2024-03-072023/24:KU8 · p.3KUConstitution
Corruption
A broad government inquiry into corruption and improper influence
What's at stake: Corruption and improper influence from criminal networks can undermine trust in public authorities and affect both public employees, such as social workers, and the people the welfare systems are meant to serve. The decision affects how broadly and how quickly society acts against this.
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 ongoing work against corruption within the state administration - including a review of the criminal legislation - is sufficient, or whether a new, broader inquiry into measures against corruption and improper influence should be launched.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee rejects the motions on corruption and notes that work against corruption within the state administration is already under way, including a government-appointed special investigator tasked with reviewing the criminal legislation in this area.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 2 (S, MP)
The reservation (S, MP) points to worrying trends of criminal networks infiltrating welfare systems and pressuring public officials, affecting both social workers and others who work closely with people, and trust in society as a whole. It calls for the government to swiftly appoint a broad inquiry into measures against improper influence and corruption, after an earlier such inquiry was discontinued.
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 2 by S, MP.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
The decision would have gone the other way
Explicit commitments that contradicted the vote: CCenterpartiet, LLiberalerna, SDSverigedemokraterna
Ja 189–107Nej 95–201
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.
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 20/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | No 0/91/0/15 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| MP | No | No 0/14/0/4 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| C | No | Yes 19/1/0/4 | departs from the planagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| L | No | Yes 13/0/0/3 | departs from the planagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| KD | No | Yes 15/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 59/0/0/9 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| SD | No | Yes 62/0/0/10 | departs from the planagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
Broke with the party line
| CMartin Ådahl (C, Stockholms kommun) | No — party line: Yes |
MPs whose vote differs from their party's majority position in this division. Marked with a dark ring in the chamber view.
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2023/24:24 by Johnny Svedin (SD) and 2023/24:2685 by Ida Karkiainen et al. (S) demand 7.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2023/24:24 av Johnny Svedin (SD) och 2023/24:2685 av Ida Karkiainen m.fl. (S) yrkande 7.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag rejected around 40 proposals in motions on public administration from the general motion session of 2023. The motions concern, among other things, promotion of democracy, state employment, corruption and protection of decision-makers. The Riksdag refers, among other things, to current regulations and ongoing work.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants the government to establish a comprehensive investigation of measures to combat illegal influence and corruption in welfare systems. (S, MP) — Reservation 2
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 points out that privatisation of welfare opens the door for criminals to profit from tax revenue and that economic crime is a central threat, with companies responsible for the majority of economic crimes.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan points out that privatisation of welfare opens the door for criminals to profit from tax revenue and that economic crime is a central threat, with companies responsible for the majority of economic crimes. A broad investigation into improper influence and corruption in public operations is in line with this, as is the demand for civil transparency and scrutiny for everyone's equality before the law.
Original (Swedish)
Planen pekar ut att privatiseringarna av välfärden öppnar för kriminella att sko sig på skattemedel och att ekonomisk brottslighet är ett centralt hot, där företagen står för merparten av ekobrotten. En bred utredning om otillåten påverkan och korruption i offentlig verksamhet ligger i linje med det, liksom kravet på medborgerlig insyn och granskning för allas likhet inför lagen.
- criminals in welfare systemsdecisive»Privatiseringarna av välfärden öppnar upp för kriminella att sko sig på skattemedel.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Privatisation of welfare opens the door for criminals to profit from tax revenue.”
- economic crime as a threat»Lönedumpning, ekonomisk brottslighet och utnyttjande är centrala hot idag.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Wage dumping, economic crime and exploitation are central threats today.”
- economic crimes committed by companies»Det är företagen som överlägset står för de flesta ekobrotten, inte enskilda som fuskar med våra trygghetssystem.« (party programme ↗)“It is companies that overwhelmingly commit the most economic crimes, not individuals who cheat our safety systems.”
- transparency and scrutiny of power»Genom medborgerlig insyn, rättshjälp, offentlig debatt och granskning av rättstillämpningen garanteras allas likhet inför lagen.« (party programme ↗)“Through civil transparency, legal aid, public debate and scrutiny of the administration of justice, everyone's equality before the law is guaranteed.”
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 nothing is so devastating to trust in democracy as bribes and that parties, public authorities and law enforcement agencies with all force shall prevent all forms of improper influence.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme establishes that nothing is so devastating to trust in democracy as bribes and that parties, public authorities and law enforcement agencies with all force shall prevent all forms of improper influence. The election manifesto also requires that welfare crime be stopped. A broad investigation into measures against improper influence and corruption is exactly this commitment.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår fast att inget är så förödande för tilltron till demokratin som mutor och att partier, offentliga organ och rättsvårdande myndigheter med all kraft ska förhindra all form av otillbörlig påverkan. Valmanifestet kräver dessutom att välfärdsbrottslighet stoppas. En bred utredning om åtgärder mot otillåten påverkan och korruption är exakt detta åtagande.
- prevent improper influencedecisive»De politiska partierna, de offentliga politiska organen och de rättsvårdande myndigheterna har ett gemensamt ansvar att med all kraft förhindra all form av otillbörlig påverkan.« (party programme ↗)“The political parties, public political authorities and law enforcement agencies have a shared responsibility to with all force prevent all forms of improper influence.”
- corruption undermines democracy»Inget är så förödande för tilltron till det demokratiska styrelseskicket som förekomsten av bestickningar och mutor i syfte att påverka besluten eller genomförandet av dem.« (party programme ↗)“Nothing is so devastating to trust in democratic governance as the existence of bribes and corruption intended to influence decisions or their implementation.”
- stop welfare crime»Skattefusk, välfärdsbrottslighet och penningtvätt ska stoppas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Tax fraud, welfare crime and money laundering shall be stopped.”
- objectivity and impartiality»Myndigheterna ska beakta allas likhet inför lagen och iaktta saklighet och opartiskhet.« (party programme ↗)“Authorities shall consider the equality of all before the law and observe objectivity and impartiality.”
The plan establishes that all forms of corruption must be combated, not least within the political sphere, and that serious organised crime is a threat to democracy.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that all forms of corruption must be combated, not least within the political sphere, and that serious organised crime is a threat to democracy. The counter-proposal's demand for a broad investigation into unlawful influence and corruption, with criminal networks in the welfare system as background, is directly in line with that. The plan also emphasises that one must be able to trust public authority.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att alla former av korruption måste motarbetas, inte minst inom den politiska sfären, och att den grova organiserade brottsligheten är ett hot mot demokratin. Motförslagets krav på en bred utredning om otillåten påverkan och korruption, med kriminella nätverk i välfärdssystemen som bakgrund, ligger direkt i linje med det. Planen betonar också att man ska kunna lita på den offentliga makten.
- combat all corruptiondecisive»Alla former av korruption måste motarbetas. Det gäller inte minst inom den politiska sfären.« (party programme ↗)“All forms of corruption must be combated. This applies not least within the political sphere.”
- organised crime threatens democracy»Den grova organiserade brottsligheten utgör ett hot mot demokratin och människors frihet.« (party programme ↗)“Serious organised crime constitutes a threat to democracy and people's freedom.”
- inter-agency cooperation against gangs»stoppa finansieringen av de kriminella gängen genom att stärka myndighetssamverkan« (2022 manifesto ↗)“stop the financing of criminal gangs by strengthening inter-agency cooperation”
- confidence in the public sector»Det är viktigt att man kan lita på den offentliga makten.« (party programme ↗)“It is important that one can trust public authority.”
The election manifesto wants to establish an anti-corruption agency, tighten rules against corruption and introduce a lobbying register, and also promises strengthened protection for persons active in public administration.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto wants to establish an anti-corruption agency, tighten rules against corruption and introduce a lobbying register, and also promises strengthened protection for persons active in public administration. The counter-proposal's demand for a broad investigation into unlawful influence and corruption lies directly in line with these commitments. The plan sees transparency as a fundamental tool against corruption.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet vill inrätta en antikorruptionsmyndighet, skärpa reglerna mot korruption och införa ett lobbyregister, och lovar dessutom stärkt skydd för personer verksamma i offentlig förvaltning. Motförslagets krav på en bred utredning om otillåten påverkan och korruption ligger direkt i linje med dessa åtaganden. Planen ser transparens som ett grundläggande verktyg mot korruption.
- tightened anti-corruption rulesdecisive»Sverige ska bli ännu mer transparent. Vi vill inrätta en antikorruptionsmyndighet, skärpa regler mot korruption och införa ett lobbyregister.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden should become even more transparent. We want to establish an anti-corruption agency, tighten rules against corruption and introduce a lobbying register.”
- protection for public officials»Hat, hot, trakasserier och våld riktade mot demokratibärande institutioner måste upphöra. Vi ska stärka skyddet för personer verksamma bland annat i media, religiösa samfund och offentlig förvaltning.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Hate, threats, harassment and violence directed at democracy-bearing institutions must stop. We shall strengthen protection for persons active in, among others, media, religious organizations and public administration.”
- investigate criminal networks' money»Dessutom bör en utredning om gängens inkomster och hur dessa kan strypas genomföras.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Furthermore, an investigation into gangs' income and how it can be cut off should be conducted.”
- transparency against corruption»Öppenhet och transparens är grundförutsättningar för frihet, demokrati och för att förhindra korruption och övergrepp.« (party programme ↗)“Openness and transparency are basic prerequisites for freedom, democracy and to prevent corruption and abuse.”
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 wants to introduce a new crime, harassment of civil servants, to protect social workers and other public employees from harassment and exposure, and wants to strengthen follow-up of grant-giving.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to introduce a new crime, harassment of civil servants, to protect social workers and other public employees from harassment and exposure, and wants to strengthen follow-up of grant-giving. That is exactly the unwarranted influence and infiltration of publicly financed operations that the counter-proposal wants to investigate measures against. A broad investigation therefore aligns with the plan's requirement for a strengthened rule-based state.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill införa ett nytt brott, tjänstemannaförföljelse, för att skydda socialsekreterare och andra offentliganställda mot förföljelse och utsatthet, och vill stärka uppföljningen av bidragsgivningen. Det är precis den otillåtna påverkan och den infiltration av offentligt finansierad verksamhet som motförslaget vill utreda åtgärder mot. En bred utredning ligger därför i linje med planens krav på en stärkt rättsstat.
- protection against harassment of civil servantsdecisive»Socialsekreterare och andra offentliganställda ska skyddas mot förföljelse och utsatthet genom att ett nytt brott – tjänstemannaförföljelse – införs.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Social workers and other public employees shall be protected against harassment and exposure through a new crime – harassment of civil servants – being introduced.”
- strengthened control of grants»Vi vill både stärka uppföljningen av bidragsgivning och stoppa dold finansiering av trossamfund så att de inte blir verktyg för extremistiska krafter.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to both strengthen the follow-up of grant-giving and stop hidden financing of religious congregations so they do not become tools for extremist forces.”
- no tax funds to violence-accepting»Inga skattemedel ska gå till verksamheter som vill förändra det demokratiska samhället med våld« (party programme ↗)“No tax funds shall go to activities that want to change the democratic society through violence”
- strengthened rule-based state»Rättsstaten ska stärkas.« (party programme ↗)“The rule-based state shall be strengthened.”
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 election manifesto demands a complete review of confidentiality rules so that authorities can share information to prevent and solve crimes, and that the entire justice system is expanded.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto demands a complete review of confidentiality rules so that authorities can share information to prevent and solve crimes, and that the entire justice system is expanded. The plan establishes that all crimes shall be effectively and without exception prosecuted and emphasizes integrity as a foundation. A broad investigation into improper influence and corruption lies in that direction.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet kräver en total översyn av sekretessreglerna så att myndigheter kan dela uppgifter för att förebygga och klara upp brott, och att hela rättsväsendet byggs ut. Planen slår fast att alla brott effektivt och utan undantag ska beivras och betonar hederlighet som fundament. En bred utredning om otillåten påverkan och korruption ligger i den linjen.
- authorities shall share informationdecisive»Total översyn av sekretessreglerna, så att myndigheter kan dela uppgifter mellan sig för att förebygga och klara upp brott.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Complete review of confidentiality rules, so that authorities can share information among themselves to prevent and solve crimes.”
- all crimes shall be prosecuted»Alla brott ska effektivt och utan undantag beivras« (party programme ↗)“All crimes shall be effectively and without exception prosecuted”
- expanded justice system»Hela rättsväsendet behöver byggas ut. Fler poliser kräver fler åklagare, domstolar på fler platser i landet och en kraftigt utbyggd kriminalvård.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The entire justice system needs to be expanded. More police require more prosecutors, courts in more places in the country and significantly expanded criminal care.”
- integrity as foundation»Hederlighet och personligt ansvarstagande är« (party programme ↗)“Integrity and personal responsibility are”
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 about 20 billion kronor disappear every year into the pockets of benefit fraudsters and criminals and promises countermeasures, including a benefit crime unit and strengthened official responsibility.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that about 20 billion kronor disappear every year into the pockets of benefit fraudsters and criminals and promises countermeasures, including a benefit crime unit and strengthened official responsibility. Promptly investigating unlawful influence and corruption against public officials is in line with these commitments, and the plan itself uses mapping assignments as a tool against criminal infiltration.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att omkring 20 miljarder kronor varje år försvinner ned i fickorna på bidragsfuskare och kriminella och lovar motåtgärder, bland annat en bidragsbrottsenhet och ett skärpt tjänstemannaansvar. Att skyndsamt utreda otillåten påverkan och korruption mot offentliga tjänstemän ligger i linje med dessa åtaganden, och planen använder själv kartläggningsuppdrag som verktyg mot kriminell infiltration.
- stop criminals' welfare withdrawalsdecisive(2022 manifesto)
- strengthened official responsibility»Skärpa tjänstemannaansvaret så att du som skattebetalare vet att med all offentlig maktutövning följer ett ansvar för de beslut som fattas« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen official responsibility so that you as a taxpayer know that all public exercise of power is followed by responsibility for decisions made”
- benefit crime unit»Inrätta en bidragsbrottsenhet på Försäkringskassan« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Establish a benefit crime unit at the Social Insurance Agency”
- mapping as a tool»Ge Brå i uppdrag att kartlägga de kriminella klaner som är aktiva i Sverige idag« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Give Brå [Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention] the assignment to map the criminal clans that are active in Sweden today”
flags: citat_ej_verifierat
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 describes how clans, organized crime and Islamists infiltrate public institutions as a growing threat to democracy and wishes to counter the power of clans in the public sphere.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan describes how clans, organized crime and Islamists infiltrate public institutions as a growing threat to democracy and wishes to counter the power of clans in the public sphere. It also wishes to increase penalties for fraud within the welfare systems and counter systems that encourage corruption. The counter-proposal's demand for a broad investigation into undue influence and corruption thus aligns with the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen beskriver att klaner, organiserad brottslighet och islamister infiltrerar samhällsorgan som ett växande hot mot demokratin och vill motverka klanernas makt inom det offentliga. Den vill också skärpa straffen för fusk inom välfärdssystemen och motverka system som lockar till korruption. Motförslagets krav på en bred utredning om otillåten påverkan och korruption ligger därmed i linje med planen.
- infiltration of public institutionsdecisive»Att klaner, organiserad brottslighet och islamister infiltrerar samhällsorgan är ett växande hot mot den demokratiska modellen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Clans, organized crime and Islamists infiltrating public institutions pose a growing threat to the democratic model.”
- counter clan power»Motverka klanernas makt, både inom det offentliga och inom civilsamhället« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Counter the power of clans, both in the public sphere and in civil society”
- tougher on welfare fraud»Skärpa straffen för fusk inom välfärdssystemen« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Increase penalties for fraud within the welfare systems”
- counter corruption»Både fusk och sådana system som tenderar att locka till fusk och korruption ska motverkas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Both fraud and systems that tend to encourage fraud and corruption must be countered.”
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.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2023/24:KU8)
- Committee report full text (HB01KU8)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2023/24:1123 — Opinionsbildande myndigheter och statliga bolag av Helena Storckenfeldt och Lars Püss (båda M)
- Motion 2023/24:1153 — Precisering av proportionalitetsprincipens tillämpning i förvaltningslagen av Staffan Eklöf (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1265 — Offentlig information på lättläst svenska av Anne-Li Sjölund och Ulrika Heie (båda C)
- Motion 2023/24:1394 — Begränsning av rätten till tolk av Josefin Malmqvist (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1628 — För ett tryggare Malmö och Sverige av Niels Paarup-Petersen (C)
- Motion 2023/24:1671 — Stärkt demokrati av Alexandra Völker och Azadeh Rojhan (båda S)
- Motion 2023/24:1688 — Införandet av tjänstemannaansvar av Larry Söder (KD)
- Motion 2023/24:173 — Ukrainsk stavning på Ukrainas huvudstad av Markus Wiechel (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1874 — Statliga jobb och statlig service i hela landet av Amanda Lind m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:2170 — En säkrare myndighetsutövning av Helena Storckenfeldt (M)
- Motion 2023/24:24 — Åtgärder mot korruption, vänskapskorruption och nepotism inom kommunala och regionala verksamheter av Johnny Svedin (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:2413 — Kampen mot separatismen av Mauricio Rojas m.fl. (L)
- Motion 2023/24:2455 — Digitalisering för hela Sverige av Niels Paarup-Petersen m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2023/24:2490 — Demokrati och konstitution av Malin Björk m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2023/24:2527 — Ett transparent skattesystem av Markus Wiechel och Alexander Christiansson (båda SD)
- Motion 2023/24:2685 — Utgiftsområde 1 Rikets styrelse av Ida Karkiainen m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:415 — Post och it i hela landet av Jimmy Ståhl m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:443 — Regional tillväxt - För ett levande Sverige av Tobias Andersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:463 — Ett Sverige fritt från rasism av Tony Haddou m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2023/24:468 — Offentlig förvaltning av Matheus Enholm m.fl. (SD)
Source: The Swedish Parliament