2025-05-072024/25:KU16 · p.12KUConstitution
A new power inquiry
A new inquiry into the distribution of power and influence in society
What's at stake: A power inquiry could shed light on why certain groups, such as people with disabilities, have lower participation and representation in democratic processes, and lay the groundwork for measures that make decision-making more representative. Without such an inquiry, the issue of unequal distribution of power risks remaining unexamined at the national level.
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 government should set up a new inquiry into power, tasked with analysing how power and influence are distributed among different groups in society - with particular focus on people with disabilities - or whether the committee should maintain its earlier position of not taking such an initiative.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee maintains its earlier position and sees no reason to set up a new inquiry into power. The motion on this is rejected together with the motions on national referendums, citizens' initiatives and international agreements.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 11 (V, MP)
The reservation (V, MP) calls for a new inquiry into power to be set up, tasked with analysing the distribution of power and influence between different groups in society, with particular focus on people with disabilities, who currently have lower participation and representation in democratic processes. The reservation wants forms and routines created to involve people with disabilities in political decisions affecting the group at municipal, regional and national level, and for organisations representing them to take part in state inquiries.
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.
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 0/21/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | Yes 93/0/0/13 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | No 0/16/0/2 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | No | Yes 21/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 14/0/0/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 17/0/0/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| M | Yes | Yes 60/0/0/8 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| SD | Yes | Yes 63/0/0/9 | follows the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2024/25:1922 by Nadja Awad et al. (V) demand 3 and 2024/25:2643 by Leila Ali Elmi et al. (MP) demand 33.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2024/25:1922 av Nadja Awad m.fl. (V) yrkande 3 och 2024/25:2643 av Leila Ali Elmi m.fl. (MP) yrkande 33.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag rejected some ninety proposals in motions on constitutional matters. The motions were submitted during the general motion period 2024 and concern, among other things, the form of government and the Head of State's duties, increased transparency in the Royal Household and Palace Administration's finances as well as EU cooperation. Some proposals concern measures to revitalize democracy. Other motions raise issues concerning political communication, party financing, lobbyists and quarantine periods for ministers and senior civil servants. Further topics addressed in the motion proposals concern constitutional regulation regarding national minorities, Swedish citizenship and public service. The Riksdag refers to previous positions taken on these matters.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants the monarchy to be abolished and Sweden to become a republic. (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 establishes that disability is a perspective that shall be included in all policy areas and that the person who has a disability shall be able to participate on the same terms as everyone else, including in democratic life.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that disability is a perspective that shall be included in all policy areas and that the person who has a disability shall be able to participate on the same terms as everyone else, including in democratic life. A power investigation focusing on the group's participation and forms to involve it in decisions responds directly to that. The plan also wants to break up structures that hold back many from participating on equal terms.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att funktionshinder är ett perspektiv som ska finnas med i alla politikområden och att den som har en funktionsnedsättning ska kunna vara delaktig på samma villkor som alla andra, inklusive i det demokratiska livet. En maktutredning med fokus på gruppens delaktighet och former för att involvera den i beslut svarar direkt mot det. Planen vill dessutom bryta upp strukturer som håller tillbaka många från att delta på jämlika villkor.
- disability perspective in all policydecisive»Funktionshinder är ett perspektiv som« (party programme ↗)“Disability is a perspective that”
- participation on equal terms»Den som har en funktionsnedsättning ska kunna vara delaktig i sam« (party programme ↗)“The person who has a disability shall be able to participate on the same”
- break down barriers to political participation»Vi vill bryta upp de gamla strukturer« (party programme ↗)“We want to break up those old structures”
- right to participate in society»På samma sätt ska du som lever med funktionsnedsättning kunna lita på att du får det stöd du behöver, och på att din rätt att delta i samhället på det sätt du vill inte ständigt ifrågasätts och försvåras.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Similarly, you living with a disability should be able to rely on getting the support you need, and on your right to participate in society in the way you want not constantly being questioned and made difficult.”
The party programme takes as its starting point the power inequalities in society and counts functional ability among the factors that create dominance and subordination, while everyone should have equal rights to influence social development.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme takes as its starting point the power inequalities in society and counts functional ability among the factors that create dominance and subordination, while everyone should have equal rights to influence social development. A new power inquiry with a focus on participation for people with disabilities is in line with that analysis. The election manifesto's demand for full participation strengthens the conclusion.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet tar sin utgångspunkt i maktskillnaderna i samhället och räknar funktionsförmåga bland de faktorer som skapar över- och underordning, samtidigt som alla ska ha lika rätt att påverka samhällsutvecklingen. En ny maktutredning med fokus på delaktighet för personer med funktionsnedsättning ligger i linje med den analysen. Valmanifestets krav på full delaktighet förstärker slutsatsen.
- analysis of power inequalitiesdecisive»Socialdemokratin tar sin utgångspunkt i de maktskillnader som finns i ett samhälle, och tror« (party programme ↗)“The Social Democrats take as their starting point the power inequalities that exist in a society, and believe”
- equal rights to influence»Alla har lika rätt att påverka samhällets utveckling.« (party programme ↗)“Everyone has equal rights to influence social development.”
- participation regardless of functional ability»funktionsförmåga, har rätt till arbete, eget boende, full rörelsefrihet och ett aktivt liv.« (party programme ↗)“functional ability, have rights to work, own housing, full freedom of movement and an active life.”
- live their lives like others»Personer med funktionsnedsättning ska kunna leva sitt liv som andra.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“People with disabilities should be able to live their lives like others.”
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 wants to break down all discriminatory power structures and establishes that people with disabilities should have the same opportunity to participate in society as others, and that lack of accessibility in itself is discrimination.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to break down all discriminatory power structures and establishes that people with disabilities should have the same opportunity to participate in society as others, and that lack of accessibility in itself is discrimination. A power investigation focusing on this group's participation and forms for involving it in political decisions aligns with the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill bryta ner alla diskriminerande maktstrukturer och slår fast att människor med funktionsnedsättningar ska ha samma möjlighet att delta i samhället som andra, samt att bristande tillgänglighet i sig är diskriminering. En maktutredning med fokus på denna grupps delaktighet och former för att involvera den i politiska beslut ligger i linje med planen.
- equal participation in societydecisive»församlingar. Människor med funktionsnedsättningar ska ha samma möjlighet att delta i samhället« (party programme ↗)“assemblies. People with disabilities should have the same opportunity to participate in society”
- scrutinize power structures»Vi vill bryta ner alla diskriminerande och ohållbara« (party programme ↗)“We want to break down all discriminatory and unsustainable”
- inaccessibility is discrimination»Bristande tillgänglighet är i sig en typ av« (party programme ↗)“Lack of accessibility is in itself a form of”
- strengthened support for disabilities»förbättra stödet för personer med funktionsnedsättning och sällsynta diagnoser oavsett var du bor i landet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“improve support for people with disabilities and rare diagnoses regardless of where you live in the country.”
The plan wants a Sweden where no one is disadvantaged because of disability and where everyone is needed, which carries the demand to map and address lower participation in democratic processes.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants a Sweden where no one is disadvantaged because of disability and where everyone is needed, which carries the demand to map and address lower participation in democratic processes. The party also wants to create a society with full accessibility and that the state takes greater responsibility for support to people with disabilities. That precisely a new power investigation is the right tool does not appear from the documents.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill ha ett Sverige där ingen missgynnas på grund av funktionsnedsättning och där alla behövs, vilket bär kravet på att kartlägga och åtgärda den lägre delaktigheten i demokratiska processer. Partiet vill dessutom skapa ett samhälle med full tillgänglighet och att staten tar ett större ansvar för stödet till personer med funktionsnedsättning. Att just en ny maktutredning är rätt verktyg framgår inte av dokumenten.
- no one shall be disadvantageddecisive»Vi måste fortsätta arbetet för ett Sverige där ingen missgynnas på grund av kön, härkomst eller funktionsnedsättning, ett Sverige där kulturen, medierna och akademin är fri, ett Sverige där alla behövs.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We must continue the work for a Sweden where no one is disadvantaged because of gender, origin or disability, a Sweden where culture, media and academia are free, a Sweden where everyone is needed.”
- full accessibility»Tillgängligheten är avgörande för människor med olika funktionsnedsättningar.« (party programme ↗)“Accessibility is crucial for people with different disabilities.”
- the state's responsibility for support»Du som har en funktionsnedsättning ska få det stöd du behöver, och staten ska ta ett större ansvar för att LSS fungerar.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“You who have a disability shall receive the support you need, and the state shall take greater responsibility for the functioning of LSS.”
- strengthened protection with disability»samt lägga till kön och funktionsnedsättning som hatbrottsgrunder« (2022 manifesto ↗)“and add gender and disability as hate crime grounds”
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's decisive commitment is that the disability rights perspective should always be present when political decisions are prepared and made, which is precisely the participation the counter-proposal wants to create forms for.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's decisive commitment is that the disability rights perspective should always be present when political decisions are prepared and made, which is precisely the participation the counter-proposal wants to create forms for. The plan also states that lack of accessibility creates unfreedom and that policy should prioritize increasing freedom for those who have the least freedom. More opportunities to influence decision-making is, according to the plan, a democratic value in itself.
Original (Swedish)
Planens avgörande åtagande är att funktionsrättsperspektivet alltid ska finnas med när politiska beslut förbereds och fattas, vilket är just den delaktighet motförslaget vill skapa former för. Planen konstaterar också att bristande tillgänglighet skapar ofrihet och att politiken ska prioritera att öka friheten för dem som har minst frihet. Fler möjligheter att påverka beslutsfattandet är enligt planen ett demokratiskt egenvärde.
- disability rights perspective in decisionsdecisive»Därför är det viktigt att funktionsrättskonventionens artikel om rätten att leva självständigt och delta i samhället blir till lag, och att funktionsrättsperspektivet alltid finns med när politiska beslut förbereds och fattas.« (party programme ↗)“Therefore, it is important that the disability rights convention's article on the right to live independently and participate in society becomes law, and that the disability rights perspective is always present when political decisions are prepared and made.”
- inaccessibility creates unfreedom»Bristande tillgänglighet skapar ofrihet för den som lever med en funktionsnedsättning.« (party programme ↗)“Lack of accessibility creates unfreedom for those living with a disability.”
- prioritize those with least freedom»Politiken ska prioritera att öka friheten för dem som har minst frihet.« (party programme ↗)“Policy should prioritize increasing freedom for those who have the least freedom.”
- more ways to influence»Det behövs fler möjligheter att följa den politiska processen och påverka beslutsfattandet.« (party programme ↗)“There is a need for more opportunities to follow the political process and influence decision-making.”
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 notes that persons with disabilities risk being negatively singled out and holds the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as a guiding star, while the democratic ideal is that every citizen is given the opportunity to participate and be involved continuously.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan notes that persons with disabilities risk being negatively singled out and holds the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as a guiding star, while the democratic ideal is that every citizen is given the opportunity to participate and be involved continuously. Creating forms to involve the group in decisions affecting them follows from this. The form itself, new power inquiry, is not treated in the documents, so confidence is low.
Original (Swedish)
Planen konstaterar att personer med funktionsnedsättning riskerar att bli negativt särbehandlade och håller FN:s konvention om rättigheter för människor med funktionsnedsättning som ledstjärna, samtidigt som demokratiidealet är att varje medborgare ges möjlighet till deltagande och delaktighet kontinuerligt. Att skapa former för att involvera gruppen i beslut som rör dem följer av detta. Själva formen ny maktutredning behandlas inte i dokumenten, varför säkerheten är låg.
- risk of negative singling outdecisive»Personer med funktionsnedsättning riskerar att i« (party programme ↗)“Persons with disabilities risk being”
- continuous participation»deltagande, inflytande och delaktighet, inte bara vid« (party programme ↗)“participation, influence and involvement, not only at”
- UN disability rights convention»viktig ledstjärna i detta avseende är FN:s konvention« (party programme ↗)“an important guiding star in this respect is the UN Convention”
- self-determination in disability»SJÄLVBESTÄMMANDE VID FUNKTIONSNEDSÄTTNING« (2022 manifesto ↗)“SELF-DETERMINATION IN DISABILITY”
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 counter-proposal is based on an analysis of power distributed among groups, and the plan describes the collectivisation of politics as a threat to a free and open society; everyone should be assessed as an individual, not by group affiliation.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal is based on an analysis of power distributed among groups, and the plan describes the collectivisation of politics as a threat to a free and open society; everyone should be assessed as an individual, not by group affiliation. The plan also sees politics' task as to prioritise and leave out, which speaks against a new comprehensive power inquiry. Responsibility for the weak and vulnerable is a counterweight, but does not carry the demand.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget bygger på en analys av makt fördelad mellan grupper, och just kollektiviseringen av politiken beskriver planen som ett hot mot ett fritt och öppet samhälle; var och en ska bedömas utifrån sin person, inte utifrån grupptillhörighet. Planen ser dessutom politikens uppgift som att prioritera och välja bort, vilket talar mot en ny bred maktutredning. Att ansvaret för de svaga och utsatta kommer först är en motvikt, men bär inte kravet.
- collectivisation is a threatdecisive»Kollektiviseringen av politik och debattklimat är ett hot mot« (party programme ↗)“The collectivisation of politics and debate climate is a threat to”
- the individual, not the group»allas rätt att bli bedömda utifrån sin person« (party programme ↗)“everyone's right to be assessed as a person”
- prioritise and leave out»Politiken har en viktig uppgift att prioritera och välja bort,« (party programme ↗)“Politics has an important task to prioritise and leave out,”
- responsibility for the vulnerable»utbildningssystemet; samt ansvar för de svaga och utsatta« (party programme ↗)“education system; and responsibility for the weak and vulnerable”
The plan requires that unnecessary expenditures be scaled back, that clear results be demanded from every public investment and that welfare be prioritised before political prestige projects.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that unnecessary expenditures be scaled back, that clear results be demanded from every public investment and that welfare be prioritised before political prestige projects. A broad new power inquiry about the distribution of power among social groups is such an inquiry-based investment that the plan is sceptical of. The plan, however, substantively supports that persons with disabilities should not be limited in their access to social life, which is why the conclusion is uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att onödiga utgifter skalas bort, att tydliga resultat begärs för varje offentlig satsning och att välfärden prioriteras framför politiska prestigeprojekt. En bred ny maktutredning om maktfördelningen mellan samhällsgrupper är en sådan utredningssatsning som planen är skeptisk till. Planen stödjer däremot i sak att funktionsnedsatta inte ska begränsas i sin tillgång till samhällslivet, varför slutsatsen är osäker.
- no unnecessary public expendituresdecisive»Skala bort onödiga utgifter i det offentliga« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Scale back unnecessary public expenditures”
- results requirement for investments»Begära tydliga resultat för varje offentlig satsning« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Demand clear results from every public investment”
- welfare before prestige projects»Satsa på välfärden istället för politiska prestigeprojekt« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Invest in welfare instead of political prestige projects”
- participation for persons with disabilities»Medborgare som på grund av omständigheter bortom egen kontroll möter andra utmaningar i vardagen ska inte begränsas i sin tillgång till samhälls- eller arbetslivet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Citizens who, due to circumstances beyond their control, face other challenges in daily life should not be limited in their access to social or working life.”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2024/25:KU16)
- Committee report full text (HC01KU16)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2023/24:474 — Grundlag av Matheus Enholm m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:105 — Om krav på enbart svenskt medborgarskap för statsråd och riksdagsledamöter av Rashid Farivar (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1193 — Avskaffande av anonyma partibidrag av Niels Paarup-Petersen (C)
- Motion 2024/25:1295 — Skydda även svensk kultur i regeringsformen av Staffan Eklöf (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1345 — Det svenska språkets bevarande av Runar Filper m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1374 — Granskning av Matheus Enholm m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1375 — Grundlag av Matheus Enholm m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1376 — Konservativ politik för samtid och framtid av Matheus Enholm m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1377 — Några valfrågor av Matheus Enholm m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1380 — En behövlig myndighetsöversyn av Matheus Enholm m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1481 — En riksrevision för kommunerna av Malin Danielsson och Cecilia Rönn (båda L)
- Motion 2024/25:150 — Ökad transparens i partifinansieringen av Ola Möller (S)
- Motion 2024/25:1774 — Stärkt kulturpolitik - stärkt demokrati av Mats Berglund m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2024/25:1784 — Ett modernt statsskick av Niels Paarup-Petersen m.fl. (C, S, L, MP, V)
- Motion 2024/25:1922 — En funktionsrättspolitik för trygghet och delaktighet av Nadja Awad m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2024/25:1934 — Konstitutionella frågor av Jessica Wetterling m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2024/25:1935 — Åtgärder för de nationella minoriteterna och minoritetsspråken av Nooshi Dadgostar m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2024/25:1984 — Värnande av demokratin av Ann-Sofie Alm (M)
- Motion 2024/25:222 — Införande av sanktioner för överträdelse i lagen om restriktioner vid statsråds och statssekreterares övergång till annan än statlig verksamhet av Josef Fransson (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:223 — Nationellt organiserad kommun- och regionrevision av Josef Fransson (SD)
Source: The Swedish Parliament