2026-05-062025/26:JuU9 · p.1JuUJustice
A more legally secure and efficient court process
A more legally secure and efficient court process: early interviews as evidence and abolished re-hearing rules
What's at stake: The reform is meant to shorten proceedings and reduce the strain on crime victims and witnesses, who avoid repeating their accounts long after the event, and to produce more materially correct judgments. At the same time it affects a defendant's ability to challenge evidence presented in recorded form, which concerns everyone brought to trial. A new secrecy provision also protects data on coercive measures held by the National Courts Administration.
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 audio- and video-recorded early interviews should be usable as evidence in criminal cases to a greater extent, with a presumption that they are allowed unless inappropriate, and the re-hearing ('tilltro') rules abolished, or whether the current, more restrictive regime should be kept.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee backs the government's proposed amendments to, among others, the Code of Judicial Procedure and the Public Access to Information and Secrecy Act, and rejects the motion. The aim is to strengthen legal certainty, increase efficiency in court proceedings and reduce the strain on crime victims and witnesses: accounts given in early interviews, and witness attestations, are to be admissible as evidence to a greater extent, the re-hearing rules are abolished, and a new secrecy provision protects data on coercive measures held by the National Courts Administration. The committee notes that the present possibility of invoking early interviews has not had the intended effect. The proposal creates a presumption that an audio- and video-recorded interview is allowed as evidence unless the court, on the basis of the parties' submissions, finds significant procedural drawbacks. The court can then weigh both process-economy reasons and legal-certainty aspects, above all the suspect's ability to mount a defence, which in the committee's view satisfies legitimate legal-certainty claims and gives the best conditions for materially correct judgments.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 1 (V)
The reservation (V) wants to keep the current system for when early interviews may be invoked as evidence in court, instead of a presumption that makes recorded interviews admissible unless inappropriate.
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 V.
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 0/21/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| S | Yes | Yes 106/0/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| MP | No | Yes 17/0/0/1 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| C | No | Yes 24/0/0/0 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| L | Yes | Yes 16/0/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| KD | Yes | Yes 19/0/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| M | Yes | Yes 65/0/0/1 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| SD | Yes | Yes 70/0/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | explicit |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag adopts the Government's proposals for 1. an act amending the Code of Judicial Procedure, 2. an act amending the Act (1994:831) on proceedings in certain tenancy cases at the Court of Appeal for the Svea region, with the amendment that the words "30 June 2026" in the preamble shall be replaced with "the end of June 2026", 3. an act amending the Public Access to Information and Secrecy Act (2009:400). Thereby the Riksdag approves proposition 2025/26:155 points 1-3 and rejects motion 2025/26:3951 by Gudrun Nordborg et al. (V).
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen antar regeringens förslag till 1. lag om ändring i rättegångsbalken, 2. lag om ändring i lagen (1994:831) om rättegången i vissa hyresmål i Svea hovrätt med den ändringen att orden ”den 30 juni 2026” i ingressen ska bytas ut mot ”vid utgången av juni 2026”, 3. lag om ändring i offentlighets- och sekretesslagen (2009:400). Därmed bifaller riksdagen proposition 2025/26:155 punkterna 1-3 och avslår motion 2025/26:3951 av Gudrun Nordborg m.fl. (V).
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag approved the Government's proposal to make the court process more legally secure and efficient. The proposals include the following: Statements given at early interviews and witness statements shall be allowed to be presented as evidence in criminal proceedings to a greater extent than today. The so-called presumption of accuracy provisions in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court are repealed. Information about coercive measures shall be covered by confidentiality at the Swedish Courts Administration. The purpose of the proposals is to strengthen legal security, increase efficiency in the court process and reduce the burden on crime victims and witnesses who participate in legal proceedings. The legislative changes enter into force on 1 July 2026.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to maintain the current system for when early interrogations can be cited as evidence in court. (V) — 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 stipulates that the presumption of innocence is fundamental and that a justice system built on the rule of law shall be defended and continue to be realized.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan stipulates that the presumption of innocence is fundamental and that a justice system built on the rule of law shall be defended and continue to be realized. A presumption allowing recorded early interrogations to be used as evidence shifts the weight away from direct examination in court and thus away from the suspect's opportunity to defend himself. The plan's requirements that women's experiences are taken seriously and that crimes lead to conviction pull partly in the other direction.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att oskuldspresumtionen är grundläggande och att ett rättsväsende byggt på rättssäkerhet ska försvaras och fortsätta förverkligas. En presumtion för att inspelade tidiga förhör tillåts som bevis förskjuter tyngdpunkten bort från den omedelbara prövningen i domstol och därmed från den misstänktes möjlighet att försvara sig. Planens krav på att kvinnors erfarenheter tas på allvar och att brott leder till dom drar delvis åt andra hållet.
- presumption of innocencedecisive»Principen att människor ska anses oskyldiga tills motsatsen är bevisad är grundläggande i det.« (party programme ↗)“The principle that people shall be presumed innocent until proven guilty is fundamental to it.”
- rule of law in proceedings»Utvecklingen av ett rättsväsende byggt på rättssäkerhet är viktig att försvara och fortsätta förverkliga.« (party programme ↗)“The development of a justice system built on the rule of law is important to defend and continue to realize.”
- independent courts»Samhället behöver ett väl fungerande rättsväsende, med självständiga och opolitiska domstolar där det finns ett tydligt lekmannainflytande.« (party programme ↗)“Society needs a well-functioning justice system, with independent and non-political courts where there is clear lay participation.”
- crimes must lead to conviction»Det är viktigt att rättssystemet fungerar, att kvinnors erfarenheter tas på allvar och att de som begår brott döms.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It is important that the justice system works, that women's experiences are taken seriously and that those who commit crimes are convicted.”
The plan requires criminal policy based on evidence, efficiency and rule of law, and an increased share of solved crimes, and that the fight against crime shall be uncompromising.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires criminal policy based on evidence, efficiency and rule of law, and an increased share of solved crimes, and that the fight against crime shall be uncompromising. Retaining the current order for early interrogations, which according to the case has not had the intended effect, undermines that efficiency and the reduced burden on victims and witnesses. The principles of the rule of law are protected at the same time through the court's review of procedural disadvantages.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver en kriminalpolitik byggd på evidens, effektivitet och rättssäkerhet och en ökad andel uppklarade brott, och att kampen mot kriminaliteten ska vara kompromisslös. Att behålla dagens ordning för tidiga förhör, som enligt ärendet inte fått avsedd effekt, motverkar den effektiviseringen och den minskade påfrestningen för brottsoffer och vittnen. Rättsstatens principer värnas samtidigt genom domstolens prövning av processuella nackdelar.
- effective and rule-of-law-based criminal policydecisive»Kriminalpolitik byggd på evidens, effektivitet och rättssäkerhet.« (party programme ↗)“Criminal policy based on evidence, efficiency and rule of law.”
- more solved crimes»Ökad andel uppklarade brott.« (party programme ↗)“Increased share of solved crimes.”
- uncompromising crime fighting»Kampen mot kriminaliteten ska vara kompromisslös.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The fight against crime shall be uncompromising.”
- rule of law principles»Slå vakt om rättsstatens principer.« (party programme ↗)“Guard the principles of the rule of law.”
The plan wants to protect and strengthen the rule of law and states that the principles of the rule of law cannot be taken for granted, and that new legislation should be tested for legal security.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to protect and strengthen the rule of law and states that the principles of the rule of law cannot be taken for granted, and that new legislation should be tested for legal security. A presumption that recorded early interrogations are allowed as evidence shifts the weight away from court proceedings and weakens the suspect's ability to defend themselves. The plan therefore supports the demand to maintain the current order, although support for crime victims also weighs heavily.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill värna och stärka rättsstaten och slår fast att rättsstatens principer inte kan tas för givna, samt att ny lagstiftning ska prövas mot rättssäkerheten. En presumtion för att inspelade tidiga förhör tillåts som bevis flyttar tyngdpunkten bort från domstolsförhandlingen och försvagar den misstänktes möjlighet att försvara sig. Planen stöder därför kravet att behålla nuvarande ordning, även om stödet till brottsoffer också väger tungt.
- protect the rule of lawdecisive»Miljöpartiet vill värna och stärka rättsstaten« (party programme ↗)“The Green Party wants to protect and strengthen the rule of law”
- legal security review of legislation»Rättsstatens principer kan inte tas för givna.« (party programme ↗)“The principles of the rule of law cannot be taken for granted.”
- independent courts»Domstolarnas oberoende ska värnas« (party programme ↗)“The independence of the courts should be protected”
- crime victim at the centre»Rättspolitiken ska också ha brottsoffret i centrum.« (party programme ↗)“Criminal justice policy should also have crime victims at the centre.”
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 explicitly defends the rule of law and the individual's rights against the state and rejects procedural shortcuts such as anonymous witnesses and reversed burden of proof.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly defends the rule of law and the individual's rights against the state and rejects procedural shortcuts such as anonymous witnesses and reversed burden of proof. A presumption that recorded early interrogations are presented as evidence weakens in the same way the suspect's ability to confront the evidence, so the plan speaks for the counter-proposal's demand to maintain the current order. The plan simultaneously wants to strengthen the crime victim perspective, which pulls in the other direction but weighs less than the legal security commitment.
Original (Swedish)
Planen försvarar uttryckligen rättsstaten och individens rättigheter gentemot staten och säger nej till processuella genvägar som anonyma vittnen och omvänd bevisbörda. En presumtion för att inspelade tidiga förhör läggs fram som bevis försvagar på motsvarande sätt den misstänktes möjlighet att möta bevisningen, varför planen talar för motförslagets krav att behålla nuvarande ordning. Planen vill samtidigt stärka brottsofferperspektivet, vilket drar åt andra hållet men väger lättare än rättssäkerhetsåtagandet.
- no to procedural shortcutsdecisive»Rättsstaten och individens rättigheter gentemot staten måste försvaras. Vi säger därför nej till visitationszoner, kollektiv bestraffning, omvänd bevisbörda, anonyma vittnen, preventiv avlyssning och inskränkningar av religionsfriheten.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The rule of law and the individual's rights against the state must be defended. We therefore say no to stop-and-search zones, collective punishment, reversed burden of proof, anonymous witnesses, preventive surveillance and restrictions on religious freedom.”
- the right to have one's case tried»Alla som bor i Sverige ska kunna få sin sak prövad. Ledtiderna för handläggning och myndighetsutövning i domstolar och myndigheter måste kortas och tillgången till ombud förbättras.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“All who live in Sweden should be able to have their case tried. Processing times for administration and government action in courts and authorities must be shortened and access to legal counsel improved.”
- strong and independent courts»Våra demokratiska institutioner behöver skydd. Vi vill göra det svårare att ändra grundlagen, skydda oppositionens ställning i riksdagen och stärka domstolarnas oberoende.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Our democratic institutions need protection. We want to make it harder to change the constitution, protect the position of opposition in the Riksdag and strengthen the independence of the courts.”
- proportionality testing of lawsweak support»All lagstiftning bör prövas mot dess påverkan på människors personliga integritet.« (party programme ↗)“All legislation should be tested against its impact on people's personal integrity.”
flags: citat_svagt
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 courts' capacity and efficiency be improved so handling times are shortened and more crimes are solved, and that witnesses receive effective protection.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that the courts' capacity and efficiency be improved so handling times are shortened and more crimes are solved, and that witnesses receive effective protection. The counter-proposal wants to retain today's more restrictive arrangement for early hearings and thus refrain from the efficiency improvements the proposal aims for. The plan balances this with the defendant's right to examine the evidence, but the overall line speaks for a more efficient process.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att rättsväsendets förmåga och effektivitet förbättras så att handläggningstiderna kortas och fler brott klaras upp, och att vittnen får ett effektivt skydd. Motförslaget vill behålla dagens mer restriktiva ordning för tidiga förhör och därmed avstå från den effektivisering som förslaget syftar till. Planen balanserar detta med den tilltalades rätt att granska bevisningen, men den samlade linjen talar för en effektivare process.
- more efficient courtsdecisive»Rättsväsendets förmåga och effektivitet behöver förbättras så att handläggningstiderna kortas, fler brott anmäls och klaras upp samt färre brottsanmälningar avskrivs.« (party programme ↗)“The courts' capacity and efficiency need to be improved so that handling times are shortened, more crimes are reported and solved and fewer crime reports are dismissed.”
- witness protection and defence insight»Vittnen ska ha rätt till ett effektivt skydd samtidigt som tilltalade på ett rättssäkert sätt ska kunna granska den bevisning som åklagaren lägger fram.« (party programme ↗)“Witnesses shall have the right to effective protection while the accused in a fair manner shall be able to examine the evidence the prosecutor presents.”
- support for crime victims»Insatser för att stödja brottsoffer är ett huvuduppdrag för både rättsväsende och socialtjänst.« (party programme ↗)“Efforts to support crime victims are a main task for both courts and social services.”
- strengthened legal certainty»Rättssäkerheten och skyddet för de medborgerliga fri- och rättigheterna behöver förstärkas.« (party programme ↗)“Legal certainty and protection of civil liberties and rights need to be strengthened.”
The plan wants society to stand on the side of crime victims and that courts handle cases both with legal certainty and efficiency, and the election manifesto goes so far as to demand anonymous witnesses to get more convictions.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants society to stand on the side of crime victims and that courts handle cases both with legal certainty and efficiency, and the election manifesto goes so far as to demand anonymous witnesses to get more convictions. The counter-proposal wants to maintain today's more restrictive arrangement for early interrogations and thereby reduces the possibility of protecting witnesses and crime victims. The plan therefore points in the opposite direction.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill att samhället ställer sig på brottsoffrets sida och att domstolarna handlägger mål både rättssäkert och effektivt, och valmanifestet går så långt som att kräva anonyma vittnen för att få fler fällande domar. Motförslaget vill behålla dagens mer restriktiva ordning för tidiga förhör och minskar därmed möjligheten att skona vittnen och brottsoffer. Planen pekar därför åt motsatt håll.
- protect witnesses for more convictionsdecisive»Inför anonyma vittnen. Det finns i flera andra länder och har bidragit till fler fällande domar.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Introduce anonymous witnesses. It exists in several other countries and has contributed to more convictions.”
- crime victims' side»Samhället ska ställa sig på brottsoffrets sida.« (party programme ↗)“Society shall stand on the side of crime victims.”
- legally certain and efficient courts»Domstolarna ska stå fria och oberoende från statsmakterna och handlägga mål och ärenden på ett rättssäkert och effektivt sätt.« (party programme ↗)“The courts shall stand free and independent from the state powers and handle cases and matters in a legally certain and efficient manner.”
- swift prosecution»Respekten för lagarna ska därför upprätthållas med fasthet och förövare av brott ska skyndsamt lagföras.« (party programme ↗)“Respect for the laws shall therefore be maintained with firmness and perpetrators of crime shall be promptly prosecuted.”
The plan wants to strengthen the judicial system so more crimes are investigated and solved, and is prepared to go far for more people to dare testify in court, even to anonymous witnesses.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to strengthen the judicial system so more crimes are investigated and solved, and is prepared to go far for more people to dare testify in court, even to anonymous witnesses. The counter-proposal wants to keep today's restrictive rules for when early interrogations can be invoked, which preserves precisely the bottleneck the plan wants to remove. The plan therefore speaks against the counter-proposal's demand.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill rusta upp rättsväsendet så att fler brott utreds och klaras upp, och är beredd att gå långt för att fler ska våga berätta i domstol, ända till anonyma vittnen. Motförslaget vill behålla dagens restriktiva ordning för när tidiga förhör får åberopas, vilket bevarar just den flaskhals planen vill bort. Planen talar därför emot motförslagets krav.
- more solved crimesdecisive»Vi ska rusta upp rättsväsendet för att utreda och klara upp fler brott« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We shall strengthen the judicial system to investigate and solve more crimes”
- easier evidence in criminal cases»Tillåta anonyma vittnen så att fler vågar vittna« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Allow anonymous witnesses so more dare testify”
- protection for witnesses and crime victims»Stärka skyddet för vittnen och brottsoffer« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen protection for witnesses and crime victims”
- more convictions»Satsa på fler åklagare så att fler brott kan leda till fällande dom« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Invest in more prosecutors so more crimes can lead to convictions”
The plan explicitly requires that procedural obstacles to increased prosecution be removed and that the judicial system's tools for prosecuting criminals be improved.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly requires that procedural obstacles to increased prosecution be removed and that the judicial system's tools for prosecuting criminals be improved. The counter-proposal seeks to retain the current, more restrictive arrangement for when early questioning can be invoked as evidence, which preserves precisely such an obstacle. The plan's weight on the crime victim's position moreover speaks for an arrangement that reduces the strain on victims and witnesses.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver uttryckligen att processuella hinder för en ökad lagföring undanröjs och att rättsväsendets verktyg för att lagföra kriminella förbättras. Motförslaget vill behålla den nuvarande, mer restriktiva ordningen för när tidiga förhör får åberopas som bevis, vilket bevarar just ett sådant hinder. Planens vikt vid brottsoffrets ställning talar dessutom för en ordning som minskar påfrestningen på offer och vittnen.
- removed procedural obstaclesdecisive»Processuella hinder för att möjliggöra en ökad lagföring måste också undanröjas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Procedural obstacles to enabling increased prosecution must also be removed.”
- better tools for prosecution»Rättsväsendets samverkan mellan myndigheter och verktyg för att upptäcka och lagföra kriminella ska förbättras.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The judicial system's cooperation between authorities and tools for detecting and prosecuting criminals shall be improved.”
- strengthened crime victim position»Stärka brottsoffrets ställning och öka stödet till brottsoffer« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen the crime victim's position and increase support for crime victims”
- swift and consistent prosecution»lagöverträdelser bestraffas snabbt och konsekvent« (party programme ↗)“criminal offences are punished quickly and consistently”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2025/26:JuU9)
- Committee report full text (HD01JuU9)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2025/26:3951 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:155 En mer rättssäker och effektiv domstolsprocess av Gudrun Nordborg m.fl. (V)
- Proposition 2025/26:155 — En mer rättssäker och effektiv domstolsprocess
Source: The Swedish Parliament