2024-02-072023/24:NU6 · p.4NUBusiness & energy
Other matters regarding localization of state agencies
Further measures to relocate government agencies from Stockholm
What's at stake: Where government agencies are located affects jobs, growth and public services outside the major-city regions, and the decision determines whether further relocations should be pushed through a new inquiry or left to the government's ongoing work.
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 launch a new inquiry, together with the regions, to identify further government agencies that could be relocated from Stockholm, or whether the government's ongoing work on agency localization is already sufficient.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee rejects the motions, pointing among other things to the government's ongoing, continuous work on the issue of state presence throughout the country.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 4 (C)
The reservation (C) wants the government, together with regions and regional business, to investigate which relevant agencies could be relocated from Stockholm, in order to better link agency locations to industry structures and geographic conditions around the country.
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 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: SDSverigedemokraterna
Ja 158–20Ja 96–82
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 18/0/0/6 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | Abstain 0/0/89/18 | differs | confidence: medium | derived |
| MP | No | Abstain 0/0/11/7 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | No | No 0/20/0/4 | match | confidence: medium | derived |
| L | No | Yes 11/0/0/5 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 12/0/0/7 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | Yes | Yes 55/0/0/13 | match | confidence: low | not addressed |
| SD | No | Yes 62/0/0/10 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: medium | explicit |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2023/24:113 by Margareta Cederfelt (M), 2023/24:144 by Mathias Bengtsson (KD), 2023/24:775 by Larry Söder (KD), 2023/24:947 by Kristoffer Lindberg (S), 2023/24:1023 by Kalle Olsson and Anna-Caren Sätherberg (both S), 2023/24:1128 by Helena Storckenfeldt and Lars Püss (both M), 2023/24:1358 by Lars Isacsson et al. (S) amendment 4, 2023/24:1359 by Lars Isacsson et al. (S) amendment 5, 2023/24:1571 by Adnan Dibrani and Jennie Nilsson (both S) amendments 1 and 2, 2023/24:1653 by Niels Paarup-Petersen (C) amendment 1, 2023/24:1874 by Amanda Lind et al. (MP) amendments 4 and 5, 2023/24:2551 by Heléne Björklund and Magnus Manhammar (both S) and 2023/24:2685 by Ida Karkiainen et al. (S) amendment 11.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2023/24:113 av Margareta Cederfelt (M), 2023/24:144 av Mathias Bengtsson (KD), 2023/24:775 av Larry Söder (KD), 2023/24:947 av Kristoffer Lindberg (S), 2023/24:1023 av Kalle Olsson och Anna-Caren Sätherberg (båda S), 2023/24:1128 av Helena Storckenfeldt och Lars Püss (båda M), 2023/24:1358 av Lars Isacsson m.fl. (S) yrkande 4, 2023/24:1359 av Lars Isacsson m.fl. (S) yrkande 5, 2023/24:1571 av Adnan Dibrani och Jennie Nilsson (båda S) yrkandena 1 och 2, 2023/24:1653 av Niels Paarup-Petersen (C) yrkande 1, 2023/24:1874 av Amanda Lind m.fl. (MP) yrkandena 4 och 5, 2023/24:2551 av Heléne Björklund och Magnus Manhammar (båda S) och 2023/24:2685 av Ida Karkiainen m.fl. (S) yrkande 11.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag has reviewed a statement from the government concerning the National Audit Office's report on the establishment of agencies outside Stockholm. The National Audit Office's overall conclusion is that the government's localization of agencies in locations outside Stockholm during the period has partially lived up to the Riksdag's intentions. The National Audit Office assesses that the localization decisions have resulted in a small but positive contribution to regional development, while the government's localization decisions have not jeopardized the agencies' ability to conduct their operations efficiently in the long term. In its statement, the government essentially agrees with the National Audit Office's findings. The government works continuously with the question of state presence throughout the country. An important starting point for the government is that agencies can conduct their operations efficiently regardless of where they are located. This is something the government monitors within the framework of ongoing agency management. The Riksdag views positively the government's continuous work with the question of state presence throughout the country. With this, the Riksdag laid the government's statement to the records, that is, concluded the matter, and rejected the motions.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants an investigation to identify which relevant state agencies can be relocated outside Stockholm. (C) — 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 demands that regional policy be pursued to reduce disparities and that economic planning takes into account everyone's right to work and welfare in all parts of the country, and that welfare and services shall exist everywhere.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan demands that regional policy be pursued to reduce disparities and that economic planning takes into account everyone's right to work and welfare in all parts of the country, and that welfare and services shall exist everywhere. An investigation of which government agencies can be relocated from Stockholm in cooperation with regions and regional business is a means to this end. The plan says nothing about the work the committee thinks is already being done.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att regionalpolitiken drivs för att minska klyftorna och att den ekonomiska planeringen tar hänsyn till allas rätt till arbete och välfärd i landets alla delar, samt att välfärd och service ska finnas överallt. En utredning av vilka myndigheter som kan flyttas ut från Stockholm i samverkan med regioner och regionalt näringsliv är ett medel för just detta. Planen säger inget om det arbete utskottet menar redan bedrivs.
- reduce regional disparitiesdecisive»Regionalpolitiken ska därför drivas för att minska klyftorna.« (party programme ↗)“Regional policy shall therefore be pursued to reduce disparities.”
- work and welfare in entire nation»allas rätt till arbete, utbildning och social välfärd i landets alla delar.« (party programme ↗)“everyone's right to work, education and social welfare in all parts of the country.”
- state presence nationwide»Välfärden måste vara till för alla och finnas överallt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Welfare must be for all and exist everywhere.”
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 requires that the state be present throughout the country and that the whole country should be able to live and develop, with an even spread of knowledge centres.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that the state be present throughout the country and that the whole country should be able to live and develop, with an even spread of knowledge centres. An inquiry into which authorities can be moved out from Stockholm in cooperation with regions and regional business is a means for precisely this commitment. The plan does not take a position on the form, but the direction towards dispersed state activity is clear.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att staten ska finnas närvarande i hela landet och att hela landet ska kunna leva och utvecklas, med en jämn spridning av kunskapscentra. En utredning av vilka myndigheter som kan flyttas ut från Stockholm i samverkan med regioner och regionalt näringsliv är ett medel för just detta åtagande. Planen tar inte ställning till formen, men riktningen mot spridd statlig verksamhet är tydlig.
- state presence throughout the countrydecisive»Staten ska finnas närvarande i hela landet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The state should be present throughout the country.”
- the whole country should live»Alla har ett gemensamt intresse av att hela landet kan leva och utvecklas.« (party programme ↗)“Everyone has a common interest in the whole country being able to live and develop.”
- even regional spread»en jämn spridning av kunskapscentra över hela landet.« (party programme ↗)“an even spread of knowledge centres throughout the country.”
- strengthened municipalities and regions»Vi vill fortsätta öka statens bidrag till kommuner och regioner.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to continue to increase the state's contribution to municipalities and regions.”
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 is explicitly decentralist and requires that decisions be taken as close to citizens as possible and that public services be available throughout the country.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme is explicitly decentralist and requires that decisions be taken as close to citizens as possible and that public services be available throughout the country. The plan also wants government regulations to work equally well for small municipalities as for large ones and for welfare and highly qualified jobs to exist throughout the country. An investigation in cooperation with the regions on which agencies could be relocated from Stockholm therefore follows from the plan's decentralist stance.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet är uttalat decentralistiskt och kräver att beslut tas så nära medborgarna som möjligt och att samhällsfunktioner finns tillgängliga över hela landet. Planen vill också att statliga regelverk fungerar lika bra för små kommuner som för stora och att välfärd och högkvalificerade jobb finns i hela landet. En utredning i samverkan med regionerna om vilka myndigheter som kan flyttas ut från Stockholm följer därför av planens decentralistiska grundsyn.
- decentralist stancedecisive»Miljöpartiet har en decentralistisk grundsyn som« (party programme ↗)“The Green Party has a decentralist stance which”
- state presence throughout the country»Samhällsfunktioner som polis, arbetsförmedling och« (party programme ↗)“Public services such as police, employment services and”
- jobs throughout the country»Ett fungerande samhälle bygger på välfärd, utveckling och högkvalificerade jobb i hela landet.« (party programme ↗)“A functioning society is built on welfare, development and highly qualified jobs throughout the country.”
- equivalent conditions for municipalities»regelverk ska fungera lika bra för små kommuner som« (party programme ↗)“regulations shall work equally well for small municipalities as”
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 wants to decentralize more and states that agency presence and understanding of people's life situations have declined in many places, which lowers trust.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto wants to decentralize more and states that agency presence and understanding of people's life situations have declined in many places, which lowers trust. The manifesto demands that public services are close and reliable throughout the country and the party programme that all parts of the country are given equal conditions. An inquiry on which agencies can be moved out from Stockholm in cooperation with regions therefore follows from the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet vill decentralisera mera och konstaterar att myndigheters närvaro och förståelse för människors livssituation minskat på många håll, vilket sänker tilliten. Manifestet kräver att offentlig service är nära och pålitlig i hela landet och partiprogrammet att alla delar av landet ges likvärdiga förutsättningar. En utredning av vilka myndigheter som kan flyttas ut från Stockholm i samverkan med regionerna följer därför av planen.
- decentralize moredecisive»Decentralisera mera. Människor ska få bestämma mer själva, och politiska beslut ska fattas nära dem som berörs.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Decentralize more. People should be able to decide more for themselves, and political decisions should be made close to those affected.”
- agency presence has declined»På många håll har myndigheters närvaro och förståelse för människors livssituation minskat, vilket leder till lägre tillit.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“In many places, agency presence and understanding of people's life situations has declined, which leads to lower trust.”
- public services nearby»Offentlig service ska vara nära och pålitlig i hela landet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Public services shall be close and reliable throughout the country.”
- equal conditions in the country»Alla delar av landet ska ges likvärdiga förutsättningar för utveckling och tillväxt.« (party programme ↗)“All parts of the country shall be given equal conditions for development and growth.”
The election manifesto demands that state authorities be present in all parts of Sweden and the party programme that access to state services be secured throughout the country and that conditions for growth be strengthened throughout the country.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto demands that state authorities be present in all parts of Sweden and the party programme that access to state services be secured throughout the country and that conditions for growth be strengthened throughout the country. The counter-proposal's demand for an investigation into which authorities can be moved out of Stockholm, in cooperation with regions and business, is a means to these commitments. The plan does not state itself on relocation as a method, therefore derived.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet kräver att statliga myndigheter finns närvarande i alla delar av Sverige och partiprogrammet att tillgången till statlig service säkras i hela landet och att förutsättningarna för tillväxt stärks i hela landet. Motförslagets krav på en utredning om vilka myndigheter som kan flyttas ut från Stockholm, i samverkan med regioner och näringsliv, är ett medel för dessa åtaganden. Planen uttalar sig inte om utflyttning som metod, därför härlett.
- authorities throughout the countrydecisive»statliga myndigheter ska finnas närvarande i alla delar av Sverige« (2022 manifesto ↗)“state authorities shall be present in all parts of Sweden”
- state services throughout the country»Tillgången till statlig service ska säkras i hela landet.« (party programme ↗)“Access to state services shall be secured throughout the country.”
- growth throughout the country»företagande, innovationer och tillväxt ska stärkas i hela landet.« (party programme ↗)“business, innovation and growth shall be strengthened throughout the country.”
- conditions in rural areas»Företagandet i hela Sverige hämmas när skatten kan vara fem, sex eller sju kronor högre per hundralapp i glesbygd än i Stockholm.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Business throughout Sweden is hampered when taxes can be five, six or seven kronor higher per hundred crowns in rural areas than in Stockholm.”
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 the state has a responsibility for state services to be available throughout Sweden, that societal planning shall be characterised by a purposeful aim towards a decentralised society and that the whole of Sweden shall thrive.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that the state has a responsibility for state services to be available throughout Sweden, that societal planning shall be characterised by a purposeful aim towards a decentralised society and that the whole of Sweden shall thrive. The election manifesto additionally requires more state service offices. An investigation into which authorities can be relocated from Stockholm is thus in line with the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att staten har ansvar för att den statliga servicen är tillgänglig i hela Sverige, att samhällsplaneringen ska präglas av en målmedveten strävan mot ett decentraliserat samhälle och att hela Sverige ska leva. Valmanifestet kräver dessutom fler statliga servicekontor. En utredning av vilka myndigheter som kan flyttas ut från Stockholm ligger därmed i linje med planen.
- state services throughout the countrydecisive»den statliga servicen är tillgänglig i hela Sverige.« (party programme ↗)“state services are available throughout Sweden.”
- more state service offices»Fler poliser med lokal närvaro, utbyggd primärvård, enklare starta lokal läkarmottagning och inrätta fler statliga servicekontor.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“More police officers with local presence, expanded primary care, make it easier to start a local medical clinic and establish more state service offices.”
- decentralised society»präglas av en målmedveten strävan mot ett decentraliserat samhälle.« (party programme ↗)“shall be characterised by a purposeful aim towards a decentralised society.”
- the whole of Sweden shall thrive»Målet är att hela Sverige ska leva« (party programme ↗)“The goal is that the whole of Sweden shall thrive”
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 where state agencies should be located.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan does not address where state agencies should be located. Its agency policy is instead about making things more efficient, freeing up resources and shortening processing times, which argues against an investigation into costly relocation of agencies. At the same time, that the whole country should function is a stated ambition, so the conclusion is uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Planen tar inte upp var statliga myndigheter ska vara lokaliserade. Dess myndighetspolitik handlar i stället om att effektivisera, frigöra resurser och korta handläggningstiderna, vilket talar mot en utredning om kostsam omflyttning av myndigheter. Att hela landet ska fungera är samtidigt en uttalad ambition, så slutsatsen är osäker.
- make agencies more efficientdecisive»Inrätta ett effektiviseringskansli som ska gå inom alla myndigheters ekonomi för att frigöra resurser till försvaret« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Establish an efficiency office that shall go through every agency's finances to free up resources for defence”
- shorter processing times»Korta myndigheternas handläggningstider genom en bortre tidsgräns« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Shorten government agencies' processing times through a deadline”
- combat public waste»Offentligt slöseri i alla former ska bekämpas.« (party programme ↗)“Public waste in all forms shall be combated”
- the whole country shall function»Du ska kunna känna dig trygg med att välfärden fungerar oavsett var i landet du bor.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“You should be able to feel secure that welfare functions regardless of where in the country you live”
The plan explicitly sees potential in relocating more authority posts to smaller towns and demands a policy for the whole of Sweden.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly sees potential in relocating more authority posts to smaller towns and demands a policy for the whole of Sweden. The principle that the whole of Sweden shall live is central and business must be facilitated throughout the country. An investigation into which authorities can be moved out of Stockholm is precisely the tool the plan's commitment points towards.
Original (Swedish)
Planen ser uttryckligen potential i att utlokalisera fler myndighetsjobb till mindre orter och kräver en politik för hela Sverige. Principen att hela Sverige ska leva är central och näringslivet ska underlättas i hela landet. En utredning om vilka myndigheter som kan flyttas ut från Stockholm är precis det verktyg planens åtagande pekar mot.
- relocation of authority postsdecisive»Sverigedemokraterna ser potential för att utlokalisera fler myndighetsjobb till mindre orter men det främsta verktyget för tillväxt och jobb på landsbygd är enklare regler och möjligheter för landsbygden att växa.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden Democrats see potential to relocate more authority posts to smaller towns but the primary tool for growth and jobs in the countryside is simpler rules and opportunities for the countryside to grow.”
- policy for the whole of Sweden»Bedriva en politik för hela Sverige« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Conduct a policy for the whole of Sweden”
- the whole of Sweden must live»Principen om att hela Sverige skall leva är mycket viktig för Sverigedemokraterna.« (party programme ↗)“The principle that the whole of Sweden shall live is very important to Sweden Democrats.”
- business throughout the country»Underlätta för industri och näringsliv i hela landet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Facilitate industry and business throughout the country”
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.
Share and embed
Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2023/24:NU6)
- Committee report full text (HB01NU6)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2023/24:1023 — Återgång till en aktiv politik för statlig närvaro i hela landet av Kalle Olsson och Anna-Caren Sätherberg (båda S)
- Motion 2023/24:1128 — En statlig myndighet i Halland av Helena Storckenfeldt och Lars Püss (båda M)
- Motion 2023/24:113 — Omlokalisering av statliga myndigheter av Margareta Cederfelt (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1358 — En kommunpolitik för hela landet av Lars Isacsson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1359 — Högre utbildning för hela landet av Lars Isacsson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:144 — Statlig närvaro i Dalarna av Mathias Bengtsson (KD)
- Motion 2023/24:1571 — Myndigheter till Halland av Adnan Dibrani och Jennie Nilsson (båda S)
- Motion 2023/24:1653 — Flytt av Livsmedelsverket och Tullverket till Skåne av Niels Paarup-Petersen (C)
- Motion 2023/24:1874 — Statliga jobb och statlig service i hela landet av Amanda Lind m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:2551 — Omlokalisering av statlig myndighet till Blekinge av Heléne Björklund och Magnus Manhammar (båda S)
- Motion 2023/24:2685 — Utgiftsområde 1 Rikets styrelse av Ida Karkiainen m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:29 — med anledning av skr. 2022/23:125 Riksrevisionens rapport om etablering av myndigheter utanför Stockholm av Fredrik Olovsson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:775 — Statlig myndighet till Halland av Larry Söder (KD)
- Motion 2023/24:947 — Omlokalisering av statliga arbetstillfällen till Gävleborg av Kristoffer Lindberg (S)
- Regeringens skrivelse 2022/23:125 — Riksrevisionens rapport om etablering av myndigheter utanför Stockholm
Source: The Swedish Parliament