2024-04-032023/24:KU13 · p.7KUConstitution
Freedom of association
Associations' right to decide for themselves on expelling members
What's at stake: The decision concerns the balance between associations' self-determination over membership and the legal protection of individual members against expulsion; it affects trade unions and other civil society organisations whose right to enforce their bylaws is weighed against members' right not to be expelled.
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 bring forward legislation strengthening free associations' right to decide on their own to expel members who break the bylaws, or whether the matter should wait until ongoing litigation, which may reach the European Court of Human Rights, is settled.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee notes that the question of an association's right to expel a member because of their political mandate is subject to ongoing litigation and may reach the European Court of Human Rights, and is therefore not prepared to propose any legislative change; nor does the committee see reason to act on the motion concerning a ban on organisations.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 4 (S)
The reservation (S) wants the government to come back with proposals for how freedom of association can be strengthened and free associations' right to decide for themselves who may and may not be a member clarified, pointing to a case where a court overturned a union's expulsion of a member who had broken its bylaws — unreasonable, the reservers argue, since associations should be able to enforce their own rules without state interference.
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 4 by S.
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 21/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| S | No | No 0/92/0/14 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | Yes 14/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| C | No | Yes 21/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 14/0/0/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 15/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 60/0/0/8 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| SD | No | Yes 63/0/0/9 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects motion 2023/24:1182 by Ola Möller (S).
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motion 2023/24:1182 av Ola Möller (S).
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag rejected approximately forty proposals in motions on freedom and rights from the general motion period 2023. The Riksdag pointed primarily to ongoing work. The motions addressed constitutionally protecting abortion rights, revocation of citizenship, discrimination, protection of property rights, faith communities' security and safety efforts, a worldview-neutral state and freedom of association.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to strengthen association freedom and the right of associations to control their membership. (S) — Reservation 4
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 counts freedom of association among democracy's most important building blocks and requires that labour organizations shall be independent in relation to the state and political parties.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan counts freedom of association among democracy's most important building blocks and requires that labour organizations shall be independent in relation to the state and political parties. The counter-proposal wants to clarify that free associations themselves decide membership without government involvement, which is in line with this independence principle. The plan does not however make statements about legal regulation of exclusions, which is why the conclusion is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Planen räknar föreningsfriheten till den politiska demokratins viktigaste byggstenar och kräver att fackliga organisationer ska vara självständiga i förhållande till staten och de politiska partierna. Motförslaget vill förtydliga att fria föreningar själva avgör medlemskap utan statlig inblandning, vilket ligger i linje med denna självständighetsprincip. Planen uttalar sig dock inte om lagreglering av uteslutningar, varför slutsatsen är härledd.
- independent organizationsdecisive»De fackliga organisationerna ska vara självständiga i förhållande till« (party programme ↗)“Labour organizations shall be independent in relation to”
- freedom of association as cornerstone»föreningsfriheten, yttrande- och tryckfriheten, offentlighetsprincipen« (party programme ↗)“freedom of association, freedom of speech and freedom of the press, public access principle”
- strong social movements»starka och självständiga folkrörelser« (party programme ↗)“strong and independent social movements”
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 a strong and living civil society as the foundation of democracy and requires that community work be built on respect for citizens' own organizations.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan sees a strong and living civil society as the foundation of democracy and requires that community work be built on respect for citizens' own organizations. Free associations, popular movements and non-profit organizations are highlighted as bearers of democracy. Clarifying associations' right to decide membership according to their own bylaws thereby aligns with the plan's line.
Original (Swedish)
Planen ser ett starkt och levande civilsamhälle som demokratins underbyggnad och kräver att samhällsarbetet bygger på respekt för medborgarnas egna organisationer. Fria sammanslutningar, folkrörelser och ideella föreningar lyfts fram som bärande för demokratin. Att förtydliga föreningars rätt att själva avgöra medlemskap enligt egna stadgar ligger därmed i planens linje.
- civil society bears democracydecisive»Ett starkt och levande civilsamhälle är demokratins underbyggnad.« (party programme ↗)“A strong and living civil society is the foundation of democracy.”
- respect for own organizations»medborgarnas eget engagemang och medborgarnas egna organisationer« (party programme ↗)“citizens' own engagement and citizens' own organizations”
- role of free associations»Men också andra fria sammanslutningar, folkrörelser, ideella föreningar« (party programme ↗)“But also other free associations, popular movements, non-profit organizations”
The plan says nothing about associations' right to decide on membership.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan says nothing about associations' right to decide on membership. The closest commitments are the libertarian outlook, that a strong and self-organized associational life shall be promoted and that the voluntary sector shall be supported without state control, which argues for clarifying freedom of association. The conclusion is derived from general principles and is limited by the fact that all discrimination shall be counteracted.
Original (Swedish)
Planen säger inget om föreningars rätt att besluta om medlemskap. Närmast liggande åtaganden är den frihetliga grundsynen, att ett starkt och självorganiserat föreningsliv ska främjas och att frivilligsektorn ska stödjas utan statlig styrning, vilket talar för att förtydliga föreningsfriheten. Slutsatsen är härledd ur allmänna principer och begränsas av att all diskriminering ska motverkas.
- strong self-organized associational lifedecisive»Vi vill främja ett starkt föreningsliv och självorganisering i varje stadscentrum.« (party programme ↗)“We want to promote a strong associational life and self-organization in every city centre.”
- libertarian perspective on politics»Den gröna rörelsen står för ett frihetligt perspektiv« (party programme ↗)“The green movement stands for a libertarian perspective”
- support for the voluntary sector»Politiken bör på olika vis synliggöra, stödja och« (party programme ↗)“Politics should in various ways make visible, support and”
- discrimination shall be counteracted»Alla former av diskriminering ska motverkas.« (party programme ↗)“All forms of discrimination shall be counteracted.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The party programme makes freedom of association an inviolable principle and states that civil society shall have an independent role and that politics' task is to remove obstacles for it.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme makes freedom of association an inviolable principle and states that civil society shall have an independent role and that politics' task is to remove obstacles for it. Clarifying free associations' right to themselves decide on membership follows from that independence. The plan does not support the state controlling associations' internal application of statutes.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet gör föreningsfriheten till en orubblig princip och slår fast att civilsamhället ska ha en självständig roll och att politikens uppgift är att riva hinder för det. Att förtydliga fria föreningars rätt att själva avgöra medlemskap följer av den självständigheten. Planen ger inget stöd för att staten ska styra föreningars interna stadgetillämpning.
- inviolable freedom of associationdecisive»Yttrandefrihet, religionsfrihet och föreningsfrihet är därför orubbliga« (party programme ↗)“Freedom of expression, religious freedom and freedom of association are therefore inviolable”
- civil society's independence»Det civila samhället, människornas frivilliga organisering, är en fundamental del av varje väl fungerande demokrati« (party programme ↗)“Civil society, people's voluntary organizing, is a fundamental part of every well-functioning democracy”
- remove obstacles for civil society»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.”
- free choice and self-determination»Alla ska kunna bestämma över sina egna liv genom egna och fria val.« (party programme ↗)“Everyone shall be able to decide over their own lives through their own free choices.”
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 establishes that the public sector shall respect civil society's independence and that it is always the individual person who decides which communities they want to belong to.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that the public sector shall respect civil society's independence and that it is always the individual person who decides which communities they want to belong to. Healthy skepticism toward increased public power claims belongs to the core of liberalism. Clarifying free associations' right to themselves decide membership thereby aligns with the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att det offentliga ska respektera civilsamhällets oberoende och att det alltid är den enskilda människan som avgör vilka gemenskaper hon vill tillhöra. En sund skepsis mot ökade offentliga maktanspråk hör till liberalismens kärna. Att förtydliga fria föreningars rätt att själva avgöra medlemskap ligger därmed i linje med planen.
- respect for civil society's independencedecisive»Det offentliga ska i sin samverkan med civilsamhället respektera« (party programme ↗)“The public sector shall in its cooperation with civil society respect”
- the individual chooses community»människan som avgör vilka gemenskaper man vill tillhöra och känna delaktighet med« (party programme ↗)“the person who decides which communities one wants to belong to and feel part of”
- skepticism toward public power»sund skepsis mot ökade offentliga maktanspråk« (party programme ↗)“healthy skepticism toward increased public power claims”
- 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.”
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 warns that society's vulnerability increases when the public sector takes over civil society's tasks and requires that support respects the communities' own area of competence.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme explicitly warns that society's vulnerability increases when the public sector takes over civil society's tasks and requires that support respects the communities' own area of competence. Freedom of association is highlighted as decisive for a living democracy. The counter-proposal's requirement that free associations' right to themselves determine membership be clarified thus follows from the plan's view of natural communities' self-determination.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet varnar uttryckligen för att samhällets sårbarhet ökar när det offentliga tar över det civila samhällets uppgifter och kräver att stödet respekterar gemenskapernas eget kompetensområde. Föreningsfriheten lyfts fram som avgörande för en levande demokrati. Motförslagets krav på att fria föreningars rätt att själva avgöra medlemskap förtydligas följer därmed av planens syn på naturliga gemenskapers självbestämmande.
- civil society's independencedecisive»När det offentliga genom lagstiftning, skatter, incitament eller pålagor tar över det civila samhällets uppgifter ökar hela samhällets sårbarhet.« (party programme ↗)“When the public sector through legislation, taxes, incentives or obligations takes over civil society's tasks, the entire society's vulnerability increases.”
- strong freedom of association»samt anonymitetsskyddet, liksom för mötes- och före- ningsfriheten, är av stor vikt för en levande demokrati.« (party programme ↗)“and the protection of anonymity, as well as freedom of assembly and association, are of great importance for a living democracy.”
- communities' area of competence»detta stöd måste också respektera de enskilda människornas rättigheter och gemenskapernas eget kompetensområde.« (party programme ↗)“this support must also respect individual people's rights and communities' own area of competence.”
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 documents state that strong independent institutions and a plurality of social spheres are a necessary balance of power, and that the constitution shall provide clear and practical protection for freedoms and rights.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The documents state that strong independent institutions and a plurality of social spheres are a necessary balance of power, and that the constitution shall provide clear and practical protection for freedoms and rights. Associations' right to themselves determine membership is such an independence from the state. The counter-proposal's requirement for proposals that strengthen freedom of association thus follows from the plan's principles.
Original (Swedish)
Dokumenten slår fast att starka självständiga institutioner och en pluralism av samhällssfärer är en nödvändig maktbalans, och att grundlagen ska ge ett tydligt och praktiskt skydd för fri- och rättigheter. Föreningarnas rätt att själva avgöra medlemskap är en sådan självständighet gentemot staten. Motförslagets krav på förslag som stärker föreningsfriheten följer därmed av planens principer.
- independent 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.”
- clear rights catalogue»Vår svenska grundlag ska ha en tydlig katalog av fri- och rättigheter.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Our Swedish constitution shall have a clear catalogue of freedoms and rights.”
- strengthened rights protection»Stärka domstolarnas oberoende och skyddet för medborgarnas fri- och rättigheter« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen the independence of the courts and the protection of citizens' 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 party programme establishes that the state's task toward the voluntary sector is to support it without unduly limiting its operational freedom, and counts freedom of association as an essential element of democracy.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme establishes that the state's task toward the voluntary sector is to support it without unduly limiting its operational freedom, and counts freedom of association as an essential element of democracy. The counter-proposal's requirement that free associations' right to themselves determine membership be clarified follows from this. The election manifesto further wishes to strengthen constitutional rights protection and constitutional review.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår fast att statens uppgift gentemot den ideella sektorn är att stödja den utan att i alltför hög grad begränsa dess handlingsfrihet, och räknar föreningsfriheten till demokratins nödvändiga inslag. Motförslagets krav på att fria föreningars rätt att själva avgöra medlemskap förtydligas följer av detta. Valmanifestet vill dessutom förstärka grundlagens rättighetsskydd och normprövningen.
- voluntary sector's operational freedomdecisive»Precis som i fallet med familjerna består statens och kommunernas primära uppgift i att lyfta fram och stödja den ideella sektorn utan att i alltför hög grad begränsa dess handlingsfrihet.« (party programme ↗)“Just as in the case of families, the state's and municipalities' primary task is to highlight and support the voluntary sector without unduly limiting its operational freedom.”
- freedom of association as foundation of democracy»yttrandefrihet, tryckfrihet, mötesfrihet, föreningsfrihet och rättstrygghet är helt nödvändiga inslag« (party programme ↗)“freedom of expression, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, freedom of association and legal certainty are absolutely necessary elements”
- strengthened constitutional protection»Förstärka grundlagens rättighetsskydd vad gäller yttrandefrihet, äganderätt och frihet från religion« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen constitutional rights protection regarding freedom of expression, property rights and freedom from religion”
- strengthened constitutional review»Öka möjligheten till normprövning i grundlagen« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Increase the possibility of constitutional 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.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2023/24:KU13)
- Committee report full text (HB01KU13)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2023/24:1055 — Införande av ett tredje juridiskt kön av Daniel Vencu Velasquez Castro och Anna Wallentheim (båda S)
- Motion 2023/24:1182 — Stärkt föreningsfrihet av Ola Möller (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1524 — Politik för de nationella minoriteterna av Amanda Lind m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:1732 — En livssynsöppen stat av Jakob Olofsgård (L)
- Motion 2023/24:1881 — En ny könstillhörighetslag, ett tredje juridiskt kön och könsmarkören X i pass av Ulrika Westerlund m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:1892 — Sveriges kristna kulturarv av Julia Kronlid och Aron Emilsson (båda SD)
- Motion 2023/24:2251 — Stärkt äganderätt av Sten Bergheden (M)
- Motion 2023/24:2291 — Slöjförbud i den svenska för- och grundskolan av Richard Jomshof (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:2413 — Kampen mot separatismen av Mauricio Rojas m.fl. (L)
- Motion 2023/24:2435 — Dubbelt medborgarskap av Larry Söder (KD)
- Motion 2023/24:2481 — Familjerätt, hbtqi-frågor och funktionsrätt av Martina Johansson m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2023/24:2490 — Demokrati och konstitution av Malin Björk m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2023/24:2528 — Religionsfrihet av Markus Wiechel m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:2617 — Utgiftsområde 9 Hälsovård, sjukvård och social omsorg av Fredrik Lundh Sammeli m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:2664 — Jämställdhetspolitisk motion av Janine Alm Ericson m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:2669 — Rättspolitik av Märta Stenevi m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:267 — Säkerheten runt verksamheter med judisk profil av Magnus Berntsson (KD)
- Motion 2023/24:268 — Nationellt förbud mot böneutrop från religiösa byggnader av Hans Eklind (KD)
- Motion 2023/24:2685 — Utgiftsområde 1 Rikets styrelse av Ida Karkiainen m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:366 — En förskola i världsklass av Patrick Reslow m.fl. (SD)
Source: The Swedish Parliament