2026-02-252025/26:KU24 · p.3KUConstitution
Municipal competence
Municipalities' and regions' ability to boycott states that violate human rights
What's at stake: The decision determines whether municipalities and regions can themselves decide not to trade with or invest in activities linked to states condemned for serious breaches of international law, for example through a UN or ICC ruling. It concerns both the scope of action available to municipalities and regions and residents' ability to influence how their tax money is used in relation to such states.
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 municipalities and regions should be given a statutory right to take boycott measures against states that violate human rights and international law, or whether the current arrangement without such a right should remain.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee sees no reason to support a call for giving municipalities and regions the ability to take boycott measures against countries that violate human rights and international law. The motion is rejected.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 3 (V)
The reservation (V) wants the government to return with a legislative proposal giving municipalities and regions the ability to take boycott measures against states that violate human rights and international law, pointing to the temporary law that gave municipalities and regions such a power during the apartheid regime in South Africa. The boycott decision should be based on, for example, a ruling by the UN or the International Court of Justice, or an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court.
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 3 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 0/18/0/4 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| S | No | Yes 93/0/0/13 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| MP | No | Yes 16/0/0/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | Yes | Yes 21/0/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| L | Yes | Yes 12/0/0/4 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| KD | Yes | Yes 17/0/0/2 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| M | Yes | Yes 60/0/0/8 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| SD | Yes | Yes 62/0/0/9 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects motion 2025/26:3440 by Håkan Svenneling et al. (V) demand 39.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motion 2025/26:3440 av Håkan Svenneling m.fl. (V) yrkande 39.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag said no to 29 proposals in motions on municipal and regional issues, which were submitted during the general motion period 2025. Among other things, the proposals deal with issues of municipal cooperation, a new free municipality experiment (frikommunförsök), municipal competence, municipal party support, the conditions for elected officials, representation and minority protection, audit and accountability review, and municipal referendums (folkomröstningar). The Riksdag refers, among other things, to previous positions and ongoing work.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants the government to present legislation giving municipalities and regions the ability to take boycott measures against countries breaking human rights and international law. (V) — Reservation 3
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 places international solidarity high and wants international law to be defended and deepened, and it is prepared to use economic tools against regimes that commit human rights violations, for example bans on weapons exports to them.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan places international solidarity high and wants international law to be defended and deepened, and it is prepared to use economic tools against regimes that commit human rights violations, for example bans on weapons exports to them. Giving municipalities and regions the right to boycott states following decisions by the UN or international courts follows that line and strengthens municipal self-government, which the plan values.
Original (Swedish)
Planen sätter den internationella solidariteten högt och vill att folkrätten försvaras och fördjupas, och den är beredd att använda ekonomiska verktyg mot regimer som begår brott mot de mänskliga rättigheterna, till exempel förbud mot vapenexport dit. Att ge kommuner och regioner rätt att bojkotta stater efter beslut av FN eller internationella domstolar följer av den linjen och stärker det kommunala självstyret som planen värnar.
- international solidaritydecisive»Därför är vi en rörelse som sätter den internationella solidariteten högt på dagordningen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Therefore, we are a movement that places international solidarity high on the agenda.”
- economic measures against human rights violations»förbjuda vapenexport till diktaturer, stater som för angreppskrig och« (party programme ↗)“ban weapons exports to dictatorships, states that wage wars of aggression and”
- defend international law»Folkrätten behöver försvaras och« (party programme ↗)“International law needs to be defended and”
- municipal self-government»Det kommunala självstyret är en betydelsefull del av den svenska« (party programme ↗)“Municipal self-government is an important part of Swedish”
The plan says nothing about municipal boycott rights.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan says nothing about municipal boycott rights. Closest lies the commitment to defend international law and a rule-based world order and that there shall be no impunity for genocide and war crimes, together with the long tradition of solidarity with oppressed peoples. Combined with the plan's protection of municipal self-governance, this leads to support for the demand, but the conclusion is entirely derived.
Original (Swedish)
Planen säger inget om kommunal bojkotträtt. Närmast ligger åtagandet att försvara folkrätten och en regelbaserad världsordning och att det inte ska finnas straffrihet för folkmord och krigsförbrytelser, tillsammans med den långa traditionen av solidaritet med förtryckta folk. Kombinerat med planens värn om det kommunala självstyret leder detta till stöd för kravet, men slutsatsen är helt härledd.
- defence of international lawdecisive»Försvar för folkrätten och en regelbaserad världsordning.« (party programme ↗)“Defence of international law and a rule-based world order.”
- accountability for international law crimes»Ingen straffrihet för folkmord, krigsförbrytelser och brott mot mänskligheten.« (party programme ↗)“No impunity for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.”
- solidarity with oppressed peoples»I en lång tradition står socialdemokratin i solidaritet med förtryckta folk som förvägras« (party programme ↗)“In a long tradition, social democracy stands in solidarity with oppressed peoples who are denied”
- municipal self-governance»Kommunalt och regionalt självstyre med beskattningsrätt.« (party programme ↗)“Municipal and regional self-governance with taxation rights.”
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 Sweden supports international courts and increases accountability for violations of international law, and explicitly accepts sanctions against states that violate democracy and human rights.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that Sweden supports international courts and increases accountability for violations of international law, and explicitly accepts sanctions against states that violate democracy and human rights. To give municipalities and regions the right to boycott states following decisions by the UN or an international court is a tool in the same direction. The plan also wants decisions to be made as close to those affected as possible, which argues for local decision-making authority.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att Sverige stödjer de internationella domstolarna och ökar ansvarsutkrävandet för brott mot folkrätten, och accepterar uttryckligen sanktioner mot stater som kränker demokrati och mänskliga rättigheter. Att ge kommuner och regioner rätt att bojkotta stater efter beslut av FN eller en internationell domstol är ett verktyg i samma riktning. Planen vill dessutom att beslut fattas så nära de berörda som möjligt, vilket talar för lokal beslutsrätt.
- support for international courtsdecisive»Sveriges ska stödja de internationella domstolarna« (party programme ↗)“Sweden should support the international courts”
- sanctions for rights violations»Länder som inte lever upp till krav på demokrati och mänskliga rättigheter« (party programme ↗)“Countries that do not live up to requirements for democracy and human rights”
- decisions close to the people»Därför bör beslut tas så nära människor som möjligt« (party programme ↗)“Therefore decisions should be made as close to people as possible”
- act against international law violations»Omvärldens oförmåga att ingripa mot Israels folkmord i Gaza har allvarligt skadat« (party programme ↗)“The world's inability to intervene against Israel's genocide in Gaza has seriously damaged”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan does not address municipal boycott rights, but two related commitments point away from the counter-proposal: free trade is explicitly valued and trade barriers are described as something that disadvantages economic development, and decisions that must be made at higher than the municipal level shall be sent upwards — foreign policy is such a question.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan does not address municipal boycott rights, but two related commitments point away from the counter-proposal: free trade is explicitly valued and trade barriers are described as something that disadvantages economic development, and decisions that must be made at higher than the municipal level shall be sent upwards — foreign policy is such a question. That the party programme makes human rights the ultimate purpose of foreign policy pulls in the other direction, but the instrument is outside the municipal level. The assessment is therefore uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Planen tar inte upp kommunal bojkottsrätt, men två närliggande åtaganden pekar bort från motförslaget: frihandeln värnas uttryckligen och handelshinder beskrivs som något som missgynnar ekonomisk utveckling, och beslut som måste fattas på högre nivå än kommunen ska skickas uppåt — utrikespolitiken är en sådan fråga. Att partiprogrammet gör mänskliga rättigheter till utrikespolitikens yttersta syfte drar åt andra hållet, men instrumentet ligger utanför den kommunala nivån. Bedömningen är därför osäker.
- trade barriers should be avoideddecisive»Tullar och handelshinder begränsar konsumenters och producenters val.« (party programme ↗)“Tariffs and trade barriers limit consumers' and producers' choices.”
- right decision level»Beslut som måste fattas på högre nivåer än kommunen skickas uppåt.« (party programme ↗)“Decisions that must be made at higher levels than the municipality should be sent upwards.”
- free trade with demands in agreements»Sverige klarar sig inte utan frihandel. Öppna upp fler marknader för svenska varor och tjänster. Ställ hårdare krav på arbetsvillkor, miljö och klimat i handelsavtal.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden cannot manage without free trade. Open more markets for Swedish goods and services. Make stricter demands on working conditions, environment and climate in trade agreements.”
- human rights in foreign policy»Utrikes- och säkerhetspolitiken syftar ytterst till att värna universella mänskliga fri- och rättigheter.« (party programme ↗)“Foreign and security policy ultimately aims to protect universal human freedoms and rights.”
The plan places foreign and security policy at national and European level and wants sanctions for human rights violations to be decided jointly, not by individual public bodies.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan places foreign and security policy at national and European level and wants sanctions for human rights violations to be decided jointly, not by individual public bodies. It also requires that public procurement ensures equal treatment and stimulates competition and that Sweden is a strong voice for free trade. Municipal and regional boycotts of states thus go against the plan's line, even though criticism of human rights violations is shared.
Original (Swedish)
Planen lägger utrikes- och säkerhetspolitiken på nationell och europeisk nivå och vill att sanktioner mot rättighetskränkningar beslutas gemensamt, inte av enskilda offentliga organ. Den kräver dessutom att offentlig upphandling säkrar likabehandling och stimulerar konkurrens och att Sverige är en stark röst för frihandel. Kommunala och regionala bojkotter av stater går därmed emot planens linje, även om kritiken mot rättighetskränkningar delas.
- procurement on equal termsdecisive»Offentlig upphandling ska ske på sätt som ger skattebetalarna låga kostnader, hög kvalitet, säkrar likabehandling och stimulerar konkurrens.« (party programme ↗)“Public procurement shall be conducted in ways that give taxpayers low costs, high quality, ensure equal treatment and stimulate competition.”
- foreign policy at national level»Europeiska unionen är det främsta forumet för svensk utrikes- och säkerhetspolitik.« (party programme ↗)“The European Union is the primary forum for Swedish foreign and security policy.”
- sanctions decided at supranational level»Systematiska kränkningar av medborgarnas rättigheter eller diskriminering av minoriteter ska kunna leda till sanktioner i form av indragna EU-stöd efter beslut av EU-domstolen, eller i särskilt allvarliga fall suspenderad rösträtt i rådet.« (party programme ↗)“Systematic violations of citizens' rights or discrimination of minorities can lead to sanctions in the form of withdrawn EU support following a judgment by the EU Court of Justice, or in particularly serious cases suspended voting rights in the Council.”
- free trade instead of boycott»Sverige ska vara en stark röst för frihandel, i första hand genom globala avtal men annars genom regionala överenskommelser.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden shall be a strong voice for free trade, primarily through global agreements but otherwise through regional agreements.”
The plan establishes that human rights should primarily be promoted through positive means and that boycott and sanctions can only become relevant as a last resort.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that human rights should primarily be promoted through positive means and that boycott and sanctions can only become relevant as a last resort. Such measures moreover belong in the state's foreign policy, and the subsidiarity principle is according to the plan both a near and far principle that places power at the right level. Giving individual municipalities and regions their own right to boycott foreign states contradicts this.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att mänskliga rättigheter i första hand ska främjas med positiva verkningsmedel och att bojkott och sanktioner bara kan bli aktuella som en sista utväg. Sådana åtgärder hör dessutom hemma i den statliga utrikespolitiken, och subsidiaritetsprincipen är enligt planen både en när- och fjärrprincip som placerar makten på rätt nivå. Att ge enskilda kommuner och regioner en egen bojkotträtt mot främmande stater strider mot detta.
- boycott as last resortdecisive»Som en sista utväg kan bojkott och sanktioner bli aktuella.« (party programme ↗)“As a last resort, boycott and sanctions can become relevant.”
- positive means first»I främjandet av mänskliga rättigheter ska i första hand positiva verkningsmedel användas« (party programme ↗)“In promoting human rights, positive means should primarily be used”
- state foreign policy»Svensk utrikespolitik ska främja fred, frihet, demokrati och utveckling« (party programme ↗)“Swedish foreign policy shall promote peace, freedom, democracy and development”
- right power at right level»Rätt makt på rätt plats, det är den kristdemokratiska subsidiaritetsprincipens innebörd.« (party programme ↗)“Right power in the right place, that is the meaning of the Christian Democratic subsidiarity principle.”
The plan establishes that Swedish foreign policy shall protect Swedish interests and that maintaining Swedish state integrity is policy's most fundamental task; foreign policy is conducted by the state, not by individual municipalities.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that Swedish foreign policy shall protect Swedish interests and that maintaining Swedish state integrity is policy's most fundamental task; foreign policy is conducted by the state, not by individual municipalities. Giving municipalities and regions the right to boycott foreign states would split the national line. The plan's requirement that Sweden should be a strong voice for human rights is directed at the state as a whole.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att svensk utrikespolitik ska värna svenska intressen och att upprätthållandet av den svenska statens integritet är politikens mest grundläggande uppgift; utrikespolitiken förs av staten, inte av enskilda kommuner. Att ge kommuner och regioner rätt att bojkotta främmande stater skulle splittra den nationella linjen. Planens krav på att Sverige ska vara en stark röst för mänskliga rättigheter riktar sig till staten som helhet.
- foreign policy is nationalweak support»Svensk utrikespolitik ska värna svenska intressen.« (party programme ↗)“Swedish foreign policy shall protect Swedish interests.”
- state integritydecisive»Att upprätthålla den svenska statens integritet – territoriellt« (party programme ↗)“To maintain Swedish state integrity – territorially”
- strong voice for human rights»Sverige ska vara en stark röst för frihet, demokrati och« (party programme ↗)“Sweden shall be a strong voice for freedom, democracy and”
flags: citat_svagt
The plan places foreign policy at the national level: Sweden shall work for clear sanctions against states with negative development, protect Swedish interests in international contexts and strengthen folk sovereignty's independence.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan places foreign policy at the national level: Sweden shall work for clear sanctions against states with negative development, protect Swedish interests in international contexts and strengthen folk sovereignty's independence. It moreover explicitly wishes to re-establish and care for the relationship with Israel. Allowing individual municipalities and regions to decide their own boycotts of foreign states runs counter to this coherent national line.
Original (Swedish)
Planen lägger utrikespolitiken på nationell nivå: Sverige ska verka för tydliga sanktioner mot stater med negativ utveckling, värna svenska intressen i internationella sammanhang och stärka folkstyrets oberoende. Den vill dessutom uttryckligen återupprätta och vårda relationen till Israel. Att låta enskilda kommuner och regioner besluta om egna bojkotter av främmande stater strider mot denna sammanhållna nationella linje.
- sanctions are the state's matterdecisive»Sverige bör verka för tydliga sanktioner mot Turkiet, Belarus, Ryssland och andra länder med en negativ utveckling.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden should work for clear sanctions against Turkey, Belarus, Russia and other countries with negative development.”
- cared-for relationship with Israel»Relationen till Israel, som den enda demokratin i sin region, bör återupprättas och vårdas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The relationship with Israel, as the only democracy in its region, should be re-established and cared for.”
- Swedish interests in foreign policy»Värna svenska intressen i internationella sammanhang« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Protect Swedish interests in international contexts.”
- coherent national democracy»Bejaka och stärka det svenska folkstyrets oberoende« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Support and strengthen Swedish folk sovereignty's independence.”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2025/26:KU24)
- Committee report full text (HD01KU24)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2025/26:1302 — Krav på förtjänst och skicklighet vid kommunala och regionala anställningar av Dzenan Cisija (S)
- Motion 2025/26:1388 — Stärkta regioner för stärkt regional utvecklingspolitik av Karin Sundin m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2025/26:148 — Regelverk för kommunala konkurser av Eric Palmqvist (SD)
- Motion 2025/26:1717 — Möjliggörande av fler folkinitiativ av Jonas Andersson (SD)
- Motion 2025/26:1760 — Avpolitisering av den kommunala revisionen av Boriana Åberg (M)
- Motion 2025/26:2536 — Krav på folkomröstning vid förslag om sammanslagning av kommuner och regioner av Mattias Eriksson Falk och Roger Hedlund (båda SD)
- Motion 2025/26:2552 — Möjlighet för domstol att återkalla uppdrag som ledamot eller ersättare i kommun- och regionfullmäktige vid allvarlig brottslighet av Mattias Eriksson Falk och Roger Hedlund (båda SD)
- Motion 2025/26:2594 — Reglering av utskott i kommunallagen av Mattias Eriksson Falk och Roger Hedlund (båda SD)
- Motion 2025/26:2968 — Kommunanställda som förebilder i egen beredskap av Marléne Lund Kopparklint (M)
- Motion 2025/26:3086 — Förtroendevaldas rätt och möjlighet till närvaro av Markus Wiechel och Alexander Christiansson (båda SD)
- Motion 2025/26:3119 — Inrättande av en revision för kommunal verksamhet av Hans Eklind och Larry Söder (båda KD)
- Motion 2025/26:3130 — Modernisering av lokaliseringsprincipen för att möjliggöra regional verksamhet av Kristina Axén Olin (M)
- Motion 2025/26:3185 — Livskraft och framtidstro på Sveriges landsbygder av Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2025/26:3440 — Israels ockupation av Palestina av Håkan Svenneling m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2025/26:3645 — Utgiftsområde 9 Hälsovård, sjukvård och social omsorg av Fredrik Lundh Sammeli m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2025/26:436 — Öka kommuners möjlighet att använda demokrativillkor av Kristina Axén Olin m.fl. (M)
- Motion 2025/26:446 — Rätt att vara föräldraledig och fritidspolitiker av Serkan Köse (S)
- Motion 2025/26:550 — Tomma stolar i kommunfullmäktige av Johan Andersson (S)
- Motion 2025/26:85 — Kommunjurist som lyder under oppositionen av Josef Fransson (SD)
- Motion 2025/26:86 — Sänkta partistöd för en stärkt demokrati av Josef Fransson (SD)
Source: The Swedish Parliament