2023-02-082022/23:FöU6 · p.3FöUDefence
Civil defense and capacity
Civil defence and capability
What's at stake: Civil defence covers the activities carried out by government agencies, municipalities, regions, businesses and civil society to prepare Sweden for war, such as civil protection, healthcare, emergency services and supply. How ambitiously and how quickly this work is pursued affects the resilience of the whole of society and the safety of people across the country in a crisis or war.
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 goals and basic principles for civil defence and society's crisis preparedness - such as how to handle damage to people, buildings and infrastructure, and how to secure transport, healthcare, emergency services and supply in wartime - should be reconsidered or expanded now, or whether the recently decided structure for crisis preparedness and civil defence, together with the civil capabilities identified by Nato, should form the basis for continued work without being pre-empted.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee notes that Nato has identified seven civil capabilities intended to help secure important societal functions, and that these capabilities will form a central starting point for the national work to develop crisis preparedness and civil defence. The committee judges that crisis preparedness and civil defence should be treated as communicating vessels and sees no reason to pre-empt the ongoing work, since parliament has already decided which capabilities civil defence should have as its goal and the government has decided on a new structure giving a clearer division of roles and responsibilities among the actors involved. The committee therefore rejects the motions on civil defence's capabilities and basic principles.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 5 (S)
The reservation (S) holds that civil defence must be built to meet the demands of war and cover the full breadth of society. This includes being able to handle damage to people, buildings and infrastructure, maintain transport and cybersecurity, carry out repairs, organise production, stockpile supplies, arrange civil protection, healthcare and emergency services, and manage refugee flows. The reservation calls for the government to work toward this in the continued development of civil defence.
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 5 by S.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
The decision would have gone the other way
Explicit commitments that contradicted the vote: LLiberalerna, MModeraterna, SDSverigedemokraterna
Ja 172–92Nej 37–227
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 | Yes 21/0/0/3 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | No 0/92/0/15 | match | confidence: high | explicit |
| MP | No | Abstain 0/0/14/4 | differs | confidence: high | explicit |
| C | No | Abstain 1/0/15/8 | differs | confidence: high | explicit |
| L | No | Yes 14/0/0/2 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: medium | explicit |
| KD | No | Yes 15/0/0/4 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 60/0/0/8 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| SD | No | Yes 61/0/0/12 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
Broke with the party line
| CAnders Ådahl (C, Västra Götalands läns västra) | Yes — 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 2022/23:780 by Jesper Skalberg Karlsson (M) clause 2, 2022/23:782 by Thomas Ragnarsson (M), 2022/23:851 by Mikael Larsson et al. (C) clauses 11-13 and 18, 2022/23:948 by Sven-Olof Sällström et al. (SD) clauses 34 and 35, 2022/23:2012 by Peter Hultqvist et al. (S) clause 8 and 2022/23:2262 by Emma Berginger et al. (MP) clause 1.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2022/23:780 av Jesper Skalberg Karlsson (M) yrkande 2, 2022/23:782 av Thomas Ragnarsson (M), 2022/23:851 av Mikael Larsson m.fl. (C) yrkandena 11-13 och 18, 2022/23:948 av Sven-Olof Sällström m.fl. (SD) yrkandena 34 och 35, 2022/23:2012 av Peter Hultqvist m.fl. (S) yrkande 8 och 2022/23:2262 av Emma Berginger m.fl. (MP) yrkande 1.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag said no to all motions on defense policy and total defense from the general motion period 2022. The motions dealt with, for example, military and civilian defense, cyber policy and material supply. The Riksdag believes, among other things, that work is already underway in the areas covered by the motions.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants the military and civil defense together to have sufficient strength and composition to deter others from attacking, controlling or exploiting Swedish territory. (S) — Reservation 5
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 the healthcare sector needs to be strengthened so that capacity can be scaled up in times of crisis, that rescue services and other public services exist equally throughout the country and that the state increases its control over societally important infrastructure.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that the healthcare sector needs to be strengthened so that capacity can be scaled up in times of crisis, that rescue services and other public services exist equally throughout the country and that the state increases its control over societally important infrastructure. A civil defence that includes healthcare, civil protection, transport and supply is in line with this, as opposed to military rearming.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att vårdsektorn rustas upp så att kapaciteten kan växlas upp i kristider, att räddningstjänst och annan samhällsservice finns likvärdigt i hela landet och att staten ökar sin kontroll över samhällsviktig infrastruktur. Ett civilt försvar som omfattar sjukvård, befolkningsskydd, transporter och försörjning ligger i linje med detta, till skillnad från militär upprustning.
- crisis preparedness in healthcaredecisive»Sverige behöver rusta upp hela vårdsektorn för att kunna klara de mer normala skiftningarna i vårdbehov men också för att kunna växla upp kapaciteten i kristider.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden needs to strengthen the entire healthcare sector to handle both more normal shifts in healthcare needs but also to be able to scale up capacity in times of crisis.”
- public rescue services throughout the country»skola, vård, omsorg och service, som t.ex. räddningstjänst« (party programme ↗)“school, healthcare, elder care and services, such as rescue services”
- state control over infrastructure»Staten måste öka sin kontroll över infrastruktur och resurser som behövs för att genomföra klimatomställningen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The state must increase its control over infrastructure and resources needed to carry out the climate transition.”
- civil before military direction»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.”
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 commits to strengthening the civil defence with increased resources for health service emergency stockpiles and increased preparedness in the transport sector.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan commits to strengthening the civil defence with increased resources for health service emergency stockpiles and increased preparedness in the transport sector. The counter-proposal's requirement for a civil defence that meets the demands of war and encompasses healthcare, transport, cybersecurity and population protection is the same thing in substance. The plan further wishes to build a strong people's defence and oblige private healthcare providers to contribute in crisis and war.
Original (Swedish)
Planen förbinder sig till att rusta upp det civila försvaret med ökade resurser för beredskapslager för sjukvården och ökad beredskap i transportsektorn. Motförslagets krav på ett civilt försvar som klarar krigets krav och omfattar sjukvård, transporter, cybersäkerhet och befolkningsskydd är samma sak i sak. Planen vill dessutom bygga ett starkt folkförsvar och ålägga privata vårdgivare att bidra i kris och krig.
- equip the civil defencedecisive»Arbetet att förstärka det civila försvaret och krisberedskapen måste fortsätta, bland annat genom ökade resurser för att rusta och bygga beredskapslager för sjukvården och öka beredskapen i transportsektorn.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Work to strengthen the civil defence and crisis preparedness must continue, among other things through increased resources to equip and build emergency stockpiles for the health service and increase preparedness in the transport sector.”
- strong people's defence»Sverige behöver bygga ett starkt folkförsvar.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden needs to build a strong people's defence.”
- healthcare resources in crisis and war»Privata vårdgivare ska vara skyldiga att bidra med personal och vårdplatser i händelse av kris eller krig.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Private healthcare providers shall be obliged to contribute with staff and hospital beds in the event of crisis or war.”
- cyber preparedness»Arbetet för att stärka förmågan att stå emot cyberattacker och desinformation ska stärkas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Work to strengthen the ability to resist cyberattacks and misinformation should be strengthened.”
The election manifesto wants to allocate a larger proportion of defense spending to civil defense and increase appropriations for crisis preparedness, strengthen self-sufficiency in staple foods and protect drinking water supply, and the party programme requires that Sweden and local communities become less vulnerable.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto wants to allocate a larger proportion of defense spending to civil defense and increase appropriations for crisis preparedness, strengthen self-sufficiency in staple foods and protect drinking water supply, and the party programme requires that Sweden and local communities become less vulnerable. The counter-proposal's requirement for a civil defense encompassing the full breadth of society is the same thing in substance. The plan therefore supports the counter-proposal.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet vill lägga en större andel av försvarets pengar på det civila försvaret och öka anslagen till krisberedskap, stärka självförsörjningen på baslivsmedel och skydda dricksvattenförsörjningen, och partiprogrammet kräver att Sverige och lokalsamhällena blir mindre sårbara. Motförslagets krav på ett civilt försvar som omfattar hela samhällets bredd är samma sak i sak. Planen stöder därför motförslaget.
- prioritized civil defensedecisive»satsa en större andel av försvarets pengar på det civila försvaret, och öka anslagen till krisberedskap.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“allocate a larger proportion of defense spending to civil defense, and increase appropriations for crisis preparedness.”
- reduced vulnerability»Sverige som land och även lokalsamhällena måste« (party programme ↗)“Sweden as a country and also local communities must”
- self-sufficiency in crisis»stärka det svenska jordbruket för ökad självförsörjning med baslivsmedel, och stödja övergången till ett ekologiskt och hållbart jordbruk med fossiloberoende arbetsmaskiner.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“strengthen Swedish agriculture for increased self-sufficiency in staple foods, and support the transition to an ecological and sustainable agriculture with fossil-free work machinery.”
- protection of vital societal functions»stärka skyddet av våra dricksvattentäkter och se till att det finns fungerande reservvattentäkter.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“strengthen protection of our drinking water sources and ensure that there are functioning reserve water sources.”
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 states that civil defence is also vital and that civil defence and society's preparedness must be strengthened in preparation for war and crisis.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that civil defence is also vital and that civil defence and society's preparedness must be strengthened in preparation for war and crisis. The counter-proposal's requirement that civil defence is built to meet the demands of war and encompasses the full breadth of society is thus exactly the plan's commitment. The plan also points to food supply and the rural area's role as parts of Sweden's preparedness.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att också det civila försvaret är livsviktigt och att civilförsvaret och samhällets beredskap måste rustas inför krig och kris. Motförslagets krav på att det civila försvaret byggs för krigets krav och omfattar hela samhällets bredd är därmed just planens åtagande. Planen pekar dessutom ut livsmedelsförsörjningen och landsbygdens roll som delar av Sveriges beredskap.
- strengthen civil defencedecisive»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 in preparation for war and crisis.”
- strengthened civil preparedness»Centerpartiet vill rusta försvaret, stärka Sveriges civila beredskap och fullfölja inträdet i Nato.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Centre Party wants to strengthen defence, strengthen Sweden's civil preparedness and complete accession to NATO.”
- supply preparedness»Den är viktig i goda tider och livsviktig i händelse av krig eller kris. Matproduktionen måste öka, på kort och lång sikt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It is important in good times and vital in the event of war or crisis. Food production must increase, in the short and long term.”
- preparedness throughout the country»Om vi lyckas förbättra landsbygdernas villkor gör vi en insats för hela landets bästa — för Sveriges beredskap och för framtida generationer.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“If we succeed in improving conditions in rural areas, we make a contribution to the best of the entire country — for Sweden's preparedness and for future generations.”
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 election manifesto demands that civil defence is strengthened at the same pace as military defence, which is exactly what the counter-proposal wants to advance throughout society.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto demands that civil defence is strengthened at the same pace as military defence, which is exactly what the counter-proposal wants to advance throughout society. The plan also wants the state to take greater responsibility for healthcare preparedness and that civil society's role in total defence increases. That the nation's defence capability must increase bears the same conclusion.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet kräver att det civila försvaret stärks i samma takt som det militära, vilket är precis vad motförslaget vill driva vidare i hela samhällets bredd. Planen vill dessutom att staten tar ett större ansvar för sjukvårdens beredskap och att civilsamhällets utrymme i totalförsvaret ökar. Att den nationella försvarsförmågan måste öka bär samma slutsats.
- civil defence at the same pacedecisive»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 employees and conscripts in the war organisation should increase, new materiel be provided and civil defence be strengthened at the same pace as the military.”
- state responsibility for healthcare preparedness»Staten ska ta ett större ansvar för sjukvårdens strategiska planering, placering av högspecialiserad vård, beredskap och långsiktig kompetensförsörjning.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The state shall take greater responsibility for healthcare's strategic planning, placement of highly specialised care, preparedness and long-term competence supply.”
- civil society in total defence»Utrymmet för ideella insatser i vård och omsorg, utbildning och kultur, bistånd och totalförsvar ska öka.« (party programme ↗)“The space for voluntary efforts in care and social services, education and culture, aid and total defence should increase.”
- increased defence capability»Sveriges nationella försvarsförmåga måste öka.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden's national defence capability must increase.”
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 counter-proposal wants civil defence to be built for the demands of war and encompass the breadth of society, from population protection and healthcare to transportation, cyber security and warehousing.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal wants civil defence to be built for the demands of war and encompass the breadth of society, from population protection and healthcare to transportation, cyber security and warehousing. The party programme requires that total defence can participate in managing severe strains on society, that Sweden in principle can provide for the population's food and energy supply and that civilian defence forms complement military defence. The plan thus supports the direction of the requirement.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget vill att det civila försvaret byggs för krigets krav och omfattar hela samhällets bredd, från befolkningsskydd och sjukvård till transporter, cybersäkerhet och lagerhållning. Principprogrammet kräver att totalförsvaret kan delta i hanteringen av svåra påfrestningar i samhället, att Sverige i princip kan svara för befolkningens livsmedels- och energiförsörjning och att civila försvarsformer kompletterar det militära försvaret. Planen stöder därmed kravets inriktning.
- total defence preparednessdecisive»delta i hanteringen av katastrofer och andra svåra påfrestningar i samhället« (party programme ↗)“participate in managing disasters and other severe strains on society”
- supply preparedness»kunna svara för befolkningens livsmedels- och energi« (party programme ↗)“be able to provide for the population's food and energy”
- civilian defence forms»Civilmotstånd och andra alternativa försvarsformer ska vara ett komplement till det militära försvaret« (party programme ↗)“Civil resistance and other alternative defence forms shall be a complement to military defence”
- broad threat spectrum»möta angrepp från internationell kriminalitet, terrorism, cyberkrigföring, biologiska vapen, kemiska vapen« (party programme ↗)“meet attacks from international crime, terrorism, cyber warfare, biological weapons, chemical weapons”
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 election manifesto establishes that if civil defence does not function, neither can military defence accomplish its tasks, and promises long-term planning, strengthened personnel supply and better emergency stockpiles.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto establishes that if civil defence does not function, neither can military defence accomplish its tasks, and promises long-term planning, strengthened personnel supply and better emergency stockpiles. Investments in military and civil defence should proceed in step to create functioning total defence. The counter-proposal's demand for a civil defence built to meet war requirements throughout society is therefore supported by the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet slår fast att om det civila försvaret inte fungerar kan inte heller det militära försvaret lösa sina uppgifter, och lovar långsiktig planering, förstärkt personalförsörjning och bättre beredskapslager. Satsningarna på militärt och civilt försvar ska gå i takt för ett fungerande totalförsvar. Motförslagets krav på ett civilt försvar som byggs för krigets krav i hela samhällets bredd stöds därför av planen.
- civil defence as prerequisitedecisive»Fungerar inte det civila försvaret så kan inte heller det militära försvaret lösa sina uppgifter.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“If civil defence does not function, neither can military defence accomplish its tasks.”
- integrated total defence»Sammantaget krävs kraftfulla satsningar på såväl det militära som det civila försvaret och att dessa satsningar går i takt för att skapa ett fungerande totalförsvar som stärker Sveriges säkerhet på bred front.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“In total, powerful investments in both military and civil defence are required and these investments must proceed in step to create functioning total defence that strengthens Sweden's security on a broad front.”
- emergency stockpiles»Bygga bättre beredskapslager« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Build better emergency stockpiles”
- long-term civil planning»Säkra en långsiktig planering för det civila försvaret« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Ensure long-term planning for 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 counter-proposal wants civil defence to be built to meet the demands of war and include population protection, healthcare, transport, warehousing and production.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal wants civil defence to be built to meet the demands of war and include population protection, healthcare, transport, warehousing and production. The plan requires that emergency stocks be re-established and dimensioned for the needs of the entire population, that Sweden's self-sufficiency in critical goods be increased and that appropriations for civil defence and war leadership be increased. The counter-proposal's breadth is precisely the ambition the plan articulates.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget vill att det civila försvaret byggs för krigets krav och omfattar befolkningsskydd, sjukvård, transporter, lagerhållning och produktion. Planen kräver att beredskapslager återupprättas och dimensioneras för hela befolkningens behov, att självförsörjningsgraden av kritiska varor ökar och att anslagen till civilförsvar och krisledning ökar. Motförslagets bredd är just den ambition planen anger.
- re-established emergency stocksdecisive»Sverigedemokraterna vill också återupprätta beredskapslager för att täcka kritiska behov som kan uppstå utifrån olika scenarier.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden Democrats also want to re-establish emergency stocks to cover critical needs that may arise from various scenarios.”
- increased appropriations for civil defence»Anslagen till de myndigheter som har övergripande ansvar för civilförsvar, krisledning och beredskap bör öka och stödet till civilorganisationer med samhällsuppdrag ska stärkas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Appropriations for government agencies with overarching responsibility for civil defence, war leadership and civil protection should increase and support for civil organisations with societal missions should be strengthened.”
- self-sufficiency in crisis»Öka den svenska självförsörjningsgraden av kritiska produkter och varor« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Increase Sweden's self-sufficiency in critical products and goods”
- total defence for the demands of war»Återupprätta ett totalförsvar som är rustat för krig« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Re-establish a total defence system equipped for war”
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 (2022/23:FöU6)
- Committee report full text (HA01FöU6)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2022/23:100 — Sydsvenskt försvar av Hans Wallmark m.fl. (M)
- Motion 2022/23:1160 — Ökad satsning på cybersäkerhet av Per-Arne Håkansson (S)
- Motion 2022/23:1202 — Livsmedelsstrategi av Mattias Ottosson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:1261 — Granskning av svenskarnas användning av känslig teknik av Markus Wiechel och Björn Söder (båda SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1654 — Säkerhetspolitiskt orienterad doktrin för energi och livsmedel av Anders Ådahl (C)
- Motion 2022/23:1685 — Nationella beredskapslager av Eric Westroth och Ann-Christine From Utterstedt (båda SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1760 — Utländska uppköp av Johan Löfstrand m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:1764 — Säkerhetspolitik av Aron Emilsson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:2012 — Försvar och samhällets krisberedskap av Peter Hultqvist m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:2020 — Nationell strategi för global cyberpolitik av Markus Kallifatides m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:2262 — Stärk det civila försvaret och krisberedskapen av Emma Berginger m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2022/23:266 — Stärkt försvarsförmåga i Västernorrland av Peter Hedberg och Malin Larsson (båda S)
- Motion 2022/23:315 — Internationellt kris- och hälsosamarbete av Markus Wiechel (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:319 — Beredskapslag av Markus Wiechel (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:51 — Godkännande av utländska investeringar av strategisk betydelse av Robert Stenkvist (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:663 — Stärkt försvar av Göteborg av David Josefsson och Marie-Louise Hänel Sandström (båda M)
- Motion 2022/23:780 — Försvaret på Gotland av Jesper Skalberg Karlsson (M)
- Motion 2022/23:782 — Utbyggnad av den civila beredskapen av Thomas Ragnarsson (M)
- Motion 2022/23:848 — En bättre digital säkerhet - stärkt cybersäkerhet för nutid och framtid av Niels Paarup-Petersen m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:850 — Ett mer krigsdugligt militärt försvar i hela landet av Mikael Larsson m.fl. (C)
Source: The Swedish Parliament