisera,« (party programme ↗)“Democracy is about freedom. It includes the freedom to express one's opinion, criticize,”
- protect freedom and integrity»Det är samhällets absoluta skyldighet att skydda friheten och den personliga integriteten« (party programme ↗)“It is society's absolute duty to protect freedom and personal integrity”
- equality before the law»Vi är lika inför lagbokens paragrafer och i våra myndigheter arbetar plikttrogna tjänstemän med hög integritet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We are equal before the law's paragraphs and in our authorities work conscientious civil servants with high integrity.”
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 values freedom of expression as invaluable and commits to strengthening it, while the party programme opposes laws with disproportionate intrusions and establishes that crime prevention must not occur at the expense of human rights.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan values freedom of expression as invaluable and commits to strengthening it, while the party programme opposes laws with disproportionate intrusions and establishes that crime prevention must not occur at the expense of human rights. The counter-proposal accepts the clarification but conditions it with an evaluation of the effects on freedom of expression, which is the caution the plan advocates.
Original (Swedish)
Planen värnar yttrandefriheten som ovärderlig och åtar sig att förstärka den, samtidigt som partiprogrammet motsätter sig lagar med oproportionerliga ingrepp och slår fast att brottsbekämpning inte får ske på bekostnad av mänskliga rättigheter. Motförslaget accepterar förtydligandet men villkorar det med en utvärdering av effekterna på yttrandefriheten, vilket är den försiktighet planen förespråkar.
- strengthened freedom of expressiondecisive»förstärka yttrandefriheten och stödja oberoende medier i hela landet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“strengthen freedom of expression and support independent media across the country”
- against disproportionate legislation»alla lagar som innebär oproportionerliga ingrepp i« (party programme ↗)“all laws that entail disproportionate intrusions into”
- caution with constitutional amendments»skydda Sveriges grundlag mot snabba förändringar« (2022 manifesto ↗)“protect Sweden's Basic Laws against rapid changes”
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 requires that all legislation be tested against its impact on people's privacy and that there is proportionality between the restriction and the law's purpose.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme requires that all legislation be tested against its impact on people's privacy and that there is proportionality between the restriction and the law's purpose. Criminalisation that risks expanding and hampering discussion about genocide concerns freedom of speech, which the plan counts among the constitutionally protected rights that should be guaranteed. A requirement that the effects be evaluated after five years is precisely such post-evaluation that the plan's proportionality principle points towards.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet kräver att all lagstiftning prövas mot sin påverkan på människors integritet och att det finns proportionalitet mellan inskränkningen och lagens syfte. En kriminalisering som riskerar att svälla och hämma diskussionen om folkmord berör yttrandefriheten, som planen räknar till de grundlagsskyddade rättigheter som ska garanteras. Ett krav på att effekterna utvärderas efter fem år är just en sådan efterhandsprövning som planens proportionalitetsprincip pekar mot.
- proportionality in legislationdecisive»Det måste finnas en proportionalitet mellan lagstiftningens inskränkning av medborgarnas integritet och lagarnas syfte.« (party programme ↗)“There must be proportionality between the legislation's restriction of citizens' privacy and the laws' purpose.”
- guaranteed freedom of speech»För oss är de grundlagsskyddade fri- och rättigheterna, som exempelvis yttrande-, tryck- och meddelarfrihet, självklara och ska garanteras.« (party programme ↗)“For us, the constitutionally protected freedoms and rights, such as freedom of speech, press and disclosure, are self-evident and should be guaranteed.”
- privacy 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 privacy.”
flags: 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 plan wants laws with strong impact on individuals' rights to be regularly evaluated and that new legislative proposals be analyzed from a rights perspective, and it even wants a constitutional court that can review laws against constitutionally protected freedoms and rights.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants laws with strong impact on individuals' rights to be regularly evaluated and that new legislative proposals be analyzed from a rights perspective, and it even wants a constitutional court that can review laws against constitutionally protected freedoms and rights. A requirement to evaluate the effects of a criminal provision that restricts freedom of expression five years after it comes into force is in line with this. The counter-proposal's substantive requirements are therefore supported.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill att lagar med stark påverkan på enskildas rättigheter regelbundet utvärderas och att nya lagförslag analyseras ur rättighetssynpunkt, och den vill till och med ha en författningsdomstol som kan pröva lagar mot grundlagsskyddade fri- och rättigheter. Ett krav på att utvärdera effekterna av en straffbestämmelse som inskränker yttrandefriheten fem år efter ikraftträdandet ligger i linje med detta. Motförslagets sakkrav stöds därför.
- review of laws against rightsdecisive»Vi vill se ett förstärkt grundlagsskydd för vårt demokratiska statsskick, öka domstolarnas oberoende och verka för en författningsdomstol som ska kunna häva lagar eller bestämmelser som strider mot grundlagsskyddade fri- och rättigheter.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to see a strengthened constitutional protection for our democratic system of government, increase the independence of courts and work towards a constitutional court that shall be able to overturn laws or provisions that violate constitutionally protected freedoms and rights.”
- regular evaluation of laws»påverkan på den personliga integriteten ska regelbundet utvärderas.« (party programme ↗)“impact on personal privacy shall be regularly evaluated.”
- freedom of expression as a foundational principle»Tryck- och yttrandefrihet, föreningsfrihet, mötes- och demonstrationsfrihet är nödvändiga delar av tankefriheten.« (party programme ↗)“Freedom of the press and expression, freedom of association, freedom of assembly and demonstration are necessary parts of freedom of thought.”
- rights analysis of legislative proposals»Alla nya lagförslag ska analyseras ur integritetssynpunkt.« (party programme ↗)“All new legislative proposals shall be analyzed from a privacy perspective.”
flags: citat_migrerat
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 requires strong protection for freedom of expression and that the public may not intrude on it except in the forms prescribed by the constitutional framework, and effective control of the exercise of power.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme requires strong protection for freedom of expression and that the public may not intrude on it except in the forms prescribed by the constitutional framework, and effective control of the exercise of power. That the effects of a criminal law restriction are evaluated after five years accords with this and with the plan's view of evaluation as an important political task.
Original (Swedish)
Principprogrammet kräver ett starkt skydd för yttrandefriheten och att det allmänna inte får ingripa mot den annat än i grundlagens former, samt en effektiv kontroll av maktutövningen. Att effekterna av en straffrättslig inskränkning utvärderas efter fem år ligger i linje med detta och med planens syn på utvärdering som en viktig politisk uppgift.
- strong freedom of expression protectiondecisive»Ett starkt skydd för yttrande- och meddelarfriheten« (party programme ↗)“Strong protection for freedom of expression and freedom of communication”
- restrictive restrictions on freedom of expression»det allmänna inte får ingripa mot yttrandefriheten« (party programme ↗)“the public may not intrude on freedom of expression”
- control of the exercise of power»Det ska finnas en effektiv lagprövningsrätt.« (party programme ↗)“There shall be effective right of review.”
- evaluation as political task»Utvärdering, kostnadsuppföljning och kvalitetskontroll är därför viktiga politiska« (party programme ↗)“Evaluation, cost tracking and quality control are therefore important political”
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 values platform establishes that a reform-minded party must constantly be prepared to evaluate and reconsider what has been implemented, which is precisely what the counter-proposal demands of the new criminalisation.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The values platform establishes that a reform-minded party must constantly be prepared to evaluate and reconsider what has been implemented, which is precisely what the counter-proposal demands of the new criminalisation. The plan moreover protects freedom of expression even for opinions that provoke and demands unquestionable fundamental law protection for freedom of expression, which motivates particular follow-up when the criminal sphere is widened. The plan says nothing about this specific legislation, so the assessment is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Idéprogrammet slår fast att ett reforminriktat parti ständigt ska vara berett att utvärdera och ompröva det som genomförts, vilket är precis vad motförslaget kräver av den nya kriminaliseringen. Planen värnar dessutom yttrandefriheten även för åsikter som provocerar och kräver ett oavvisligt grundlagsskydd för yttrandefriheten, vilket motiverar särskild uppföljning när det straffbara området utvidgas. Planen säger inget om just denna lagstiftning, så bedömningen är härledd.
- evaluate implemented reformsdecisive»beredskap för att utvärdera, ompröva, förändra och förbättra« (party programme ↗)“readiness to evaluate, reconsider, change and improve”
- wide freedom of expression»Yttrandefriheten gäller även för åsikter som provocerar och« (party programme ↗)“Freedom of expression applies even to opinions that provoke and”
- fundamental law-protected freedom of expression»Våra grundlagar ska ge ett oavvisligt skydd för« (party programme ↗)“Our fundamental laws shall provide unquestionable protection for”
- protection of rights and freedoms»Stärka domstolarnas oberoende och skyddet för medborgarnas fri- och rättigheter« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen the independence of courts and the protection of citizens' 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 plan wants to strengthen the constitutional protection of freedom of speech and states that every citizen's right to express themselves freely shall be protected and strengthened.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to strengthen the constitutional protection of freedom of speech and states that every citizen's right to express themselves freely shall be protected and strengthened. When a new criminalization risks encroaching on freedom of speech, a demand for follow-up of the effects after five years aligns with this, as does the plan's general demand for outcome evaluation. The plan does not take a position on this specific legislative change, so the conclusion is inferred.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill förstärka grundlagens rättighetsskydd för yttrandefriheten och slår fast att varje medborgares rätt att uttrycka sig fritt ska värnas och stärkas. När en ny kriminalisering riskerar att tränga in på yttrandefrihetens område ligger ett krav på uppföljning av effekterna efter fem år i linje med detta, liksom med planens allmänna krav på resultatuppföljning. Planen tar inte ställning till just denna lagändring, så slutsatsen är härledd.
- strengthened freedom of speech protectiondecisive»Förstärka grundlagens rättighetsskydd vad gäller yttrandefrihet, äganderätt och frihet från religion« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen the constitutional protection of rights regarding freedom of speech, right of ownership and freedom from religion”
- free speech protected»Varje journalists, konstutövares och medborgares rätt att uttrycka sig fritt utan att utsättas för hot eller repressalier ska värnas och stärkas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Every journalist's, artist's and citizen's right to express themselves freely without being subjected to threats or reprisals shall be protected and strengthened.”
- quality in legislation»Lagrådets ställning bör stärkas genom att utreda möjligheten att fordra kvalificerad majoritet i riksdagen vid antaganden av lagförslag om vilka Lagrådet riktat kritik.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Legal Council's position should be strengthened by investigating the possibility of requiring a qualified majority in the Riksdag when adopting legislative proposals on which the Legal Council has directed criticism.”
- follow-up of decisions»Begära tydliga resultat för varje offentlig satsning« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Demand clear results for every public investment”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2023/24:KU22)
- Committee report full text (HB01KU22)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2023/24:2669 — Rättspolitik av Märta Stenevi m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:2859 — med anledning av prop. 2023/24:93 En tydligare bestämmelse om hets mot folkgrupp av Matheus Enholm m.fl. (SD)
- Proposition 2023/24:93 — En tydligare bestämmelse om hets mot folkgrupp
Source: The Swedish Parliament