2026-02-042025/26:KU19 · p.13KUConstitution
Accessibility in Parliament
Accessibility and sign-language interpretation in parliament
What's at stake: Inadequate accessibility - such as elevators that do not work or incorrect information about hearing loops - affects visitors and staff with disabilities and impacts parliament's credibility on disability-rights issues. The decision concerns how systematically this work should be carried out.
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 a new, recurring routine should be introduced to systematically review and improve accessibility in parliament's premises and fund sign-language interpretation at major events, or whether the accessibility policy and action plan that already exist are sufficient.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee rejects the motion. The reason is that accessibility issues are already taken into account in the parliamentary administration's work through a dedicated policy and action plan, and that the administration continuously works to improve accessibility, which is why the committee sees no reason for a new initiative.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 4 (V, MP)
The reservation (V, MP) calls for a routine to be introduced whereby those responsible for parliament's premises regularly, for example once a year, review accessibility, propose improvements and publish information on the status of all premises, and for parliament to fund sign-language interpretation at large public events. The reasoning is that accessibility currently falls short - for example, elevators do not always work and information about hearing loops is not always accurate - and that parliament's credibility on disability-rights issues requires its own premises to be accessible to everyone, regardless of the buildings' age.
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 V, MP.
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 | No 0/19/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: high | not addressed |
| S | No | Yes 91/0/0/15 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | No 0/12/0/6 | follows the plan | confidence: high | 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: high | derived |
| KD | No | Yes 14/0/0/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | Yes | Yes 58/0/0/10 | follows the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| SD | No | Yes 62/0/0/9 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
Committee proposal
The Parliament rejects motion 2025/26:3534 by Ulrika Westerlund et al. (MP, M, L, S, C, SD, KD, V).
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motion 2025/26:3534 av Ulrika Westerlund m.fl. (MP, M, L, S, C, SD, KD, V).
Riksdag decision: The Parliament voted no on approximately 50 proposals in motions from the general motioning period 2025 on Parliament's working methods. The proposals concern, among other things, the opening of Parliament, the right to motion, insight into the register of Members of Parliament's economic interests, review of elected officials' conditions and Parliament Administration's operations. The Parliament refers, among other things, to the fact that investigations are already underway in several of the issues covered by the proposals.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants parliament member salaries to be set to one price base amount per month and to abolish extra compensation for parliament-related assignments. (V, MP) — 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 party programme demands that all parts of society are made accessible and that the disability perspective is included in all policy areas, which directly supports the requirement for recurring examination of accessibility of premises and central funding of sign language interpretation.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme demands that all parts of society are made accessible and that the disability perspective is included in all policy areas, which directly supports the requirement for recurring examination of accessibility of premises and central funding of sign language interpretation. The plan establishes that those who have a disability shall be able to participate on the same terms as all others, down to using their right to vote. Relying on that the work is ongoing is not sufficient when accessibility is failing in practice.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet kräver att alla delar av samhället görs tillgängliga och att funktionshinderperspektivet finns med i alla politikområden, vilket direkt bär kravet på återkommande granskning av lokalernas tillgänglighet och central finansiering av teckenspråkstolkning. Planen slår fast att den som har en funktionsnedsättning ska kunna delta på samma villkor som alla andra, ända ned till att använda sin rösträtt. Att lita på att arbetet pågår räcker inte när tillgängligheten brister i praktiken.
- accessible societydecisive»Vi vill skapa ett mer inkluderande samhälle genom att stärka välfärden« (party programme ↗)“We want to create a more inclusive society by strengthening welfare”
- accessibility everywhere»och göra alla delar av samhället tillgängliga.« (party programme ↗)“and make all parts of society accessible.”
- participation on equal terms»i ett fotbollslag och använda sin rösträtt till att ta en fika på stan.« (party programme ↗)“in a football team and use their right to vote to have a coffee in town.”
- disability perspective everywhere»ska finnas med i alla politikområden.« (party programme ↗)“shall be present in all policy areas.”
The plan requires that barriers for people with disabilities to participate in society be removed and that they should be able to live their lives like others.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that barriers for people with disabilities to participate in society be removed and that they should be able to live their lives like others. Recurring review of premises' accessibility, open information about the situation and centrally funded sign-language interpreting are concrete expressions of that commitment and of equal conditions to participate in democracy. The plan does not however address the Riksdag's own premises.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att hindren för personer med funktionsnedsättning att delta i samhällslivet undanröjs och att de ska kunna leva sitt liv som andra. Återkommande granskning av lokalernas tillgänglighet, öppen information om läget och centralt bekostad teckenspråkstolkning är konkreta uttryck för det åtagandet och för jämlika förutsättningar att delta i demokratin. Planen behandlar dock inte riksdagens egna lokaler.
- removed accessibility barriersdecisive»Undanröjda hinder för personer med funktionsnedsättning att delta i samhällslivet.« (party programme ↗)“Barriers removed for people with disabilities to participate in society.”
- live like others»Personer med funktionsnedsättning ska kunna leva sitt liv som andra.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“People with disabilities should be able to live their lives like others.”
- equal democratic participation»socialdemokratin efter en ordning med jämlika förutsättningar att delta i demokratin, så att alla« (party programme ↗)“social democracy after an arrangement with equal conditions to participate in democracy, so that everyone”
- equal rights»Lika rättigheter och skyldigheter för alla medborgare och starkt skydd mot« (party programme ↗)“Equal rights and duties for all citizens and strong protection against”
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 all public activities shall be accessible to everyone and that persons with disabilities shall have access to public space on equal terms.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that all public activities shall be accessible to everyone and that persons with disabilities shall have access to public space on equal terms. Repeated inspection, published information about premises' accessibility and central funding of sign language interpretation are concrete expressions of that commitment. The plan therefore supports the counter-proposal.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att all offentlig verksamhet ska vara tillgänglig för alla och att personer med funktionsnedsättning ska ha tillgång till det offentliga rummet på likvärdiga villkor. Återkommande granskning, offentliggjord information om lokalernas tillgänglighet och central finansiering av teckenspråkstolkning är konkreta uttryck för det åtagandet. Planen stöder därför motförslaget.
- accessible public activitiesdecisive»All offentlig verksamhet ska vara tillgänglig för alla.« (party programme ↗)“All public activities shall be accessible to everyone.”
- equal access to public spaces»Personer med funktionsnedsättning ska ha tillgång till det offentliga rummet på likvärdiga villkor.« (party programme ↗)“Persons with disabilities shall have access to public space on equal terms.”
- counter lack of accessibility»Funkofobi och bristande tillgänglighet ska motverkas.« (party programme ↗)“Disablism and lack of accessibility shall be countered.”
- cooperation with disability rights»Samverkan med funktionsrättsorganisationer är viktigt, i synnerhet när politiska beslut ska fattas.« (party programme ↗)“Cooperation with disability rights organizations is important, especially when political decisions are to be made.”
The party programme states that accessibility is crucial for people with disabilities and that society should have full accessibility, and the election manifesto promises that no one shall be disadvantaged because of disability.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme states that accessibility is crucial for people with disabilities and that society should have full accessibility, and the election manifesto promises that no one shall be disadvantaged because of disability. Checking facilities regularly and reporting deficiencies openly is a concrete way to live up to this commitment. The counter-proposal's demand thus aligns with the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår fast att tillgängligheten är avgörande för människor med funktionsnedsättning och att samhället ska ha full tillgänglighet, och valmanifestet lovar att ingen ska missgynnas på grund av funktionsnedsättning. Att lokalerna granskas regelbundet och att bristerna redovisas öppet är ett konkret sätt att leva upp till det åtagandet. Motförslagets krav ligger därför i linje med planen.
- full accessibilitydecisive»Tillgängligheten är avgörande för människor med olika funktionsnedsättningar.« (party programme ↗)“Accessibility is crucial for people with various disabilities.”
- no disadvantage from disability»Vi måste fortsätta arbetet för ett Sverige där ingen missgynnas på grund av kön, härkomst eller funktionsnedsättning, ett Sverige där kulturen, medierna och akademin är fri, ett Sverige där alla behövs.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We must continue working for a Sweden where no one is disadvantaged because of gender, origin or disability, a Sweden where culture, media and academia are free, a Sweden where everyone is needed.”
- support for disability»Du som har en funktionsnedsättning ska få det stöd du behöver, och staten ska ta ett större ansvar för att LSS fungerar.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“You who have a disability shall get the support you need, and the state shall take greater responsibility for LSS to function.”
- counter discrimination»Mer måste göras mot diskriminering.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“More must be done against discrimination.”
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 stipulates that Sweden shall be an accessible country, that the public environment shall be accessible and that systematic oversight is needed to remove easily remedied obstacles.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme stipulates that Sweden shall be an accessible country, that the public environment shall be accessible and that systematic oversight is needed to remove easily remedied obstacles. A recurring review of premises' accessibility with published information is exactly such a systematic approach. That lack of accessibility shall be regarded as discrimination reinforces the conclusion.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår fast att Sverige ska vara ett tillgängligt land, att den offentliga miljön ska vara tillgänglig och att systematisk tillsyn behövs för att få bort enkelt avhjälpta hinder. En återkommande granskning av lokalernas tillgänglighet med offentliggjord information är just en sådan systematik. Att bristande tillgänglighet ska ses som diskriminering förstärker slutsatsen.
- systematic accessibility oversightdecisive»Systematisk tillsyn behövs för att få bort enkelt avhjälpta hinder.« (party programme ↗)“Systematic oversight is needed to remove easily remedied obstacles.”
- accessible public environment»Sverige ska vara ett tillgängligt land. Den offentliga miljön, inklusive kollektivtrafiken, ska vara tillgänglig.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden shall be an accessible country. The public environment, including public transport, shall be accessible.”
- inaccessibility is discrimination»Bristande tillgänglighet ska ses som diskriminering.« (party programme ↗)“Lack of accessibility shall be regarded as discrimination.”
- sign language accessibility»Undervisning i teckenspråk ska vara fritt tillgänglig för alla som behöver det« (party programme ↗)“Instruction in sign language shall be freely accessible to all who need it”
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 it should be obvious that public institutions, facilities and information systems are designed with high accessibility requirements, and that increased accessibility in society reduces the significance of disability.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme establishes that it should be obvious that public institutions, facilities and information systems are designed with high accessibility requirements, and that increased accessibility in society reduces the significance of disability. A recurring review of parliament's facilities with published information is one way to fulfill that commitment, and central funding of sign language interpretation makes public events accessible. The counter-proposal's demand is supported.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår fast att det ska vara självklart att offentliga inrättningar, anläggningar och informationssystem utformas med höga krav på tillgänglighet, och att ökad tillgänglighet i samhället minskar funktionsnedsättningens betydelse. En återkommande granskning av riksdagens lokaler med offentliggjord information är ett sätt att infria det åtagandet, och central finansiering av teckenspråkstolkning gör publika evenemang tillgängliga. Motförslagets krav stöds.
- tillgängliga offentliga lokalerdecisive»Det ska vara självklart att offentliga inrättningar, anläggningar och informationssystem utformas med höga krav på tillgänglighet.« (party programme ↗)“It should be obvious that public institutions, facilities and information systems are designed with high accessibility requirements.”
- ökad tillgänglighet i samhället»Ett annat viktigt sätt att minska funktionsnedsättningens betydelse är att öka tillgängligheten i samhället.« (party programme ↗)“Another important way to reduce the significance of disability is to increase accessibility in society.”
- samhället ska kompensera bristerna»Funktionsnedsättningen blir i själva verket ett handikapp för den enskilde först när samhället inte förmår att kompensera bristerna.« (party programme ↗)“Disability actually becomes a handicap for the individual first when society fails to compensate for the shortcomings.”
- FN:s funktionsrättskonvention»En viktig ledstjärna i detta avseende är FN:s konvention om rättigheter för människor med funktionsnedsättning.« (party programme ↗)“An important guiding star in this regard is the UN convention on the rights of persons with disabilities.”
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 does not address accessibility in the Riksdag's own premises and contains no commitments to annual audit routines or central financing of sign language interpretation.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan does not address accessibility in the Riksdag's own premises and contains no commitments to annual audit routines or central financing of sign language interpretation. The nearest-lying principle is that policy should prioritise and make choices and reduce unnecessary bureaucracy, which speaks against establishing a new mandatory routine and reporting requirement. The position therefore rests on a general principle and is uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Planen behandlar inte tillgängligheten i riksdagens egna lokaler och innehåller inga åtaganden om årliga granskningsrutiner eller central finansiering av teckenspråkstolkning. Närmast liggande princip är att politiken ska prioritera och välja bort samt minska onödig byråkrati, vilket talar emot att lägga fast en ny obligatorisk rutin och rapporteringsskyldighet. Ställningstagandet vilar därmed på en allmän princip och är osäkert.
- prioritise the state's core tasksdecisive»Politiken har en viktig uppgift att prioritera och välja bort« (party programme ↗)“Policy has an important task to prioritise and make choices”
- reduce unnecessary bureaucracy»Minska regelkrånglet och onödig byråkrati« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Reduce regulatory red tape and unnecessary bureaucracy”
The plan's disability rights section states that those who face physical or cognitive challenges should not be limited in their access to society or working life.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's disability rights section states that those who face physical or cognitive challenges should not be limited in their access to society or working life. Regular review of accessibility in Riksdag facilities and central funding of sign language interpretation aligns with that commitment. The plan does not, however, address Riksdag administration as such, so the conclusion is inferred.
Original (Swedish)
Planens funktionsrättsavsnitt slår fast att den som möter fysiska eller kognitiva utmaningar inte ska begränsas i sin tillgång till samhälls- eller arbetslivet. En regelbunden granskning av tillgängligheten i riksdagens lokaler och central finansiering av teckenspråkstolkning ligger i linje med det åtagandet. Planen berör dock inte riksdagsförvaltningen som sådan, varför slutsatsen är härledd.
- access to societydecisive»Medborgare som på grund av omständigheter bortom egen kontroll möter andra utmaningar i vardagen ska inte begränsas i sin tillgång till samhälls- eller arbetslivet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Citizens who, due to circumstances beyond their control, face other challenges in daily life should not be limited in their access to society or working life.”
- adequate standard of living for all»Alla medborgare ska ha rätt till ett gott liv och en fullgod levnadsstandard, även om man är född med eller råkar ut för något som gjort att man har fysiska eller kognitiva begränsningar eller variationer.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“All citizens should have the right to a good life and an adequate standard of living, even if one is born with or experiences something that has resulted in physical or cognitive limitations or variations.”
- participation based on circumstances»Sverigedemokraterna vill stärka möjligheten för personer med nedsatt arbetsförmåga att delta i arbetslivet och i sysselsättning utifrån individuella förutsättningar.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden Democrats want to strengthen the possibility for people with reduced work capacity to participate in working life and in employment based on individual circumstances.”
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:KU19)
- Committee report full text (HD01KU19)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2025/26:1041 — Al-nakba av Jamal El-Haj (-)
- Motion 2025/26:1056 — Fira Sveriges statschef H.M. Konung Carl XVI Gustafs 80-årsdag med ett porträtt i Sveriges riksdag av Marie-Louise Hänel Sandström m.fl. (M)
- Motion 2025/26:1058 — Dag Hammarskjölds fotokonst av Gudrun Brunegård (KD)
- Motion 2025/26:1092 — Avskaffa allmänna motionstiden av Fredrik Lundh Sammeli m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2025/26:1406 — Översyn av riksdagsledamöters arbete i syfte att göra det enklare att använda tiden effektivt av Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage (M)
- Motion 2025/26:1436 — Ett data- och digitaliseringsutskott i riksdagen av Markus Selin (S)
- Motion 2025/26:152 — Svenska flaggan som gåva från riksdagen eller dess ledamöter till allmänheten av Eric Palmqvist (SD)
- Motion 2025/26:1524 — Stärkt demokrati - mot hot och förföljelse av förtroendevalda, tjänstemän och minoriteter av Emma Ahlström Köster (M)
- Motion 2025/26:153 — Hörselskadade och riksdagen av Eric Palmqvist (SD)
- Motion 2025/26:1539 — Öppen licensiering av riksdagens information av Niels Paarup-Petersen (C)
- Motion 2025/26:1542 — Avskaffande av riktkarlssystemet i riksdagen av Alireza Akhondi (C)
- Motion 2025/26:1549 — Hantering av enskilda motioner av Alireza Akhondi (C)
- Motion 2025/26:1624 — Inrättande av ett omställningsutskott i riksdagen av Magnus Manhammar m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2025/26:1663 — Tjänstgöring för riksdagsledamöter inom totalförsvaret eller samhällsviktiga områden under sommaren av Carl Nordblom (M)
- Motion 2025/26:1689 — Ledamöters placering i plenisalen av Margareta Cederfelt (M)
- Motion 2025/26:1877 — Riksdagens resebidragssystem för skolbesök av Laila Naraghi (S)
- Motion 2025/26:1992 — Upprätta bättre säkerhet utanför riksdagshusen av Sten Bergheden och Johanna Rantsi (båda M)
- Motion 2025/26:2517 — Minnesplats för Dag Hammarskjöld i riksdagen av Morgan Johansson (S)
- Motion 2025/26:2557 — Inrättande av ett utskott för kommunala och regionala frågor av Mattias Eriksson Falk och Roger Hedlund (båda SD)
- Motion 2025/26:276 — Ändring i grundlagen och avlägsnande av EU-symbol i riksdagens plenisal av Björn Söder (SD)
Source: The Swedish Parliament