2024-02-072023/24:FöU6 · p.1FöUDefence
Defense policy direction and total defense
The direction of defence policy and the development of total defence
What's at stake: The decision concerns the overall direction for how Sweden prepares militarily and civilly for crises and war, at a time when the security situation has worsened and Sweden is moving toward Nato membership; it affects, among other things, how quickly and in what way businesses and authorities are brought into preparedness 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 Riksdag should now set a new direction for defence policy and total defence — including the role of business in preparedness and a longer planning horizon — or whether this should wait until the Defence Commission's reports, the national security strategy and an upcoming total defence bill are complete.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee notes that the worsened security situation requires greater ambition for total defence, but wants to await the Defence Commission's reports, the national security strategy and the bill promised for autumn 2024 on the future direction of total defence, not least in view of the upcoming Nato membership. The committee therefore sees no reason to pre-empt this work and rejects all motions on the direction of defence policy and total defence.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 2 (C)
The reservation wants a preparedness model in which business plays a central role, for example through compensation for maintaining preparedness for goods and services, and proposes extending the planning horizon for total defence — currently at least three months — in light of the experience from the war in Ukraine. It also wants defence capability developed so that the whole country can be defended, including by having the Armed Forces continue to develop at existing locations and completing new sites already under way.
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 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 169–22Ja 107–84
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 | Yes | Yes 18/0/0/6 | match | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | Abstain 0/2/87/18 | differs | confidence: medium | explicit |
| MP | Yes | Yes 11/0/0/7 | match | confidence: low | not addressed |
| C | No | No 0/20/0/4 | match | confidence: high | explicit |
| 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 | No | Yes 55/0/0/13 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| SD | No | Yes 62/0/0/10 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: medium | explicit |
Broke with the party line
| SHans Ekström (S, Södermanlands län) | No — party line: Abstain |
| SOlle Thorell (S, Västmanlands län) | No — party line: Abstain |
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 2023/24:384 by Sven-Olof Sällström et al. (SD) amendments 1 and 3, 2023/24:779 by Sven-Olof Sällström et al. (SD) amendment 4, 2023/24:1076 by Marcus Wennerström and Inga-Lill Sjöblom (both S), 2023/24:1110 by Boriana Åberg et al. (M) amendment 2, 2023/24:2456 by Mikael Larsson et al. (C) amendment 1, 2023/24:2457 by Muharrem Demirok et al. (C) amendment 40 and 2023/24:2564 by Peter Hultqvist et al. (S) amendment 1.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2023/24:384 av Sven-Olof Sällström m.fl. (SD) yrkandena 1 och 3, 2023/24:779 av Sven-Olof Sällström m.fl. (SD) yrkande 4, 2023/24:1076 av Marcus Wennerström och Inga-Lill Sjöblom (båda S), 2023/24:1110 av Boriana Åberg m.fl. (M) yrkande 2, 2023/24:2456 av Mikael Larsson m.fl. (C) yrkande 1, 2023/24:2457 av Muharrem Demirok m.fl. (C) yrkande 40 och 2023/24:2564 av Peter Hultqvist m.fl. (S) yrkande 1.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag said no to approximately 70 proposals in motions on defense policy and total defense from the general motion period 2023. The motions concerned, for example, military and civil defense, defense materiel procurement and international cooperation. The Riksdag considers, among other things, that work is already underway in the areas that the motions address.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants a readiness model where business plays a central role through compensation agreements for services and goods in emergency preparedness. (C) — 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 opposes increased militarization and deeper military cooperation with NATO and the EU, and wants instead to defend and strengthen military non-alignment and wind down arms exports.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan opposes increased militarization and deeper military cooperation with NATO and the EU, and wants instead to defend and strengthen military non-alignment and wind down arms exports. A counter-proposal that wants to raise the ambition for total defence, give industry a central and reinforced role in preparedness and complete new establishments goes in the opposite direction to the plan's peace line. The plan gives no support for building preparedness on companies' profit interests.
Original (Swedish)
Planen tar ställning mot ökad militarisering och mot ett djupare militärt samarbete med Nato och EU, och vill i stället försvara och stärka den militära alliansfriheten och avveckla vapenexporten. Ett motförslag som vill höja ambitionen för totalförsvaret, ge näringslivet en central och ersatt roll i beredskapen och färdigställa nyetableringar går i motsatt riktning mot planens fredslinje. Planen ger inget stöd för att bygga beredskapen på företagens vinstintresse.
- against increased militarizationdecisive»Vänsterpartiet anser att Sverige ska vara en röst för fred och rättvisa, inte för ökad militarisering.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Left Party believes that Sweden should be a voice for peace and justice, not for increased militarization.”
- against NATO and EU militarization»Därför är Vänsterpartiet motståndare till Sveriges allt djupare militära samarbete med NATO och EU« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Therefore, the Left Party opposes Sweden's ever-deepening military cooperation with NATO and the EU”
- military non-alignment»Sveriges militära alliansfrihet, som i dag hotas av EU:s militära ambitioner och Natos utvidgning, ska försvaras och stärkas. Det svenska« (party programme ↗)“Sweden's military non-alignment, which is today threatened by the EU's military ambitions and NATO's expansion, shall be defended and strengthened. The Swedish”
- wound-down arms exports»vapenexport ska avvecklas.« (party programme ↗)“arms export shall be wound down.”
The plan commits to strongly strengthening Sweden's military capability, that defence spending shall reach two percent of GDP and that the increase shall provide modern equipment and strengthened military presence throughout the country, while civil defence is also strengthened.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan commits to strongly strengthening Sweden's military capability, that defence spending shall reach two percent of GDP and that the increase shall provide modern equipment and strengthened military presence throughout the country, while civil defence is also strengthened. The counter-proposal's demand that the whole country be defensible, that commenced new establishments be completed and that preparedness be given a longer planning horizon with industry involvement falls within this. The plan does not mention compensation models for industry, but the direction is the same.
Original (Swedish)
Planen åtar sig att kraftfullt stärka Sveriges militära förmåga, att anslagen ska nå två procent av BNP och att ökningen ska ge modern materiel och förstärkt militär närvaro över hela landet, samtidigt som det civila försvaret rustas upp. Motförslagets krav på att hela landet ska kunna försvaras, att påbörjade nyetableringar färdigställs och att beredskapen ges längre planeringshorisont med näringslivet involverat ligger inom detta. Planen nämner inte ersättningsmodeller för näringslivet, men riktningen är densamma.
- military presence throughout the countrydecisive»Vi vill att ökningen ska omsättas i bland annat fler värnpliktiga, modern materiel samt förstärkt militär närvaro över hela landet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want the increase to be converted into, among other things, more conscripts, modern equipment and strengthened military presence throughout the country.”
- increased defence spending»Anslagen till det militära försvaret ska öka till motsvarande två procent av BNP.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Defence spending shall increase to correspond to two percent of GDP.”
- new regiments are completed»Nu öppnar nya regementen, fler soldater utbildas och försvarsmateriel tillverkas och köps in.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Now new regiments are opening, more soldiers are being trained and defence equipment is being manufactured and procured.”
- strengthened total defence»Rusta upp det civila försvaret.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen civil defence.”
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 prioritizes civil defence over military and states that Sweden should take the initiative for international disarmament and lead the way, and that military preparedness should aim for international operations and retained knowledge.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan prioritizes civil defence over military and states that Sweden should take the initiative for international disarmament and lead the way, and that military preparedness should aim for international operations and retained knowledge. A requirement for increased military ambition so that the entire country can be defended and that begun new establishments are completed goes further than the plan's direction. The counter-proposal's supply preparedness is closer to the plan, but the military rearmament part carries the rejection.
Original (Swedish)
Planen prioriterar det civila försvaret framför det militära och slår fast att Sverige ska ta initiativ till internationell nedrustning och gå före, samt att den militära beredskapen ska syfta till internationella insatser och bibehållen kunskap. Ett krav på höjd militär ambition så att hela landet kan försvaras och att påbörjade nyetableringar färdigställs går längre än planens inriktning. Motförslagets försörjningsberedskap ligger närmare planen, men den militära upprustningsdelen bär avslaget.
- disarmament before rearmamentdecisive»Sverige ska ta initiativ till internationell nedrustning och bör gå före och nedrusta« (party programme ↗)“Sweden should take the initiative for international disarmament and should lead the way and disarm”
- limited military preparedness»Vår militära beredskap ska syfta till att kunna« (party programme ↗)“Our military preparedness should aim to be able to”
- civil defence prioritized»satsa en större andel av försvarets pengar på det civila försvaret, och öka anslagen till krisberedskap.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“invest a larger share of defence money on civil defence, and increase appropriations for crisis preparedness.”
- security not through weapons»Ingen nation kan hota sig till säkerhet eller« (party programme ↗)“No nation can threaten itself to security or”
The election manifesto requires that military defence be strengthened rapidly, forcefully and long-term, that two per cent of GDP be invested as soon as practically possible and that civil defence and society's preparedness be strengthened.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto requires that military defence be strengthened rapidly, forcefully and long-term, that two per cent of GDP be invested as soon as practically possible and that civil defence and society's preparedness be strengthened. The party programme establishes that Sweden must be able to defend its own territory. The counter-proposal's requirement for extended planning horizon, defence of the entire country and a preparedness model where industry is compensated for preparedness is in line with this. The plan doesn't comment on forthcoming investigations and bills.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet kräver att det militära försvaret rustas snabbt, kraftfullt och långsiktigt, att två procent av BNP satsas så snart det är praktiskt möjligt och att civilförsvaret och samhällets beredskap rustas. Partiprogrammet slår fast att Sverige måste kunna försvara sitt eget territorium. Motförslagets krav på förlängd planeringshorisont, försvar av hela landet och en beredskapsmodell där näringslivet ersätts för beredskap ligger i linje med detta. Planen uttalar sig inte om kommande utredningar och propositioner.
- long-term strengtheningdecisive»Vi vill rusta det militära försvaret snabbt, kraftfullt och långsiktigt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to strengthen military defence rapidly, forcefully and long-term.”
- entire territory defended»Sverige måste därför kunna försvara sitt eget territorium.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden must therefore be able to defend its own territory.”
- strengthen civil preparedness»Även det civila försvaret är livsviktigt. Vi måste rusta civilförsvaret och samhällets beredskap inför krig och kris.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Civil defence is also vital. We must strengthen civil defence and society's preparedness for war and crisis.”
- two per cent of GDP»Sverige behöver satsa två procent av BNP på försvaret så snart det är praktiskt möjligt och gå med i Nato.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden needs to invest two per cent of GDP in defence as soon as practically possible and join NATO.”
The plan requires significantly stronger military defense, an expanded wartime organization and a civil defense strengthened at the same pace, with defense of the entire territory and population as the decisive starting point.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires significantly stronger military defense, an expanded wartime organization and a civil defense strengthened at the same pace, with defense of the entire territory and population as the decisive starting point. The counter-proposal's requirements for increased ambition for total defense, a longer planning horizon and the ability to defend the entire country follow from this. The role of business life in the preparedness model is not addressed in the plan, which is why the conclusion is partly derived.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver ett betydligt starkare militärt försvar, en utbyggd krigsorganisation och ett civilt försvar som stärks i samma takt, med försvaret av hela territoriet och befolkningen som avgörande utgångspunkt. Motförslagets krav på höjd ambition för totalförsvaret, längre planeringshorisont och förmåga att försvara hela landet följer av detta. Näringslivets roll i beredskapsmodellen behandlas inte i planen, varför slutsatsen delvis är härledd.
- significantly stronger defensedecisive»Sverige behöver ett betydligt starkare militärt försvar än i dag.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden needs significantly stronger military defense than today.”
- defend entire territory»Sveriges territorium och dess befolkning, ska vara avgörande för hur försvaret utformas.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden's territory and its population, shall be decisive for how defense is designed.”
- expanded wartime organization and civil defense»Antalet anställda och värnpliktiga i krigsorganisationen ska öka, ny materiel tillföras och det civila försvaret stärkas i samma takt som det militära.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The number of employed and conscripted personnel in the wartime organization shall increase, new materiel shall be supplied and civil defense strengthened at the same pace as the military.”
- acute threat picture»Med det ryska anfallskriget mot Ukraina – detta angrepp mot hela Europa – är hotet mot vår säkerhetsordning akut.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“With Russia's attack war against Ukraine – this attack on all of Europe – the threat to our security order is acute.”
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 defence has such strength and preparedness that it can be war-deterrent at security crises in the nearby area and that territorial integrity is valued, which supports the requirement that the entire country can be defended.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that the defence has such strength and preparedness that it can be war-deterrent at security crises in the nearby area and that territorial integrity is valued, which supports the requirement that the entire country can be defended. It also presupposes a domestic defence industry and a total defence with preparedness at severe strains, which supports a preparedness model where industry is given a central role.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att försvaret har sådan styrka och beredskap att det kan verka krigsavhållande vid kriser i närområdet och att territoriell integritet värnas, vilket bär kravet på att hela landet ska kunna försvaras. Den förutsätter också en inhemsk försvarsindustri och ett totalförsvar med beredskap vid svåra påfrestningar, vilket stödjer en beredskapsmodell där näringslivet ges en central roll.
- war-deterrent capability in nearby areadecisive»kan verka krigsavhållande vid säkerhetspolitiska kriser« (party programme ↗)“can be war-deterrent at security policy crises”
- value territorial integrity»Det sker i regel bäst genom att värna territoriell integritet och utöva gränsskydd« (party programme ↗)“This usually happens best by valuing territorial integrity and exercising border protection”
- domestic defence industry»en inhemsk försvarsindustri.« (party programme ↗)“a domestic defence industry.”
- total defence preparedness»delta i hanteringen av katastrofer och andra svåra påfrestningar i samhället« (party programme ↗)“participate in handling disasters and other severe strains in society”
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 powerful investments in both military and civil defense that go hand in hand, long-term planning for civil defense and a plan for food production at heightened readiness, which presupposes business participation.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires powerful investments in both military and civil defense that go hand in hand, long-term planning for civil defense and a plan for food production at heightened readiness, which presupposes business participation. The counter-proposal's requirement for a preparedness model with business in a central role, longer planning horizon and defense of the entire country is in line with these commitments. However, the plan specifies no compensation model for maintaining preparedness.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver kraftfulla satsningar på både militärt och civilt försvar som går i takt, en långsiktig planering för det civila försvaret och en plan för livsmedelsproduktion vid höjd beredskap, vilket förutsätter näringslivets medverkan. Motförslagets krav på en beredskapsmodell med näringslivet i central roll, längre planeringshorisont och försvar av hela landet ligger i linje med dessa åtaganden. Planen anger dock ingen ersättningsmodell för beredskapshållning.
- strengthened defense capacitydecisive(2022 manifesto)
- long-term planning»Säkra en långsiktig planering för det civila försvaret« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Secure long-term planning for civil defense”
- business in preparedness»Ta fram en plan för hur animalieproduktion och växtodling ska kunna bedrivas vid höjd beredskap« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Develop a plan for how livestock and crop production should be conducted at heightened readiness”
- increased defense spending»Verka för att försvarsanslagen uppgår till motsvarande 2 procent av BNP redan år 2025« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Work toward defense spending amounting to corresponding 2 percent of GDP already in 2025”
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 requires a restored total defence equipped for war and guaranteed long-term financing of defence, which is precisely the extended planning horizon the counter-proposal seeks.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires a restored total defence equipped for war and guaranteed long-term financing of defence, which is precisely the extended planning horizon the counter-proposal seeks. The plan also wants to strengthen Swedish defence industry and increase the self-sufficiency rate of critical goods, which carries the requirement on the business sector's role in preparedness. The counter-proposal's substantive requirements are thus in line with the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver ett återupprättat totalförsvar rustat för krig och en garanterad långsiktig finansiering av försvaret, vilket är just den förlängda planeringshorisont motförslaget efterfrågar. Planen vill också stärka svensk försvarsindustri och höja självförsörjningsgraden av kritiska varor, vilket bär kravet på näringslivets roll i beredskapen. Motförslagets sakkrav ligger därmed i linje med planen.
- restored total defencedecisive»Återupprätta ett totalförsvar som är rustat för krig« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Restore a total defence that is equipped for war”
- long-term defence financing»Garantera den långsiktiga finansieringen av ett starkt försvar« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Guarantee the long-term financing of a strong defence”
- strengthened Swedish defence industry»Svensk försvarsindustri ska också stärkas genom att fortsatt satsa på inhemsk försvarsteknologi och att tydligare värdera det strategiska intresset av svenska leverantörer vid inköp av försvarsmateriel.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Swedish defence industry should also be strengthened by continuing to invest in domestic defence technology and more clearly valuing the strategic interest of Swedish suppliers in purchases of defence equipment.”
- self-sufficiency of critical goods»Öka den svenska självförsörjningsgraden av kritiska produkter och varor« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Increase the Swedish self-sufficiency rate of critical products and goods”
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:FöU6)
- Committee report full text (HB01FöU6)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2023/24:103 — Säkrat tillträde för sällskapsdjur till skyddsrum av Victoria Tiblom (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1076 — Totalförsvar i en marknadiserad välfärd av Marcus Wennerström och Inga-Lill Sjöblom (båda S)
- Motion 2023/24:1110 — Sydsvenskt försvar av Boriana Åberg m.fl. (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1191 — Internationellt kris- och hälsosamarbete av Markus Wiechel (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1208 — Nationella beredskapslager av Ann-Christine Frohm Utterstedt och Eric Westroth (båda SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1708 — Försörjningsberedskap av Mattias Ottosson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:191 — Ökat stöd till Ukraina av Magnus Jacobsson (KD)
- Motion 2023/24:2025 — Nybyggnation av skyddsrum av Peder Björk och Peter Hedberg (båda S)
- Motion 2023/24:2300 — Befolkningsskydd anpassat för nutida förhållanden av Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage (M)
- Motion 2023/24:2303 — Ansvarsfördelning och krisberedskap av Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage (M)
- Motion 2023/24:2450 — En förstärkning av det civila försvaret och krisberedskapen av Emma Berginger m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:2456 — Krisberedskap och utveckling av militärt och civilt försvar av Mikael Larsson m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2023/24:2457 — Livskraft och framtidstro i Sveriges landsbygder av Muharrem Demirok m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2023/24:2466 — Utrikes- och biståndspolitik av Kerstin Lundgren m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2023/24:2521 — Beredskapslag av Markus Wiechel och Eric Palmqvist (båda SD)
- Motion 2023/24:2564 — Försvar och samhällets krisberedskap av Peter Hultqvist m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:384 — Totalförsvarsmotion av Sven-Olof Sällström m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:482 — Säkerhetspolitik av Aron Emilsson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:778 — Militärt försvar av Sven-Olof Sällström m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:779 — Civilförsvar av Sven-Olof Sällström m.fl. (SD)
Source: The Swedish Parliament