2025-05-072024/25:KU19 · p.1KUConstitution
Government's legislative proposal
The government's bill on stronger protection against threats and violence for elected officials in municipalities and regions
What's at stake: The decision affects elected officials who face threats and violence in their roles, as well as the municipalities and regions that take on a new statutory duty for their safety. How strictly the duty is worded determines how far-reaching the measures municipalities and regions must take are, and how feasible the requirements are in practice.
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 parliament should adopt the government's proposed amendment to the Local Government Act, which gives municipalities and regions an occupational-safety-like duty to protect elected officials from threats and violence, or whether the wording of the law - which a reservation considers overly far-reaching and imprecise - should be phrased differently.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee shares the government's assessment that protection against threats and violence for elected officials in municipalities and regions needs to be strengthened, and that the provisions should be designed in line with the work-environment law regulation, without limiting the elected officials' independence. The committee also backs the proposal to clarify that internal control should prevent errors and irregularities, and overall proposes that parliament adopt the government's bill and reject the motion.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 1 (S)
The reservation (S) welcomes measures for greater security but considers that the bill has problematic elements pointed out by several consultation bodies: the duty to take all measures capable of removing the risk of ill health or accidents is so far-reaching that it would in practice be neither feasible nor desirable, and the sharp wording of the bill is not matched by the explanatory comments. The reservation therefore argues that the provision should be worded differently from the government's proposal.
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: adopting the government's legislative proposal and rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 1 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 | Yes | Yes 21/0/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| S | Yes | No 0/93/0/13 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| MP | Yes | Yes 16/0/0/2 | follows the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| C | Yes | Yes 21/0/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| L | Yes | Yes 14/0/0/2 | follows the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| KD | No | Yes 17/0/0/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| M | No | Yes 60/0/0/8 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| SD | No | Yes 63/0/0/9 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag adopts the government's proposal for a law amending the Local Government Act (2017:725). Thereby the Riksdag approves proposition 2024/25:80 and rejects motion 2024/25:3328 by Ida Karkiainen et al. (S) request 1.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen antar regeringens förslag till lag om ändring i kommunallagen (2017:725). Därmed bifaller riksdagen proposition 2024/25:80 och avslår motion 2024/25:3328 av Ida Karkiainen m.fl. (S) yrkande 1.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag approved two amendments to the Local Government Act. One amendment means that more measures should be taken to prevent elected officials in municipal and regional politics from being subjected to threats and violence. The other amendment means that it should be clearer that it is part of municipalities' and regions' internal control to prevent errors and improprieties such as corruption. The legal amendments enter into force on July 1, 2025.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants legislation to be formulated so that municipalities and regions can create safe conditions for elected representatives. (S) — Reservation 1
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 requires regulation and structures that secure serious occupational health and safety work and establishes that no one should have to be harmed because the legislation does not provide sufficient protection.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires regulation and structures that secure serious occupational health and safety work and establishes that no one should have to be harmed because the legislation does not provide sufficient protection. The counter-proposal wants to weaken precisely the provision that requires municipalities and regions to take all measures that can eliminate the risk of ill health resulting from threats and violence. Such a softening of the protection level goes against the plan's line of strong labour law legislation.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver regelverk och strukturer som säkrar ett seriöst arbetsmiljöarbete och slår fast att ingen ska behöva ta skada för att lagstiftningen inte ger tillräckligt skydd. Motförslaget vill mildra just den bestämmelse som ålägger kommuner och regioner att vidta alla åtgärder som kan undanröja risken för ohälsa till följd av hot och våld. En sådan uppmjukning av skyddsnivån går emot planens linje om stark arbetsrättslig lagstiftning.
- serious occupational health and safety workdecisive»Det behövs regelverk och strukturer som säkrar ett seriöst« (party programme ↗)“There is a need for regulation and structures that secure serious”
- legislation's protection level»ska behöva dö på jobbet för att lagstiftningen inte ger ett tillräckligt« (party programme ↗)“should have to die at work because the legislation does not provide sufficient”
- strong labour law legislation»Vänsterpartiet kommer att fortsätta försvara förhandlingsrätten och en stark arbetsrättslagstiftning.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Left Party will continue to defend collective bargaining rights and strong labour law legislation.”
- developed labour law»Vi vill skapa tryggare jobb genom att utveckla arbetsrätten.« (party programme ↗)“We want to create more secure jobs by developing labour law.”
The party programme makes it society's absolute obligation to protect individuals and states that democracy is undermined when politicians are intimidated into silence, while working life should be organized so that everyone feels security for life and health.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme makes it society's absolute obligation to protect individuals and states that democracy is undermined when politicians are intimidated into silence, while working life should be organized so that everyone feels security for life and health. The counter-proposal wants to soften the obligation to take action against threats and violence against elected officials. The plan's protection commitment speaks against that.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet gör det till samhällets absoluta skyldighet att skydda enskilda och slår fast att demokratin undergrävs när politiker skräms till tystnad, samtidigt som arbetslivet ska organiseras så att alla känner trygghet till liv och hälsa. Motförslaget vill mjuka upp skyldigheten att vidta åtgärder mot hot och våld mot förtroendevalda. Det talar planens skyddsåtagande emot.
- protect politicians against threatsdecisive»över nätet och försöker skrämma enskilda personer, journalister och politiker till tystnad.« (party programme ↗)“over the net and try to intimidate individuals, journalists and politicians into silence.”
- society's protection obligation»Det är samhällets absoluta skyldighet att skydda friheten och den personliga integriteten« (party programme ↗)“It is society's absolute obligation to protect freedom and personal privacy”
- security in working life»Det måste organiseras så att alla kan känna trygghet till liv« (party programme ↗)“It must be organized so that everyone can feel security for life”
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 take a position on how a specific provision on elected officials' security should be formulated.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan does not take a position on how a specific provision on elected officials' security should be formulated. The closest principle is that everyone should have the right to a good physical and psychosocial work environment and that democracy should be defended, with the opportunity for everyone to work politically. The plan therefore opposes softening the obligation to eliminate risks of threats and violence, but the basis is weak.
Original (Swedish)
Planen tar inte ställning till hur en enskild bestämmelse om förtroendevaldas säkerhet ska formuleras. Närmast liggande princip är att alla ska ha rätt till en god fysisk och psykosocial arbetsmiljö och att demokratin ska försvaras, med möjlighet för alla att arbeta politiskt. Att mildra skyldigheten att undanröja risker för hot och våld talar planen därför emot, men underlaget är svagt.
- work environment responsibilitydecisive»god fysisk och psykosocial arbetsmiljö.« (party programme ↗)“good physical and psychosocial work environment.”
- broad political participation»Demokrati betyder folkstyre. Alla bör få möjlighet« (party programme ↗)“Democracy means popular rule. Everyone should have the opportunity”
- defence of democracy»Demokratin måste försvaras med demokratiska« (party programme ↗)“Democracy must be defended with democratic”
The counter-proposal wants to soften the proposed obligation to eliminate risks of threats and violence against elected officials.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal wants to soften the proposed obligation to eliminate risks of threats and violence against elected officials. The plan's explicit commitment is the opposite: threats and violence against democratic institutions must cease and protection for those working in public administration must be strengthened. The party's demand to clean up redundant rules certainly speaks for implementable provisions, but weighs less than protection for democracy.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget vill mjuka upp den föreslagna skyldigheten att undanröja risker för hot och våld mot förtroendevalda. Planens uttryckliga åtagande är motsatt: hot och våld mot demokratibärande institutioner ska upphöra och skyddet för dem som verkar i offentlig förvaltning ska stärkas. Partiets krav på att rensa bland överflödiga regler talar visserligen för genomförbara bestämmelser, men väger lättare än skyddet för demokratin.
- strengthened protection for democratic bearersdecisive»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 democratic institutions must cease. We shall strengthen protection for persons working in, among other things, media, religious communities and public administration.”
- protect liberal democracy»Den liberala demokratin får aldrig tas för given. Den ska vårdas, värnas och vidareutvecklas« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Liberal democracy must never be taken for granted. It must be cared for, protected and further developed.”
- avoid complicated rules»Dyra, krångliga och innovationshämmande regelverk ligger som en våt filt över delar av landsbygden. Vi ska rensa upp bland överflödiga regler och byråkrati.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Expensive, complicated and innovation-hampering rules lie like a wet blanket over parts of the countryside. We shall clean up redundant rules and bureaucracy.”
The plan's overarching commitment is that threats and harassment against politically active people and office-holders shall be actively combated and that public employees shall be protected against persecution.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's overarching commitment is that threats and harassment against politically active people and office-holders shall be actively combated and that public employees shall be protected against persecution. The counter-proposal wants to soften the proposed obligation to take all measures that can eliminate the risk, which pulls in the opposite direction from the plan's strong protection ambition. The plan's requirement for legally secure rules speaks, however, for the legislative text to have support, which gives some support for the objection.
Original (Swedish)
Planens bärande åtagande är att hot och trakasserier mot politiskt aktiva och förtroendevalda ska bekämpas aktivt och att offentliganställda ska skyddas mot förföljelse. Motförslaget vill mjuka upp den föreslagna skyldigheten att vidta alla åtgärder som kan undanröja risken, vilket drar åt motsatt håll mot planens starka skyddsambition. Planens krav på rättssäkra regler talar dock för att lagtexten ska ha täckning, vilket ger visst stöd åt invändningen.
- protection for office-holdersdecisive»Den grundläggande rättigheten att engagera sig politiskt måste värnas och hot och trakasserier mot politiskt aktiva och förtroendevalda måste aktivt bekämpas.« (party programme ↗)“The fundamental right to engage politically must be protected and threats and harassment against politically active people and office-holders must be actively combated.”
- protection against persecution»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 persecution and vulnerability by a new crime – public employee persecution – being introduced.”
- dare to engage politically»Demokratin förutsätter att medborgare vill och vågar engagera sig politiskt.« (party programme ↗)“Democracy presupposes that citizens want and dare to engage politically.”
- legally secure rules»Lagar och regler ska slå vakt om äganderätt, konkurrens på lika villkor, rättssäkerhet och att enskilda människor har likvärdiga och goda möjligheter att nå sina livsmål.« (party programme ↗)“Laws and rules shall protect property rights, competition on equal terms, legal security and that individuals have equivalent and good opportunities to reach their life goals.”
The plan requires strong municipal self-governance and that the financing principle is respected when the state imposes new tasks on municipalities.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires strong municipal self-governance and that the financing principle is respected when the state imposes new tasks on municipalities. An obligation that according to the respondents is so far-reaching that it in practice cannot be implemented places exactly such an unclear burden on municipalities and regions, so the counter-proposal's demand for a different wording lies in line with the plan. That protection against threats and violence is strengthened is, however, supported by the plan's occupational health commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver en stark kommunal självstyrelse och att finansieringsprincipen respekteras när staten ålägger kommunerna nya uppgifter. En skyldighet som enligt remissinstanserna är så långtgående att den i praktiken inte kan genomföras lägger just en sådan svårbedömd börda på kommuner och regioner, varför motförslagets krav på en annan lydelse ligger i linje med planen. Att skyddet mot hot och våld stärks stöds däremot av planens arbetsmiljöåtaganden.
- strong municipal self-governancedecisive»Den kommunala självstyrelsen ska vara stark« (party programme ↗)“Municipal self-governance shall be strong”
- the financing principle»Finansieringsprincipen måste respekteras när staten ålägger kommunerna nya uppgifter.« (party programme ↗)“The financing principle must be respected when the state imposes new tasks on municipalities.”
- state occupational health responsibility»Staten ska bland annat genom rådgivning, stöd och kontroll aktivt verka för en förbättrad« (party programme ↗)“The state shall, among other things, through advice, support and control actively work for improved”
- burden of proof in new regulation»Denna princip innebär att bevisbördan vilar på dem« (party programme ↗)“This principle means that the burden of proof rests on them”
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 has zero tolerance for threats and violence against elected officials, but also requires that the exercise of public power is governed by law and characterized by equal treatment and predictability.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan has zero tolerance for threats and violence against elected officials, but also requires that the exercise of public power is governed by law and characterized by equal treatment and predictability. An obligation to take all conceivable measures without coverage in the preparatory works does not fulfill that requirement, and the plan consistently opposes over-implementation and unnecessary red tape. A different, more precise wording is therefore in line with the plan without the protection weakening.
Original (Swedish)
Planen har nolltolerans mot hot och våld mot förtroendevalda, men kräver också att offentlig maktutövning är lagstyrd och präglas av likabehandling och förutsebarhet. En skyldighet att vidta alla tänkbara åtgärder utan täckning i förarbetena uppfyller inte det kravet, och planen motsätter sig genomgående överimplementering och onödigt regelkrångel. En annan, mer precis lydelse ligger därför i linje med planen utan att skyddet försvagas.
- protection of elected officialsdecisive»nolltolerans mot alla typer av hot och våld« (party programme ↗)“zero tolerance for all types of threats and violence”
- exercise of power governed by law»All offentlig maktutövning ska vara lagstyrd och vägledas av« (party programme ↗)“All exercise of public power should be governed by law and guided by”
- predictable rules»principer om likabehandling och förutsebarhet.« (party programme ↗)“principles of equal treatment and predictability.”
- against over-implementation»Minska regelkrånglet och onödig byråkrati, bland annat genom att motverka överimplementering i Sverige av EU-beslut – som huvudregel ska EU-direktiv genomföras på miniminivå« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Reduce red tape and unnecessary bureaucracy, including by countering over-implementation in Sweden of EU decisions - as a main rule, EU directives should be implemented at the minimum level”
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 plan requires that new rules are cost-effective and that the state never places new costly commitments on municipalities without full compensation.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that new rules are cost-effective and that the state never places new costly commitments on municipalities without full compensation. A provision requiring municipalities and regions to take all measures that can eliminate the risk is such a difficult-to-implement and cost-driving regulation. The plan furthermore wants legislative proposals that have faced legal criticism to be handled with greater care, while protection against threats in public discourse shall be strengthened.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att nya regler är kostnadseffektiva och att staten aldrig lägger nya kostnadsdrivande åtaganden på kommunerna utan full kompensation. En bestämmelse som ålägger kommuner och regioner att vidta alla åtgärder som kan undanröja risken är en sådan svårgenomförbar och kostnadsdrivande reglering. Planen vill dessutom att lagförslag som mött rättslig kritik hanteras med större varsamhet, samtidigt som skyddet mot hot i det offentliga samtalet ska stärkas.
- municipal financing principledecisive»Staten bör aldrig fatta beslut om nya kostnadsdrivande åtaganden för kommunerna utan att fullt ut kompensera dem för kostnaderna.« (party programme ↗)“The state should never make decisions on new cost-driving commitments for municipalities without fully compensating them for the costs.”
- cost-effective rules»Nya regler ska vara kostnadseffektiva och befintliga regler behöver ses över.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“New rules shall be cost-effective and existing rules need to be reviewed.”
- legal quality weighs heavily»Lagrådets ställning bör stärkas genom att utreda möjligheten att fordra kvalificerad majoritet i riksdagen vid antaganden av lagförslag om vilka Lagrådet riktat kritik.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The position of the Legal Affairs Committee should be strengthened by investigating the possibility of requiring a qualified majority in the Riksdag when adopting legislative proposals about which the Legal Affairs Committee has directed criticism.”
- protection against threats and reprisals»Varje journalists, konstutövares och medborgares rätt att uttrycka sig fritt utan att utsättas för hot eller repressalier ska värnas och stärkas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Every journalist's, artist's and citizen's right to express themselves freely without being subject to threats or reprisals shall be valued and strengthened.”
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 (2024/25:KU19)
- Committee report full text (HC01KU19)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2024/25:3323 — med anledning av prop. 2024/25:80 Stärkt skydd för vissa förtroendevalda och en tydligare intern kontroll i kommuner och regioner av Jessica Wetterling m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2024/25:3328 — med anledning av prop. 2024/25:80 Stärkt skydd för vissa förtroendevalda och en tydligare intern kontroll i kommuner och regioner av Ida Karkiainen m.fl. (S)
- Proposition 2024/25:80 — Stärkt skydd för vissa förtroendevalda och en tydligare intern kontroll i kommuner och regioner
Source: The Swedish Parliament