2023-06-202022/23:JuU27 · p.3JuUJustice
Strengthened criminal law protection for opinion-formers and others
What's at stake: The decision affects what legal protection exists for people exposed to threats and hate because of their engagement, such as representatives of civil-society organisations who campaign on issues like human rights. If the protection is not extended, this group risks lacking the enhanced criminal-law protection proposed for groups such as journalists.
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 new criminal-law protection against crimes targeting people because of their professional journalism and certain socially important functions should also be extended to cover opinion formers active in civil society, or whether the protection should be limited to the professional groups already proposed.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee shares the government's assessment that a special aggravating ground is needed for crimes against those who work professionally as journalists, as well as enhanced protection for people carrying out certain socially important functions, and considers the proposal to be well balanced. However, the committee is not prepared to extend the protection on its own initiative to also cover opinion formers within civil society, and therefore rejects the motion.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 3 (MP)
The reservation (MP) calls for an inquiry to be set up to examine the possibility of extending criminal-law protection to also cover opinion formers within civil society and people engaged in voluntary and non-profit work. The reasoning is that the scope of the proposal would otherwise be too narrow, while civil-society representatives - particularly those who speak out on issues such as racism, refugee policy and LGBTQI rights - report increasing threats and hatred that risk silencing people and damaging democracy and freedom of expression.
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 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 | Yes 21/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | Yes 94/0/0/13 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | No 0/15/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | No | Yes 20/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| L | No | Yes 14/0/0/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 16/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 60/0/0/8 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| SD | No | Yes 62/0/0/10 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
Committee proposal
Parliament rejects motion 2022/23:2391 by Jan Riise et al. (MP) claim 1.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motion 2022/23:2391 av Jan Riise m.fl. (MP) yrkande 1.
Riksdag decision: Parliament approved the government's proposal for amendments to, among other things, the criminal code. The proposals aim to strengthen criminal law protection for journalists and staff in health care, social services, rescue services, as well as in schools and higher education. The government also proposes that the penalty for serious violations of confidentiality requirements be increased. The legislative changes are to come into force on 1 August 2023.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to extend criminal law protection to opinion-formers within civil society. (MP) — 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 establishes that work against racism and fascism requires popular rootedness and that strong and independent popular movements shall be valued, while also stating that LGBTQ+ people face threats, hate and violence in everyday life.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that work against racism and fascism requires popular rootedness and that strong and independent popular movements shall be valued, while also stating that LGBTQ+ people face threats, hate and violence in everyday life. Freedom of expression and the right to organize opposition are building blocks of democracy that shall be defended and strengthened. Investigating expanded criminal protection for opinion-formers in civil society follows from these commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att arbetet mot rasism och fascism kräver folklig förankring och att starka och självständiga folkrörelser ska värnas, samtidigt som den konstaterar att hbtqi-personer möter hot, hat och våld i vardagen. Yttrandefriheten och rätten att organisera opposition hör till demokratins byggstenar som ska försvaras och stärkas. Att utreda ett utvidgat straffrättsligt skydd för opinionsbildare i civilsamhället följer av dessa åtaganden.
- anti-racism requires popular movementsdecisive»Arbetet mot rasism och fascism kräver politisk bredd och folklig förankring.« (party programme ↗)“Work against racism and fascism requires political breadth and popular rootedness.”
- value popular movements»starka och självständiga folkrörelser« (party programme ↗)“strong and independent popular movements”
- threats to vulnerable groups»Och om du är en hbtqi-person är risken stor att trakasserier, hot, hat och våld blir en del av vardagen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“And if you are an LGBTQ+ person, there is a significant risk that harassment, threats, hate and violence become part of daily life.”
- freedom of expression shall be defended»föreningsfriheten, yttrande- och tryckfriheten, offentlighetsprincipen« (party programme ↗)“freedom of association, freedom of expression and press, the principle of public access”
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 states that democracy is undermined when groups spread hate and frighten individuals into silence, and that society has an absolute duty to protect freedom and prevent threats of violence.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme states that democracy is undermined when groups spread hate and frighten individuals into silence, and that society has an absolute duty to protect freedom and prevent threats of violence. Civil society is described as democracy's foundation, which bears the counter-proposal's demand that protection also encompasses opinion-formers and those civically engaged. The plan further wishes to stiffen penalties for serious crimes.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår fast att demokratin undergrävs när grupper sprider hat och skrämmer enskilda till tystnad, och att samhället har en absolut skyldighet att skydda friheten och förhindra hot om våld. Civilsamhället beskrivs som demokratins underbyggnad, vilket bär motförslagets krav på att skyddet också omfattar opinionsbildare och ideellt engagerade. Planen vill dessutom skärpa straffen för allvarliga brott.
- hate silences democracydecisive»Demokratin undergrävs när rasistiska och andra ickedemokratiska grupper sprider sitt hat« (party programme ↗)“Democracy is undermined when racist and other non-democratic groups spread their hate”
- duty to protect»Det är samhällets absoluta skyldighet att skydda friheten och den personliga integriteten« (party programme ↗)“It is society's absolute duty to protect freedom and personal integrity”
- civil society as foundation»Ett starkt och levande civilsamhälle är demokratins underbyggnad.« (party programme ↗)“A strong and living civil society is the foundation of democracy.”
- stiffened penalties»Skärpa straffen för att hålla de kriminella borta från gatorna.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Stiffen penalties to keep criminals off the streets.”
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 no one should be subjected to hate crimes or hate propaganda and that criminal policy should place the crime victim and their vulnerability at the center, and the election manifesto wants to strengthen freedom of expression.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme establishes that no one should be subjected to hate crimes or hate propaganda and that criminal policy should place the crime victim and their vulnerability at the center, and the election manifesto wants to strengthen freedom of expression. That an investigation be conducted into expanded criminal law protection for opinion-shapers in civil society who are threatened for speaking about racism, refugee issues and LGBTQ issues follows from these commitments. The plan also binds itself to powerfully counteracting racism and fascism.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår fast att ingen ska utsättas för hatbrott eller hatpropaganda och att rättspolitiken ska sätta brottsoffret och dennes utsatthet i centrum, och valmanifestet vill förstärka yttrandefriheten. Att utreda ett utvidgat straffrättsligt skydd för opinionsbildare i civilsamhället som hotas för att de talar om rasism, flyktingfrågor och hbtqi-frågor följer av dessa åtaganden. Planen förbinder sig också att kraftfullt motverka rasism och fascism.
- protection against hate and threatsdecisive»utsättas för hatbrott eller hatpropaganda.« (party programme ↗)“subjected to hate crimes or hate propaganda.”
- strengthened freedom of expression»förstärka yttrandefriheten och stödja oberoende medier i hela landet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“strengthen freedom of expression and support independent media throughout the country.”
- victim-centered approach»brottsoffret och dennes utsatthet i centrum.« (party programme ↗)“the crime victim and their vulnerability at the center.”
- struggle against racism»Vi arbetar kraftfullt mot rasism och fascism.« (party programme ↗)“We work powerfully against racism and fascism.”
The plan requires that hate, threats and harassment against democracy-bearing activities cease and that protection for people active in, among other things, media and religious communities is strengthened.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that hate, threats and harassment against democracy-bearing activities cease and that protection for people active in, among other things, media and religious communities is strengthened. Civil society is described as a fundamental part of democracy, which suggests that its representatives are also included. Investigating expanded criminal legal protection for opinion-formers in civil society thus follows from the plan's commitment, even though this particular group is not listed.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att hat, hot och trakasserier mot demokratibärande verksamheter upphör och att skyddet för personer verksamma i bland annat media och religiösa samfund stärks. Civilsamhället beskrivs som en fundamental del av demokratin, vilket talar för att också dess företrädare omfattas. Att utreda ett utvidgat straffrättsligt skydd för opinionsbildare i civilsamhället följer därmed av planens åtagande, även om just den gruppen inte räknas upp.
- strengthened protection against hate and threatsdecisive»Hat, hot, trakasserier och våld riktade mot demokratibärande institutioner måste upphöra. Vi ska stärka skyddet för personer verksamma bland annat i media, religiösa samfund och offentlig förvaltning.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Hate, threats, harassment and violence directed at democracy-bearing institutions must cease. We will strengthen protection for people active in, among other things, media, religious communities and public administration.”
- civil society's role in democracy»Det civila samhället, människornas frivilliga organisering, är en fundamental del av varje väl fungerande demokrati och välfärdsstat.« (party programme ↗)“Civil society, people's voluntary organization, is a fundamental part of every well-functioning democracy and welfare state.”
- protect free speech»En allsidig, oberoende och livskraftig mediebevakning i hela landet är avgörande för demokratin. Pressfriheten ska skyddas och oberoende public service försvaras.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Comprehensive, independent and vibrant media monitoring throughout the country is crucial for democracy. Press freedom must be protected and independent public service defended.”
- threats never acceptable»Hot och kränkningar är lika oacceptabla på internet som i andra sammanhang.« (party programme ↗)“Threats and insults are equally unacceptable on the internet as in other contexts.”
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 introduces a new crime to protect public employees against persecution and wants to cherish free speech by strengthening civil society's independence, which is seen as a prerequisite for democracy.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan introduces a new crime to protect public employees against persecution and wants to cherish free speech by strengthening civil society's independence, which is seen as a prerequisite for democracy. The party programme demands that threats and harassment against those who engage actively be combated. To investigate expanded criminal legal protection for opinion-formers in civil society follows from these commitments, even though this specific group is not mentioned.
Original (Swedish)
Planen inför ett nytt brott för att skydda offentliganställda mot förföljelse och vill värna det fria samtalet genom att stärka civilsamhällets oberoende, som ses som en förutsättning för demokratin. Partiprogrammet kräver att hot och trakasserier mot dem som engagerar sig aktivt bekämpas. Att utreda ett utvidgat straffrättsligt skydd för opinionsbildare i civilsamhället följer av dessa åtaganden, även om just den gruppen inte nämns.
- criminal legal protection against persecutiondecisive»Socialsekreterare och andra offentliganställda ska skyddas mot förföljelse och utsatthet genom att ett nytt brott – tjänstemannaförföljelse – införs.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Social workers and other public employees shall be protected against persecution and victimisation through a new crime – persecution of a civil servant – being introduced.”
- combat threats against the engaged»att engagera sig politiskt måste värnas och hot och trakasserier mot politiskt aktiva och förtroendevalda« (party programme ↗)“to engage politically must be cherished and threats and harassment against those who are politically active and holders of office”
- civil society bears democracy»Samhället byggs underifrån – civilsamhället är inte ett komplement till utan en förutsättning för demokratin.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Society is built from below – civil society is not a complement to but a prerequisite for democracy.”
- cherish free speech»Det fria samtalet ska värnas genom att stärka oberoendet hos journalistiken, kulturen och civilsamhället.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Free speech shall be cherished by strengthening independence in journalism, culture and civil society.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan stipulates that a vital civil society is of utmost importance for a living democracy and that protection for freedom of expression and information and freedom of association must be strong.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan stipulates that a vital civil society is of utmost importance for a living democracy and that protection for freedom of expression and information and freedom of association must be strong. Violations of fellow citizens' integrity can never be tolerated. Investigating an expanded criminal law protection for civil society's opinion-formers follows from this; the manifesto also shows a will to create new criminal provisions to protect vulnerable functions.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att ett vitalt civilt samhälle är av största vikt för en levande demokrati och att skyddet för yttrande- och meddelarfriheten samt föreningsfriheten måste vara starkt. Kränkningar av medmänniskors integritet kan aldrig tolereras. Att utreda ett utvidgat straffrättsligt skydd för civilsamhällets opinionsbildare följer av detta; manifestet visar också vilja att skapa nya brottsrubriceringar för att skydda utsatta funktioner.
- vital civil societydecisive»Ett vitalt civilt samhälle är av största vikt för en levande demokrati och ett mänskligt samhälle.« (party programme ↗)“A vital civil society is of utmost importance for a living democracy and a human society.”
- protection for freedom of expression»Ett starkt skydd för yttrande- och meddelarfriheten« (party programme ↗)“A strong protection for freedom of expression and information”
- zero tolerance for violations»Övergrepp och kränkningar av medmänniskors integritet och egendom kan aldrig« (party programme ↗)“Abuse and violations of fellow citizens' integrity and property can never”
- expanded criminal law protection»Inför brottsrubriceringen missfirmelse mot tjänsteman« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Regarding the criminal provision against assault of a public official”
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 promises to strengthen criminal law protection against threats, violence and other illegal attacks to protect freedom of the press and expression, and the programme establishes zero tolerance against all types of threats and violence, particularly when directed at democratic processes.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan promises to strengthen criminal law protection against threats, violence and other illegal attacks to protect freedom of the press and expression, and the programme establishes zero tolerance against all types of threats and violence, particularly when directed at democratic processes. The counter-proposal's demand for an inquiry into expanded protection for opinion-makers in civil society is in line with this. The plan therefore supports the demand in substance.
Original (Swedish)
Planen lovar att stärka det straffrättsliga skyddet mot hot, våld och andra olagliga angrepp för att värna tryck- och yttrandefriheten, och programmet slår fast nolltolerans mot alla typer av hot och våld, inte minst när det riktas mot demokratiska processer. Motförslagets krav på en utredning av utvidgat skydd för opinionsbildare i civilsamhället ligger i linje med detta. Planen stöder därför kravet i sak.
- criminal law protection for freedom of expressiondecisive»Stärka det straffrättsliga skyddet för journalister, i syfte att värna tryck- och yttrandefriheten, motverka hot, våld och andra olagliga angrepp mot journalister och medieredaktioner« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen criminal law protection for journalists, in order to protect freedom of the press and expression, counteract threats, violence and other illegal attacks against journalists and media editorial offices”
- zero tolerance for threats»fritt samhälle har nolltolerans mot alla typer av hot och våld,« (party programme ↗)“free society has zero tolerance against all types of threats and violence,”
- protection for democratic processes»inte minst när detta riktas mot förtroendevalda, våra demokratiska processer och vår rättsordning.« (party programme ↗)“particularly when directed at elected representatives, our democratic processes and our rule of law.”
- strengthened protection for the vulnerable»Stärka skyddet för vittnen och brottsoffer« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen protection for witnesses and crime victims”
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 every journalist's, artist's and citizen's right to express themselves freely without threat or reprisal shall be protected and strengthened, and wants to strengthen the constitutional protection of freedom of expression.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto establishes that every journalist's, artist's and citizen's right to express themselves freely without threat or reprisal shall be protected and strengthened, and wants to strengthen the constitutional protection of freedom of expression. The plan furthermore wants to substantially increase sentences for offences against the person and strengthen the position of crime victims. Investigating expanded criminal legal protection also for opinion-formers in civil society therefore follows the plan's commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet slår fast att varje journalists, konstutövares och medborgares rätt att uttrycka sig fritt utan hot eller repressalier ska värnas och stärkas, och vill förstärka grundlagens skydd för yttrandefriheten. Planen vill dessutom kraftigt höja straffen för brott mot person och stärka brottsoffrets ställning. Att utreda ett utvidgat straffrättsligt skydd även för opinionsbildare i civilsamhället följer därför planens åtaganden.
- freedom of expression without threatdecisive»Varje journalists, konstutövares och medborgares rätt att uttrycka sig fritt utan att utsättas för hot eller repressalier ska värnas och stärkas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Every journalist's, artist's and citizen's right to express themselves freely without being subjected to threat or reprisal shall be protected and strengthened.”
- strengthened freedom of expression 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”
- increased sentences for offences against person»Kraftigt höja straffen samt avskaffa mängdrabatten vid allvarliga brott mot person« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Substantially increase sentences and abolish the volume discount in serious offences against the person”
- strengthened victim position»Stärka brottsoffrets ställning och öka stödet till brottsoffer« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen the position of crime victims and increase support for crime victims”
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 (2022/23:JuU27)
- Committee report full text (HA01JuU27)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2022/23:2391 — med anledning av prop. 2022/23:106 Skärpt syn på brott mot journalister och vissa andra samhällsnyttiga funktioner av Jan Riise m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2022/23:2392 — med anledning av prop. 2022/23:106 Skärpt syn på brott mot journalister och vissa andra samhällsnyttiga funktioner av Gudrun Nordborg m.fl. (V)
- Proposition 2022/23:106 — Skärpt syn på brott mot journalister och vissa andra samhällsnyttiga funktioner
Source: The Swedish Parliament