2026-04-012025/26:KU30 · p.18KUConstitution
An investigation into the role of the opposition
An inquiry into the opposition's role in parliament's decision-making
What's at stake: Much of the power-sharing between parties in Sweden, such as the allocation of chairing positions, rests on unwritten convention rather than law. This gives flexibility but leaves the system vulnerable if a ruling party chooses not to respect the convention, which particularly affects the standing of opposition parties.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether the government should appoint a cross-party committee to review and formalise how decision-making power is shared between majority and opposition in parliament and locally, or whether the current informal practice is sufficient.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee recommends rejecting the request and sees no need for a new inquiry into decision-making in parliament and at local and regional level, since the current informal practice is judged to work well.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 9 (C)
C wants the government to appoint a cross-party committee to review decision-making in parliament and at local and regional level, in order to formalise convention and protect the opposition's position. The reasoning is that a ruling party could otherwise exploit the lack of legislation on power-sharing to silence the opposition.
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 9 by C.
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 17/0/0/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | Yes 88/2/0/16 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| MP | No | Yes 15/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | No | No 0/19/0/5 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| L | No | Yes 12/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| KD | No | Yes 16/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| M | No | Yes 55/0/0/11 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| SD | No | Yes 59/0/0/11 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
Broke with the party line
| SAnders Ygeman (S, Stockholms kommun) | No — party line: Yes |
| SJohan Löfstrand (S, Östergötlands län) | 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 rejects motion 2025/26:3583 by Muharrem Demirok et al. (C) item 8.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motion 2025/26:3583 av Muharrem Demirok m.fl. (C) yrkande 8.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag rejected 83 proposals in motions on constitutional matters from the general motion period 2025. The proposals address, among other things, issues about abolishing the monarchy, the head of state's prosecutorial immunity, and increased transparency in the royal household's finances. Other proposals concern political communication, prohibitions on anonymous or foreign party contributions, a national lobby register and constitutional provisions on national minorities and minority languages. The Riksdag refers, among other things, to ongoing work in the areas covered by the proposals.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants EU member states that break fundamental rule of law principles to face effective sanctions. (C) — Reservation 9
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 wants to build further on Sweden's democratization and strengthen political freedoms and rights, with constitutions that protect democracy and a government accountable to the Riksdag.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to build further on Sweden's democratization and strengthen political freedoms and rights, with constitutions that protect democracy and a government accountable to the Riksdag. It simultaneously warns against authoritarian right-wing forces that threaten democracy. A parliamentary review of decision-making that formalizes practice and protects the opposition's position is in line with this, although the plan does not directly address the question.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill bygga vidare på Sveriges demokratisering och förstärka de politiska fri- och rättigheterna, med grundlagar som värnar demokratin och en regering ansvarig inför riksdagen. Den varnar samtidigt för auktoritära högerkrafter som hotar demokratin. En parlamentarisk översyn av beslutsfattandet som formaliserar praxis och skyddar oppositionens ställning ligger i linje med det, även om planen inte tar upp frågan direkt.
- deepened democracydecisive»Vi vill bygga vidare på Sveriges demokratisering.« (party programme ↗)“We want to build further on Sweden's democratization.”
- constitutions shall protect democracy»Grundlagarna ska värna demokratin och människors fri- och« (party programme ↗)“The constitutions shall protect democracy and people's freedoms and”
- government accountability to the Riksdag»Regeringen ska vara ansvarig inför riksdagen.« (party programme ↗)“The government shall be accountable to the Riksdag.”
- exercise of authority on equal terms»Den offentliga maktutövningen ska vägledas av alla människors lika« (party programme ↗)“The exercise of public authority shall be guided by all people's equal”
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 meet the rise of authoritarian regimes with a resolute defence of democracy and states that democratic institutions must be protected and the principles of the rule of law must be preserved.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to meet the rise of authoritarian regimes with a resolute defence of democracy and states that democratic institutions must be protected and the principles of the rule of law must be preserved. A parliamentary review that formalizes practice and protects the opposition's position addresses precisely that risk. However, the plan does not address the Riksdag's decision-making procedures, so the support is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill möta framväxten av auktoritära styren med ett resolut försvar av folkstyret och slår fast att de demokratiska institutionerna måste skyddas och rättsstatens principer värnas. En parlamentarisk översyn som formaliserar praxis och skyddar oppositionens ställning svarar mot just den risken. Planen behandlar dock inte riksdagens beslutsformer, så stödet är härlett.
- defence of democracydecisive»Framväxten av auktoritära styren runt om i världen ska mötas med ett resolut försvar av folkstyret« (party programme ↗)“The rise of authoritarian regimes around the world shall be met with a resolute defence of democracy”
- protect democratic institutions»De demokratiska institutionerna måste skyddas.« (party programme ↗)“Democratic institutions must be protected.”
- principles of the rule of law»Slå vakt om rättsstatens principer.« (party programme ↗)“Stand guard over the principles of the rule of law.”
- municipal self-government»Kommunalt och regionalt självstyre med beskattningsrätt.« (party programme ↗)“Municipal and regional self-government with tax authority.”
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 states that excessive concentration of power is undemocratic and that power should therefore be shared and always scrutinised critically, and that democratic principles must be upheld when antidemocratic forces grow.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that excessive concentration of power is undemocratic and that power should therefore be shared and always scrutinised critically, and that democratic principles must be upheld when antidemocratic forces grow. A review composed of parliamentarians that formalises practice and protects the opposition's position serves precisely that purpose, as does the election manifesto's demand that the Constitution is protected against rapid changes. The plan does not mention such an investigation, so this is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att överdriven maktkoncentration är odemokratisk och att makt därför bör delas och alltid granskas kritiskt, samt att demokratiska principer måste upprätthållas när antidemokratiska krafter växer. En parlamentariskt sammansatt översyn som formaliserar praxis och skyddar oppositionens ställning tjänar just det syftet, liksom valmanifestets krav på att grundlagen skyddas mot snabba förändringar. Planen nämner inte en sådan utredning, varför ställningstagandet är härlett.
- shared and scrutinised powerdecisive»Överdriven maktkoncentration är odemokratiskt och korrumperar. Därför bör makt delas och alltid granskas kritiskt.« (party programme ↗)“Excessive concentration of power is undemocratic and corrupts. Therefore power should be shared and always scrutinised critically.”
- stable constitution»skydda Sveriges grundlag mot snabba förändringar.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“protect Sweden's Constitution against rapid changes.”
- protect against antidemocratic forces»I ett tidevarv där allt fler antidemokratiska rörelser och partier får större inflytande, är det fundamentalt att demokratiska principer upprätthålls.« (party programme ↗)“In an era where increasingly more antidemocratic movements and parties gain influence, it is fundamental that democratic principles are upheld.”
- careful legal state scrutiny»Vi vill säkerställa att all ny lagstiftning prövas noggrant utifrån rättssäkerhet och grundläggande fri- och rättigheter.« (party programme ↗)“We wish to ensure that all new legislation is carefully considered in terms of legal certainty and fundamental freedoms and rights.”
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 promises to protect the opposition's position in the Riksdag, make constitutional amendments more difficult and strengthen the independence of the courts.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto explicitly promises to protect the opposition's position in the Riksdag, make constitutional amendments more difficult and strengthen the independence of the courts. A parliamentary review that formalizes practice and protects the opposition is precisely that commitment put into action. The party programme moreover requires a separation of powers where power is not centralized to a few.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet lovar uttryckligen att skydda oppositionens ställning i riksdagen, göra det svårare att ändra grundlagen och stärka domstolarnas oberoende. En parlamentariskt sammansatt översyn som formaliserar praxis och skyddar oppositionen är precis det åtagandet omsatt i handling. Partiprogrammet kräver dessutom en maktdelning där makten inte centraliseras till ett fåtal.
- protect the opposition's positiondecisive»Vi vill göra det svårare att ändra grundlagen, skydda oppositionens ställning i riksdagen och stärka domstolarnas oberoende.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to make constitutional amendments more difficult, protect the opposition's position in the Riksdag and strengthen the independence of the courts.”
- separation of powers»en maktdelning där politiska beslut och andra maktbefogenheter inte centraliseras till ett fåtal institutioner« (party programme ↗)“a separation of powers where political decisions and other powers are not centralized to a few institutions”
- nurture liberal democracy»Den liberala demokratin får aldrig tas för given.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Liberal democracy must never be taken for granted.”
- strong democratic institutions»oberoende domstolar, äganderätten, den fria pressen, likheten inför lagen« (2022 manifesto ↗)“independent courts, property rights, the free press, equality before the law”
The election manifesto wants strengthened constitutional protection for the democratic form of government, increased court independence and a constitutional court, and the party programme requires that constitutional protection for democracy and individual freedoms and rights shall be strong.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto wants strengthened constitutional protection for the democratic form of government, increased court independence and a constitutional court, and the party programme requires that constitutional protection for democracy and individual freedoms and rights shall be strong. To formalize practice and protect the position of opposition is the same as setting a clear boundary for public power. The counter-proposal's demand for a parliamentary review therefore follows from the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet vill ha ett förstärkt grundlagsskydd för det demokratiska statsskicket, ökat domstolsoberoende och en författningsdomstol, och partiprogrammet kräver att grundlagsskyddet för demokratin och de individuella fri- och rättigheterna ska vara starkt. Att formalisera praxis och skydda oppositionens ställning är samma sak som att sätta en tydlig gräns för den offentliga makten. Motförslagets krav på en parlamentarisk översyn följer därför av planen.
- strengthened constitutional protectiondecisive»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 strengthened constitutional protection for our democratic form of government, increase the independence of the courts and work for a constitutional court that can strike down laws or provisions that violate constitutionally protected freedoms and rights.”
- strong constitutional protection»Grundlagsskyddet för demokratin och de individuella fri- och rättigheterna ska vara starkt.« (party programme ↗)“Constitutional protection for democracy and individual freedoms and rights shall be strong.”
- limited public power»Liberalismen sätter en tydlig gräns för den offentliga makten.« (party programme ↗)“Liberalism sets a clear boundary for public power.”
- transparency in the decision-making process»Det behövs fler möjligheter att följa den politiska processen och påverka beslutsfattandet.« (party programme ↗)“More opportunities are needed to follow the political process and influence decision-making.”
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 rests on the thought of imperfection: too much power must not be concentrated in one party, it requires a clear separation of powers and effective means against abuse of power and power concentration.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan rests on the thought of imperfection: too much power must not be concentrated in one party, it requires a clear separation of powers and effective means against abuse of power and power concentration. A parliamentary review that formalizes practice and protects the opposition's position responds to this, as does the requirement that the boundaries between centers of power be clarified in the constitution. The question of precisely such a committee is not addressed in the documents.
Original (Swedish)
Planen bygger på ofullkomlighetstanken: för mycket makt får inte samlas hos ett parti, det krävs en klar maktdelning och effektiva medel mot maktmissbruk och maktkoncentration. En parlamentarisk översyn som formaliserar praxis och skyddar oppositionens ställning svarar mot detta, liksom kravet på att gränserna mellan maktcentra tydliggörs i grundlagen. Frågan om just en sådan kommitté behandlas inte i dokumenten.
- protection against abuse of powerdecisive»Det måste finnas effektiva medel mot maktmissbruk och maktkoncentration.« (party programme ↗)“There must be effective means against abuse of power and power concentration.”
- separation of powers»en klar maktdelning mellan den lagstiftande, den verkställande« (party programme ↗)“a clear separation of powers between the legislative, the executive”
- separation of powers in the constitution»Gränserna mellan dessa maktcentra ska tydliggöras i grundlagen.« (party programme ↗)“The boundaries between these centers of power shall be clarified in the constitution.”
- judicial review»Det ska finnas en effektiv lagprövningsrätt.« (party programme ↗)“There shall be an effective right to judicial review.”
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 establishes that the foundations of democracy need to be strengthened and that the majority must never do what it wishes against the minority, and that there are great needs to strengthen the separation of powers and clarify accountability for public decisions.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto establishes that the foundations of democracy need to be strengthened and that the majority must never do what it wishes against the minority, and that there are great needs to strengthen the separation of powers and clarify accountability for public decisions. A parliamentary review that formalises practice and protects the opposition's position is an application of precisely that. The plan does not address the Riksdag's working methods in detail, so coverage is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet slår fast att demokratins grundvalar behöver stärkas och att majoriteten aldrig får göra vad den vill mot minoriteten, samt att det finns stora behov av att förstärka maktdelningen och förtydliga ansvarsutkrävandet för offentliga beslut. En parlamentarisk översyn som formaliserar praxis och skyddar oppositionens ställning är en tillämpning av just det. Planen behandlar inte riksdagens arbetsformer i detalj, varför coverage är härledd.
- minoritetsskydddecisive»Majoriteten får aldrig göra vad den vill mot minoriteten.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The majority must never do what it wishes against the minority.”
- verklig maktdelning»Vår demokrati bygger på vår förmåga att slå vakt om grundlagarna, medborgarnas fri- och rättigheter, verklig maktdelning och våra domstolars oberoende.« (party programme ↗)“Our democracy is built on our ability to stand guard over the basic laws, citizens' freedoms and rights, real separation of powers and our courts' independence.”
- tydligare ansvarsutkrävande»Vi ser stora behov av att förstärka domstolarnas oberoende och förtydliga hur ansvar kan utkrävas för offentliga beslut.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We see great needs to strengthen the courts' independence and clarify how accountability can be required for public decisions.”
- stärkta demokratiska grundvalar»Demokratins grundvalar behöver stärkas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The foundations of democracy need to be strengthened.”
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 rule-of-law principles through increased separation of powers and explicitly criticizes that Swedish administration to a high degree rests on informal arrangements that make democratic accountability difficult.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to strengthen the rule-of-law principles through increased separation of powers and explicitly criticizes that Swedish administration to a high degree rests on informal arrangements that make democratic accountability difficult. A parliamentary review that formalizes practice and protects the opposition's position responds to this. The plan also wants to investigate requirements for qualified majority in certain situations and increase constitutional review.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill stärka de rättsstatliga principerna genom ökade inslag av maktdelning och kritiserar uttryckligen att svensk förvaltning i hög grad vilar på informella ordningar som försvårar demokratiskt ansvarsutkrävande. En parlamentarisk översyn som formaliserar praxis och skyddar oppositionens ställning svarar mot det. Planen vill också utreda krav på kvalificerad majoritet i vissa lägen och öka normprövningen.
- increased separation of powersdecisive»Sverigedemokraterna vill stärka de rättsstatliga principerna i den svenska förvaltningsmodellen genom ökade inslag av maktdelning och ett stärkt oberoende av domstolsväsendet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden Democrats want to strengthen the rule-of-law principles in the Swedish administrative model through increased separation of powers and a strengthened independence of the courts.”
- against informal practice»En politiserad utnämningsmakt tillsammans med en i hög grad informell myndighetsstyrningsmodell försvårar demokratiskt ansvarsutkrävande.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“A politicized appointment power together with an administrative steering model that to a high degree rests on informal arrangements makes democratic accountability difficult.”
- qualified majority investigated»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 Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee's position should be strengthened by investigating the possibility of requiring a qualified majority in the Riksdag when laws are passed which the Legal Affairs Committee has criticized.”
- strengthened constitutional review»Öka möjligheten till normprövning i grundlagen« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Increase the possibility of constitutional review in the Basic Law”
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.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2025/26:KU30)
- Committee report full text (HD01KU30)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2025/26:1049 — Representativ demokrati och vikten av förankring av Jamal El-Haj (-)
- Motion 2025/26:1271 — Skydd för gemensam egendom av Niklas Karlsson och Joakim Sandell (båda S)
- Motion 2025/26:1384 — Avskaffande av den kungliga dispositionsrätten till statens fastigheter av Karin Sundin (S) och Niels Paarup-Petersen (C)
- Motion 2025/26:1385 — Ett modernt statsskick av Karin Sundin m.fl. (S, V, MP, C, L)
- Motion 2025/26:1556 — Ansvar för granskning av kommunsektorn under Riksrevisionen av Yusuf Aydin (KD)
- Motion 2025/26:1647 — Grundlagsskydd för rätten att behålla minst hälften av sin inkomst av Ludvig Ceimertz och Noria Manouchi (båda M)
- Motion 2025/26:1698 — Skydda även svensk kultur i regeringsformen av Staffan Eklöf (SD)
- Motion 2025/26:1703 — Folklig granskning inför ratificering av internationella avtal av Staffan Eklöf (SD)
- Motion 2025/26:1708 — Former för att säkerställa medborgarnas informerade och fria åsikter vid folkomröstning av Staffan Eklöf (SD)
- Motion 2025/26:1710 — En mer demokratisk process vid ingående av avtal för Sveriges räkning av Staffan Eklöf (SD)
- Motion 2025/26:1711 — Förstärkt skydd av vår demokrati av Ann-Sofie Alm (M)
- Motion 2025/26:1741 — Minskning av antalet riksdagsledamöter av Jan Ericson (M)
- Motion 2025/26:1743 — Utöka Riksrevisionens uppdrag av Jan Ericson m.fl. (M)
- Motion 2025/26:1757 — Granskning av partinära affärsverksamheter av Boriana Åberg (M)
- Motion 2025/26:193 — Om krav på enbart svenskt medborgarskap för statsråd och riksdagsledamöter av Rashid Farivar (SD)
- Motion 2025/26:1950 — Reglering av hemlig politisk påverkan av Mattias Vepsä m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2025/26:2163 — Minskning av antalet ledamöter i Sveriges riksdag av Sten Bergheden (M)
- Motion 2025/26:2290 — Införande av ett lobbyregister av Linnéa Wickman (S)
- Motion 2025/26:2576 — Skydd från påtvingad partisponsring för arbetare av Oliver Rosengren och Lars Beckman (båda M)
- Motion 2025/26:2751 — Om transparens och ett lobbyregister av Mathias Tegnér m.fl. (S)
Source: The Swedish Parliament