2026-03-112025/26:KU28 · p.15KUConstitution
Protection of academic freedom
Constitutional protection of academic freedom
What's at stake: Academic freedom concerns researchers' and teachers' ability to freely choose research questions and methods, as well as the independence of institutions in organization and funding, and stronger constitutional regulation would provide more lasting protection than today's ordinary legislation.
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 protection for academic freedom should be strengthened through a constitutional inquiry, or whether the current statutory-level regulation should remain unchanged.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee maintains its previous position and sees no reason to inquire into strengthening the protection of academic freedom at the constitutional level, noting that the government has already commissioned reviews of both the protection of researchers' and teachers' academic freedom and the organizational form of universities and colleges, and therefore rejects the motions.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 11 (V, MP)
The reservation wants the government to commission an inquiry into a constitutional amendment to broadly strengthen the protection of academic freedom, including higher education, research, institutions' organizational form and funding, and appointments of boards and rectors, since today's statutory-level protection is, according to a report from the Swedish Higher Education Authority, insufficient.
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 11 by V, MP.
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: LLiberalerna
Ja 259–36Ja 246–49
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 | No | No 0/18/0/4 | match | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | Yes 89/0/0/17 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | No 0/15/0/3 | match | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | No | Yes 21/0/0/3 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 13/0/0/3 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| KD | No | Yes 16/0/0/3 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 56/0/0/12 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| SD | No | Yes 62/0/0/9 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2025/26:2785 by Nadja Awad et al. (V) demand 2 and 2025/26:3365 by Camilla Hansén et al. (MP) demand 7.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2025/26:2785 av Nadja Awad m.fl. (V) yrkande 2 och 2025/26:3365 av Camilla Hansén m.fl. (MP) yrkande 7.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag rejected approximately sixty proposals in motions from the ordinary motion period 2025 concerning freedoms and rights. The proposals concerned, among other things, threats based on religious conviction and against elected officials, religious communities' security and safety work, the protection of property rights, bans on racist organizations, and the protection of academic freedom. The Riksdag refers, among other things, to previous positions and ongoing work.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants support for security measures for faith communities to be reformed to enable long-term and ongoing investments. (V, MP) — Reservation 11
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 emphasizes the importance of independent academies without political control and wants to value universities' independence and financing.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan emphasizes the importance of independent academies without political control and wants to value universities' independence and financing. It also sees constitutional law as a tool to entrench rights that risk being attacked, which the demand to write in abortion rights shows. An investigation of constitutional protection for academic freedom thus aligns with the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen betonar vikten av självständiga akademier utan politisk styrning och vill värna universitetens oberoende och finansiering. Den ser också grundlagen som ett verktyg för att befästa rättigheter som riskerar att angripas, vilket kravet på att skriva in aborträtten visar. En utredning av ett grundlagsskydd för den akademiska friheten ligger därför i linje med planen.
- academic independencedecisive»självständiga akademier utan politisk styrning« (party programme ↗)“independent academies without political control”
- value universities' independence»Vänsterpartiet vill värna universitetens oberoende och finansiering och höja studiestödet så att fler kan välja att vidareutbilda sig.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Left Party wants to value universities' independence and financing and raise educational support so that more can choose to further their education.”
- constitutional protection for rights»vill därför skriva in den i grundlagen.« (party programme ↗)“therefore wants to write it into the constitution.”
- constitution's protective role»Grundlagarna ska värna demokratin och människors fri- och« (party programme ↗)“Constitutional laws shall protect democracy and people's freedom and”
The party programme lists freedom of the academy and research among the fundamental freedoms and rights to be protected, and requires that democratic institutions be safeguarded when authoritarian forces grow.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme lists freedom of the academy and research among the fundamental freedoms and rights to be protected, and requires that democratic institutions be safeguarded when authoritarian forces grow. Investigating strengthened constitutional protection for academic freedom is a means for precisely that protection. The plan provides no support for the view that current legal protections are in themselves sufficient.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet räknar upp frihet för akademin och forskningen bland de grundläggande fri- och rättigheter som ska värnas, och kräver att de demokratiska institutionerna skyddas när auktoritära krafter växer. Att utreda ett stärkt grundlagsskydd för den akademiska friheten är ett medel för just det skyddet. Planen ger inget stöd för att dagens lagreglerade skydd i sig är tillräckligt.
- academic freedomdecisive»Frihet för akademin och forskningen.« (party programme ↗)“Freedom for the academy and research.”
- protection of democratic institutions»De demokratiska institutionerna måste skyddas.« (party programme ↗)“Democratic institutions must be protected.”
- free basic research»Främjande av en fri kunskapssökande grundforskning.« (party programme ↗)“Promotion of freely pursued basic research.”
- protection of freedoms and rights»Skydd för medborgerliga fri- och rättigheter.« (party programme ↗)“Protection of civil freedoms and 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 party programme establishes that academic freedom is fundamental to strong democracy, that it is threatened and that the independence of higher education institutions should be strengthened.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme establishes that academic freedom is fundamental to strong democracy, that it is threatened and that the independence of higher education institutions should be strengthened. Examining a constitutional protection is a direct means for that, and the election manifesto shows that the party is prepared to use constitutional law precisely to protect independent institutions. The constitutional question for academic freedom is however not explicitly mentioned.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår fast att akademisk frihet är grundläggande för en stark demokrati, att den hotas och att lärosätenas självständighet ska stärkas. Att utreda ett grundlagsskydd är ett direkt medel för det, och valmanifestet visar att partiet är berett att använda just grundlagen för att skydda oberoende institutioner. Grundlagsfrågan för akademisk frihet nämns dock inte uttryckligen.
- academic freedom fundamentaldecisive»Akademisk frihet, oberoende domstolar och konstnärlig frihet är grundläggande för en« (party programme ↗)“Academic freedom, independent courts and artistic freedom are fundamental to”
- independent institutions»stärka lärosätenas självständighet« (party programme ↗)“strengthen the independence of higher education institutions”
- academic freedom is threatened»Sveriges ställning som kunskapsnation utmanas. Akademisk frihet hotas på flera håll i« (party programme ↗)“Sweden's position as a knowledge nation is being challenged. Academic freedom is threatened in several ways”
- constitutional protection for independence»skydda ett oberoende public service i grundlagen« (2022 manifesto ↗)“protect an independent public service in the constitution”
The election manifesto makes academic freedom a cornerstone of a vibrant civil society and requires that politics maintain arm's length distance, while the party wants to strengthen fundamental rights and points out constitutional protection as a tool.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto makes academic freedom a cornerstone of a vibrant civil society and requires that politics maintain arm's length distance, while the party wants to strengthen fundamental rights and points out constitutional protection as a tool. The party programme establishes that free institutions of higher learning should independently be able to conduct research and education. Investigating broader constitutional protection for academic freedom follows from this.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet gör den akademiska friheten till en grundbult i ett vitalt civilsamhälle och kräver att politiken håller armlängds avstånd, samtidigt som partiet vill stärka grundläggande rättigheter och pekar ut grundlagsskydd som ett verktyg. Partiprogrammet slår fast att fria lärosäten självständigt ska kunna bedriva forskning och utbildning. Att utreda ett bredare grundlagsskydd för den akademiska friheten följer av detta.
- academic freedom as a cornerstonedecisive»Den akademiska och konstnärliga friheten liksom den fria kulturen är grundbultar i ett vitalt civilsamhälle.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Academic and artistic freedom, like free culture, are cornerstones of a vibrant civil society.”
- arm's length distance»Politiken ska bidra till goda förutsättningar men hålla armlängds avstånd.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Politics should contribute to good conditions but maintain arm's length distance.”
- the independence of institutions of higher learning»Högre utbildning och fria lärosäten ska självständigt kunna bedriva högkvalitativ forskning och utbildning.« (party programme ↗)“Higher education and free institutions of higher learning should independently be able to conduct high-quality research and education.”
- strengthened rights protection»Våra grundläggande rättigheter får inte tas för givna.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Our fundamental rights must not be taken for granted.”
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 requires that academic freedom must be given protection in the constitution and that individual academic freedom must be a guiding principle.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly requires that academic freedom must be given protection in the constitution and that individual academic freedom must be a guiding principle. It also wants to give universities a new administrative form with greater autonomy from executive power, which corresponds to the counter-proposal's broad approach to organizational form and appointments. The requirement to investigate a constitutional amendment thus lies directly in line with the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver uttryckligen att den akademiska friheten ska ges skydd i grundlagen och att individuell akademisk frihet ska vara en bärande princip. Den vill också ge lärosätena en ny myndighetsform med större autonomi från regeringsmakten, vilket motsvarar motförslagets breda ansats om organisationsform och utnämningar. Kravet på att utreda en grundlagsändring ligger därmed direkt i planens linje.
- constitutional protection of academic freedomdecisive»Den akademiska friheten ska ges skydd i grundlagen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Academic freedom must be given protection in the constitution.”
- individual academic freedom»Individuell akademisk frihet ska vara en bärande princip för all offentlig verksamhet inom« (party programme ↗)“Individual academic freedom must be a guiding principle for all public activities within”
- autonomous universities»lärosäten ska ges en ny myndighetsform, som ger större autonomi från regeringsmakten.« (party programme ↗)“universities must be given a new administrative form that provides greater autonomy from executive power.”
- strengthened constitutional protection»Vi vill se ett förstärkt grundlagsskydd för vårt demokratiska statsskick, öka domstolarnas oberoende och verka för en författningsdomstol som ska kunna häva lagar eller bestämmelser som strider mot grundlagsskyddade fri- och rättigheter.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to see strengthened constitutional protection for our democratic system of government, increase the independence of the courts and work for a constitutional court that can overturn laws or provisions that contradict constitutionally protected freedoms and rights.”
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 stipulates that freedom of thought is a prerequisite for successful knowledge-seeking and that universities and colleges shall enjoy a large degree of self-determination in relation to the state.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan stipulates that freedom of thought is a prerequisite for successful knowledge-seeking and that universities and colleges shall enjoy a large degree of self-determination in relation to the state. The pursuit of knowledge is described as a human right that must be protected, and the constitution shall protect, among other things, freedom of opinion and expression. Investigating a strengthened constitutional protection for academic freedom follows from these commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att tankens frihet är en förutsättning för framgångsrikt kunskapssökande och att universitet och högskolor ska åtnjuta ett stort mått av självbestämmande i förhållande till staten. Sökandet efter kunskap beskrivs som en mänsklig rättighet som måste värnas, och grundlagen ska skydda bland annat åsikts- och yttrandefriheten. Att utreda ett stärkt grundlagsskydd för den akademiska friheten följer av dessa åtaganden.
- freedom of thoughtdecisive»Tankens frihet är en förutsättning för framgångsrikt kunskapssökande.« (party programme ↗)“Freedom of thought is a prerequisite for successful knowledge-seeking.”
- self-determination of educational institutions»och högskolor ska åtnjuta stort mått av självbestämmande i förhållande till staten« (party programme ↗)“and colleges shall enjoy a large degree of self-determination in relation to the state”
- knowledge-seeking as a right»Sökandet efter kunskap är en mänsklig rättighet som måste« (party programme ↗)“The pursuit of knowledge is a human right that must”
- constitutionally protected freedoms»åsiktsfrihet, religionsfrihet, yttrandefrihet, tryckfrihet, mötesfrihet,« (party programme ↗)“freedom of opinion, freedom of religion, freedom of expression, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly,”
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 states that academic freedom needs better protection and that research shall stand free from political influence, with strong and independent higher education institutions.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that academic freedom needs better protection and that research shall stand free from political influence, with strong and independent higher education institutions. It simultaneously requires that the constitution contains a clear catalogue of freedoms and rights that provide real protection. Investigating a constitutional protection for academic freedom follows from these commitments, even though the constitutional route is not explicitly pointed out.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att den akademiska friheten behöver värnas bättre och att forskningen ska stå fri från politiska pekpinnar, med starka och självständiga lärosäten. Den kräver samtidigt att grundlagen har en tydlig katalog av fri- och rättigheter som ger verkligt skydd. Att utreda ett grundlagsskydd för den akademiska friheten följer av dessa åtaganden, även om grundlagsvägen inte pekas ut uttryckligen.
- protected academic freedomdecisive»Vi måste bättre värna den akademiska friheten i Sverige och se till att forskningen står fri från politiska pekpinnar och möjliggöra banbrytande forskningsresultat.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We must better protect academic freedom in Sweden and ensure that research stands free from political influence and enable groundbreaking research results.”
- rights in the constitution»Vår svenska grundlag ska ha en tydlig katalog av fri- och rättigheter.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Our Swedish constitution shall have a clear catalogue of freedoms and rights.”
- free research»• Värna den fria forskningen från politiska pekpinnar« (2022 manifesto ↗)“• Protect free research from political influence”
- independent higher education institutions»Sverige ska ha starka och självständiga lärosäten, fredade« (party programme ↗)“Sweden shall have strong and independent higher education institutions, protected”
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 states that political control of higher education shall decrease and academic independence shall increase, and directs criticism at political control and ideological values characterising research and academia.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that political control of higher education shall decrease and academic independence shall increase, and directs criticism at political control and ideological values characterising research and academia. An investigated and strengthened constitutional protection for academic freedom is a way to realise that commitment, and the plan generally wants to strengthen the constitutional protection of rights. The plan does however not explicitly mention constitutional regulation of academic freedom.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att den politiska styrningen av högre utbildning ska minska och akademins självständighet öka, och riktar kritik mot att politisk styrning och ideologiska värdegrunder präglar forskning och akademi. Ett utrett och stärkt grundlagsskydd för den akademiska friheten är ett sätt att förverkliga det åtagandet, och planen vill generellt förstärka grundlagens rättighetsskydd. Planen nämner dock inte grundlagsreglering av akademisk frihet uttryckligen.
- decreased political control of academiadecisive»Den politiska styrningen av högre utbildning ska minska och akademins självständighet öka.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Political control of higher education shall decrease and academic independence shall increase.”
- academic independence»Slå vakt om den högre akademins självständighet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Guard the higher academy's independence”
- criticism of controlled research»Allvarlig kritik har riktats mot att politisk styrning och ideologiskt präglade värdegrunder i hög grad präglar forskning och akademi.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Serious criticism has been directed at political control and ideologically characterised values having a high degree permeating research and academia.”
- strengthened constitutional protection»Förstärka grundlagens rättighetsskydd vad gäller yttrandefrihet, äganderätt och frihet från religion« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen constitutional protection of rights regarding freedom of expression, property rights and freedom from religion”
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 (2025/26:KU28)
- Committee report full text (HD01KU28)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2025/26:1097 — Grundlagsskydd av hbtqi-personers rättigheter av Anna Lasses (C)
- Motion 2025/26:1392 — Stärkt äganderätt av Sten Bergheden (M)
- Motion 2025/26:14 — Fackförbund utan partikoppling av Josef Fransson (SD)
- Motion 2025/26:1468 — Översyn av gränsen för yttrandefriheten, hets mot folkgrupp och författningsskydd av Magnus Jacobsson (KD)
- Motion 2025/26:1520 — Utvärdering och förtydligande av religionsfrihetens gränser för att motverka normkollisioner och värna det öppna samhället av Emma Ahlström Köster (M)
- Motion 2025/26:1524 — Stärkt demokrati - mot hot och förföljelse av förtroendevalda, tjänstemän och minoriteter av Emma Ahlström Köster (M)
- Motion 2025/26:1693 — Risk för försvagad yttrandefrihet i en föränderlig tid av Staffan Eklöf (SD)
- Motion 2025/26:1718 — Utökade möjligheter för kommuner att stoppa moskébyggen av Jonas Andersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2025/26:1739 — Nationellt förbud mot offentlig religiös förkunnelse av Jan Ericson (M)
- Motion 2025/26:1745 — Strategi mot politisk islamism i Sverige av Jan Ericson m.fl. (M)
- Motion 2025/26:1782 — Grundlagsskydd av äganderätten av Jan Ericson m.fl. (M)
- Motion 2025/26:1866 — Verktyg för kontroll av finansiering av religiös verksamhet av Magnus Resare (M)
- Motion 2025/26:2488 — Stärkt äganderätt av Jesper Skalberg Karlsson (M)
- Motion 2025/26:2567 — Förbud mot framträdande religiösa tecken och klädsel i skola och offentlig sektor av Merit Frost Lindberg och Fredrik Kärrholm (båda M)
- Motion 2025/26:2785 — Akademisk frihet av Nadja Awad m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2025/26:2790 — Konstitutionella frågor av Jessica Wetterling m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2025/26:2808 — Rättvist förfarande vid arbetstvister av Markus Wiechel och Alexander Christiansson (båda SD)
- Motion 2025/26:2911 — Stärkt äganderätt i Sverige av Adam Reuterskiöld m.fl. (M)
- Motion 2025/26:3057 — Finansiering av religiösa organisationer av Noria Manouchi (M)
- Motion 2025/26:3062 — Förbud och begränsningar i fråga om våldsbejakande extremism av Noria Manouchi (M)
Source: The Swedish Parliament