2023-03-082022/23:KrU5 · p.7KrUCulture
The Distinctive Character of Non-Profit Association Life
Safeguarding the distinct character of voluntary/non-profit associations
What's at stake: The decision concerns the conditions for non-profit associations when commercial actors move into areas traditionally run by associations, and public authorities start charging market-rate rent for land associations use. It affects volunteers and associations — for example in sport and reuse — whose economic conditions could otherwise worsen.
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 an inquiry into association law should be launched to strengthen and clarify the distinct character of voluntary/non-profit associations — including by extending the exemption from market-rate rent to more public-benefit associations — or whether the committee's current efforts for civil society are sufficient.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee shares the view that the distinct character of voluntary associations should be safeguarded and points to efforts already made, including under the Idéburen välfärd bill, but does not consider that the motions should lead to any further action by the Riksdag and therefore rejects them.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 12 (C)
The reservation (C) argues that an inquiry into association law is needed to clarify and strengthen the distinct character of civil society and create reasonable rules, including by extending the rule currently allowing sports associations to use land at half the price base amount to other public-benefit associations, since new commercial actors moving into traditionally association-run areas have led authorities to start charging associations market-rate rent.
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 12 by C.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
The decision would have held
Explicit commitments that contradicted the vote: KDKristdemokraterna
Ja 177–22Ja 161–38
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 | Yes 21/0/0/3 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | Abstain 5/1/85/16 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | Abstain 0/0/15/3 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | No | No 0/21/0/3 | match | confidence: high | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 14/0/0/2 | differs | confidence: medium | derived |
| KD | No | Yes 16/0/0/3 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: medium | explicit |
| M | No | Yes 57/0/0/11 | differs | confidence: low | not addressed |
| SD | No | Yes 64/0/0/9 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
Broke with the party line
| SAnders Ygeman (S, Stockholms kommun) | Yes — party line: Abstain |
| SAzadeh Rojhan (S, Stockholms län) | Yes — party line: Abstain |
| SJennie Nilsson (S, Hallands län) | No — party line: Abstain |
| SJohan Löfstrand (S, Östergötlands län) | Yes — party line: Abstain |
| SPeter Hultqvist (S, Dalarnas län) | Yes — party line: Abstain |
| SPetter Löberg (S, Västra Götalands läns södra) | Yes — party line: Abstain |
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 the motions 2022/23:860 by Anne-Li Sjölund et al. (C) motion 4 and 2022/23:2054 by Lawen Redar et al. (S) motion 28.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2022/23:860 av Anne-Li Sjölund m.fl. (C) yrkande 4 och 2022/23:2054 av Lawen Redar m.fl. (S) yrkande 28.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag rejected approximately 40 proposals concerning civil society. The proposals were submitted during the general motion period in 2022. The motions deal, among other things, with support to civil society, the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, involuntary loneliness among the elderly, and support to religious communities. The Riksdag rejects the motions, among other things, because investigative work within the area is ongoing.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to see an increased share of basic support in grants from the public sector to non-profit organizations. (C) — Reservation 12
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 states that it is of strategic value to protect the space between commercial logic and the public sphere, and explicitly mentions access to premises and spaces for association and cultural activities.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that it is of strategic value to protect the space between commercial logic and the public sphere, and explicitly mentions access to premises and spaces for association and cultural activities. When authorities demand market rent from non-profit organizations when commercial actors step in, that is precisely the development the plan wants to hold back. An association rights investigation that strengthens the conditions of associations therefore follows from the plan's commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att det är av strategiskt värde att värna utrymmet mellan den kommersiella logiken och den offentliga sfären, och nämner uttryckligen tillgången till lokaler och utrymmen för föreningsliv och kulturaktiviteter. Att myndigheter kräver marknadshyra av allmännyttiga föreningar när kommersiella aktörer träder in är precis den utveckling planen vill hålla tillbaka. En föreningsrättsutredning som stärker föreningarnas villkor följer därför av planens åtaganden.
- access to association premisesdecisive»Det gäller exempelvis tillgång till lokaler och utrymmen« (party programme ↗)“This includes for example access to premises and spaces”
- protect the voluntary sector from the market»kommersiella logiken och den statliga eller kommunala sfären« (party programme ↗)“commercial logic and the public or municipal sphere”
- independent social movements»starka och självständiga folkrörelser som kan bidra till progressiva« (party programme ↗)“strong and independent social movements that can contribute to progressive”
- social movements as foundation»Det är tillsammans med folkrörelser som Vänsterpartiet driver fram förändringar.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It is together with social movements that the Left Party drives forward change.”
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 sees civil society as the foundation of democracy and emphasizes that associational life creates meeting places protected from commercial profitability requirements and that premises for associational life, adult education and sports shall be accessible on reasonable terms.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan sees civil society as the foundation of democracy and emphasizes that associational life creates meeting places protected from commercial profitability requirements and that premises for associational life, adult education and sports shall be accessible on reasonable terms. Commercial actors driving market rents for non-profit organizations goes against this, and an investigation into association law that preserves its special character follows from the plan's commitment to create good conditions for civil society.
Original (Swedish)
Planen ser civilsamhället som demokratins underbyggnad och betonar att föreningslivet skapar mötesplatser fredade från kommersiella lönsamhetskrav samt att lokaler för föreningsliv, folkbildning och idrott ska vara tillgängliga på rimliga villkor. Att kommersiella aktörer driver fram marknadshyror för allmännyttiga föreningar går tvärtemot detta, och en föreningsrättsutredning som värnar särarten följer av planens åtagande att skapa goda villkor för civilsamhället.
- associational life protected from profit demandsdecisive»Det civila samhället skapar mötesplatser fredade för kommersiella lönsamhetskrav där« (party programme ↗)“Civil society creates meeting places protected from commercial profitability requirements where”
- accessible association premises»Ändamålsenliga lokaler för föreningsliv, folkbildning, idrott och« (party programme ↗)“Appropriate premises for associational life, adult education, sports and”
- civil society bears democracy»Ett starkt och levande civilsamhälle är demokratins underbyggnad.« (party programme ↗)“A strong and living civil society is the foundation of democracy.”
- good conditions for civil society»formas i en levande dialog med det civila samhälle och ska skapa goda villkor för« (party programme ↗)“is formed in a living dialogue with civil society and shall create good conditions for”
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 wishes to promote a strong civil society and community organisations and states that public bodies should actively take part in civil society's proposals and provide it support.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wishes to promote a strong civil society and community organisations and states that public bodies should actively take part in civil society's proposals and provide it support. An investigation into association law that clarifies civil society's special character and protects public-interest associations from market rents lies in line with this. The plan does not mention rules for land use, so this is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill främja ett starkt föreningsliv och idéburna organisationer och slår fast att offentliga organ aktivt ska ta del av frivilligsektorns förslag och ge den stöd. En föreningsrättsutredning som tydliggör civilsamhällets särart och skyddar allmännyttiga föreningar från marknadshyror ligger i linje med detta. Planen nämner inte regelverket för markanvändning, så ställningstagandet är härlett.
- strong civil societydecisive»Vi vill främja ett starkt föreningsliv och självorganisering« (party programme ↗)“We wish to promote a strong civil society and self-organisation”
- support for community actors»företag, andra alternativa driftsformer och idéburna organisationer« (party programme ↗)“companies, other alternative operational forms and community organisations”
- listen to civil society»Offentliga organ ska aktivt ta del av frivilligsektorns förslag« (party programme ↗)“Public bodies shall actively take part in civil society's proposals”
- civil society carries the nation»Det civila samhället spelar en viktig roll för att hela« (party programme ↗)“Civil society plays an important role in making the whole”
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's central commitment is that politics' task is to remove obstacles and clear the way for civil society's creative power and that civil society organizations shall have an independent role beyond both the state and business.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme's central commitment is that politics' task is to remove obstacles and clear the way for civil society's creative power and that civil society organizations shall have an independent role beyond both the state and business. Requiring market rent from public-benefit associations is precisely such an obstacle, and a review of non-profit organization law with more reasonable regulations therefore follows from the plan. The election manifesto moreover highly values the contributions of social movements and civil society.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammets bärande åtagande är att politikens uppgift är att riva hinder och röja väg för civilsamhällets utvecklingskraft och att föreningslivet ska ha en självständig roll bortom både staten och företagen. Att myndigheter börjar kräva marknadshyra av allmännyttiga föreningar är just ett sådant hinder, och en föreningsrättsutredning med rimligare regelverk följer därför av planen. Valmanifestet värderar dessutom folkrörelsernas och civilsamhällets insatser högt.
- remove obstacles for civil societydecisive»Politikens uppgift är att riva hinder och röja väg för denna utvecklingskraft.« (party programme ↗)“Politics' task is to remove obstacles and clear the way for this creative power.”
- civil society's distinctive character»Det civila samhället måste ha en självständig roll« (party programme ↗)“Civil society must have an independent role”
- value of civil society»Civilsamhällets roll för att binda samman människor och förbättra integrationen är ovärderlig.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Civil society's role in bringing people together and improving integration is invaluable.”
- contributions of social movements»Idrottsrörelsen och Sveriges folkrörelser gör värdefulla insatser för att bygga tillit och gemenskap.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sports organizations and Sweden's social movements make valuable contributions to building trust and community.”
The plan establishes that regulations should be designed so that idea-driven actors can more often contribute, and that financing of civil society shall be improved.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that regulations should be designed so that idea-driven actors can more often contribute, and that financing of civil society shall be improved. It sees civil society as a prerequisite for democracy and wants politics to give it good conditions with respect for its independence. Reviewing association law so that non-profit associations do not face commercial terms therefore aligns with the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att regelverk bör utformas så att idéburna aktörer oftare kan bidra, och att civilsamhällets finansiering ska förbättras. Den ser civilsamhället som en förutsättning för demokratin och vill att politiken ger det goda förutsättningar med respekt för dess oberoende. Att se över föreningsrätten så att allmännyttiga föreningar inte möter kommersiella villkor ligger därför i linje med planen.
- regulations adapted for idea-driven actorsdecisive»Regelverk och upphandlingar bör utformas så att det är oftare är möjligt för idéburna aktörer att bidra i välfärden.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Regulations and procurement should be designed so that it is more often possible for idea-driven actors to contribute in welfare.”
- strengthened financing of civil society»Vi vill fortsätta förbättra civilsamhällets finansiering genom både bredare skatteavdrag för gåvor och långsiktiga statsbidrag.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to continue improving civil society financing through both broader tax deductions for donations and long-term government grants.”
- good conditions for associational life»Politiken ska bidra till att det civila samhället ges goda förutsättningar.« (party programme ↗)“Politics shall contribute to civil society being given good conditions.”
- civil society's particularity and independence»Det offentliga ska i sin samverkan med civilsamhället respektera civilsamhällets oberoende.« (party programme ↗)“The public sector shall in its cooperation with civil society respect civil society's independence.”
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 establishes that non-profit activities must be prioritized over commercial interests when the state and municipalities design leisure policy, and that a vital civil society is of great importance.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme establishes that non-profit activities must be prioritized over commercial interests when the state and municipalities design leisure policy, and that a vital civil society is of great importance. The election manifesto calls for a stronger civil society. Investigating the right to association and allowing the favourable terms to also cover other public-benefit associations follows from this.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår fast att ideell verksamhet ska prioriteras framför kommersiella intressen när stat och kommun utformar fritidspolitiken, och att ett vitalt civilt samhälle är av största vikt. Valmanifestet går till val på ett stärkt civilsamhälle. Att utreda föreningsrätten och låta de förmånliga villkoren omfatta även andra allmännyttiga föreningar följer av detta.
- non-profit before commercialdecisive»Ideell verksamhet ska prioriteras framför kommersiella intressen vid utformningen av statens och kommunernas fritidspolitik.« (party programme ↗)“Non-profit activities must be prioritized over commercial interests in the design of the state's and municipalities' leisure policy.”
- vital civil society»Ett vitalt civilt samhälle är av största vikt för en levande demokrati och ett mänskligt samhälle.« (party programme ↗)“A vital civil society is of great importance for a living democracy and a human society.”
- strengthened civil society»STÄRKT CIVILSAMHÄLLE« (2022 manifesto ↗)“STRENGTHENED CIVIL SOCIETY”
- tax exemption for donations»Gåvor till ideella organisationer bör vara skattebefriade.« (party programme ↗)“Donations to non-profit organizations should be tax-exempt.”
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 does not address the right of association, but rests on the principle that society consists of different spheres with their own logics and that strong independent institutions provide a balance of power; market logic is therefore not self-evident for civil society.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan does not address the right of association, but rests on the principle that society consists of different spheres with their own logics and that strong independent institutions provide a balance of power; market logic is therefore not self-evident for civil society. The plan also protects small communities and wants to support association sports. From this perspective, the plan supports the requirement to clarify and strengthen civil society's distinctive character and create reasonable rules for non-profit associations.
Original (Swedish)
Planen behandlar inte föreningsrätten, men bygger på att samhället består av olika sfärer med egna logiker och att starka självständiga institutioner ger maktbalans; marknadslogiken är alltså inte självklar för föreningslivet. Planen värnar också de små gemenskaperna och vill stödja föreningsidrotten. Utifrån detta ligger planen bakom kravet att tydliggöra och stärka civilsamhällets särart och skapa rimliga regler för allmännyttiga föreningar.
- plurality of social spheresdecisive»Starka självständiga institutioner och en pluralism av samhällssfärer ger en viktig maktbalans i samhället.« (party programme ↗)“Strong independent institutions and a plurality of social spheres provide an important balance of power in society.”
- protect small communities»de små mänskliga gemenskaper för trygghet och samhörighet« (party programme ↗)“the small human communities for security and solidarity”
- support for association sports»Genomföra ett särskilt idrottslyft för utsatta områden« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Implement a special sports initiative for disadvantaged areas”
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 sees the voluntary sector as a vital part of society and places the state's task in supporting the associational life without limiting its freedom of action.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan sees the voluntary sector as a vital part of society and places the state's task in supporting the associational life without limiting its freedom of action. A review of association law that clarifies its special nature and provides reasonable rules, including on land use, lies therefore in the plan's direction. The plan says nothing about the committee's grounds that ongoing civil society initiatives already suffice.
Original (Swedish)
Planen ser den ideella sektorn som en bärande del av samhället och lägger det offentligas uppgift i att stödja föreningslivet utan att begränsa dess handlingsfrihet. En föreningsrättsutredning som tydliggör särarten och ger rimliga regler, bland annat om markanvändning, ligger därför i planens riktning. Planen säger inget om utskottets skäl att pågående civilsamhällesinsatser redan räcker.
- support without steering of associational lifedecisive»stödja den ideella sektorn utan att i alltför hög grad begränsa dess handlingsfrihet« (party programme ↗)“support the voluntary sector without to too high a degree limiting its freedom of action”
- vital voluntary sector»bevarandet och upprätthållandet av en livskraftig ideell sektor« (party programme ↗)“the preservation and maintenance of a vital voluntary sector”
- vital associational life»Ge idrottsrörelserna förutsättningar till fortsatt livskraft« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Give the sports movement the prerequisites for continued vitality”
- appropriate regulations for associations»Tillståndsprocesser och regelverk bör präglas av samverkan mellan myndigheter, idrottsklubbar och supporterrörelse utifrån en konstruktiv anda.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Permit processes and regulations should be characterized by cooperation between authorities, sports clubs and supporter movement according to a constructive spirit.”
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.
Share and embed
Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2022/23:KrU5)
- Committee report full text (HA01KrU5)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2022/23:1020 — Trossamfundsfrågor av Runar Filper m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1470 — Civilsamhällets långsiktiga förutsättningar av Amanda Lind m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2022/23:1710 — Förbud mot statligt finansierad lobbning av Jesper Skalberg Karlsson (M)
- Motion 2022/23:1726 — Civilsamhällets roll för äldres hälsa av Eva Lindh m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:1811 — Bekämpning av terrorism av Christian Carlsson (KD)
- Motion 2022/23:1895 — Djurrättsaktivism av Helena Lindahl m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:2054 — Utgiftsområde 17 Kultur, medier, trossamfund, fritid av Lawen Redar m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:2061 — Utgiftsområde 9 Hälsovård, sjukvård och social omsorg av Fredrik Lundh Sammeli m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:2155 — Slopat skattefinansierat stöd och utökad granskning av trossamfund av Markus Wiechel m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:2171 — Lands- och glesbygd med stark samhällsutveckling av Elin Söderberg m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2022/23:554 — Samlad satsning för den svenska diasporan av Markus Wiechel m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:860 — Ett idrottsliv, friluftsliv och civilsamhälle tillgängligt för alla av Anne-Li Sjölund m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:920 — Åtgärder mot extremism i civilsamhället av Jonas Andersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:989 — Politik för ett starkt och oberoende civilsamhälle av Jonas Andersson m.fl. (SD)
Source: The Swedish Parliament