2024-05-292023/24:SfU15 · p.3SfUMigration & social insurance
Strengthened work in matters of exemption from citizenship
Strengthened work in cases involving release from citizenship for children
What's at stake: The decision concerns how well the best interests of the child are safeguarded in cases where a child may lose their Swedish citizenship, and could affect how consistent and quality-assured the authorities' handling of such cases becomes.
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 be tasked with strengthening the authorities' work and developing clearer guidelines to prevent children from being released from their Swedish citizenship contrary to the best-interests-of-the-child principle, or whether the current handling is sufficient.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee rejects the motion for a specific formal statement on the issue. The committee finds no grounds for proposing such a statement beyond the tightening of the citizenship rules that the committee otherwise backs.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 3 (MP)
The reservation (MP) calls for the government to take measures to strengthen the authorities' work to prevent children from being released from their citizenship contrary to the best interests of the child. The reasoning is that guidelines and criteria for assessing the best interests of the child need to be made clearer, that cases should be handled by qualified and trained staff with ongoing follow-up, and that cooperation between authorities in such cases needs to increase.
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 18/0/0/6 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | Yes 91/0/0/15 | 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 19/0/0/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 11/0/0/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 16/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: high | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 58/0/0/10 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| SD | No | Yes 61/0/0/11 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motion 2023/24:2857 by Annika Hirvonen et al. (MP) amendment 3.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motion 2023/24:2857 av Annika Hirvonen m.fl. (MP) yrkande 3.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag approved changes to the citizenship law. A person can acquire Swedish citizenship at birth, by adoption, by declaration, or by application. The Government proposes that the requirements for acquiring Swedish citizenship by declaration should be tightened. The proposed provisions mean that a person who is reasonably suspected of or convicted of certain criminal offences, constitutes a threat to Sweden's security or public safety, or has connections to certain groups and organizations, shall not be able to acquire Swedish citizenship by declaration. The provisions shall, with certain exceptions, apply to everyone who has reached 15 years of age. According to the Government, the significance of Swedish citizenship needs to be strengthened both legally and symbolically. The Government also proposes that the possibilities to reject an application for exemption from Swedish citizenship should be expanded. The aim is to strengthen the protection of children and adults in vulnerable situations. The legislative changes shall come into force on 1 October 2024.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to link exclusion from citizenship applications to sentence length rather than crime type and enable suspension of applications during criminal suspicion. (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 party programme wants to continue strengthening children's rights and requires that authorities meet all people with the same respect and that legal certainty is upheld.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme wants to continue strengthening children's rights and requires that authorities meet all people with the same respect and that legal certainty is upheld. Clearer criteria for assessing the best interests of the child, qualified personnel and better inter-agency cooperation in matters of citizenship exemption follow from these commitments. The plan does not specifically address citizenship exemption.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet vill fortsätta stärka barnets rättigheter och kräver att myndigheter möter alla människor med samma respekt och att rättssäkerheten upprätthålls. Tydligare kriterier för bedömningen av barnets bästa, kvalificerad personal och bättre myndighetssamverkan i ärenden om befrielse från medborgarskap följer av dessa åtaganden. Planen behandlar inte medborgarskapsbefrielse särskilt.
- stronger children's rightsdecisive»Utvecklingen mot starkare rättigheter för barn är en av de progressiva« (party programme ↗)“Development towards stronger rights for children is one of the progressive”
- authorities' special responsibility»Myndigheter har ett särskilt ansvar att möta alla människor« (party programme ↗)“Authorities have a special responsibility to meet all people”
- legally secure handling»Rättssäkerheten behöver upprätthållas genom rättshjälp, medborgerlig« (party programme ↗)“Legal certainty needs to be upheld through legal aid, civil”
- equal value in exercise of authority»Den offentliga maktutövningen ska vägledas av alla människors lika« (party programme ↗)“The exercise of public authority shall be guided by all people's equal”
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 the best interests of children shall be considered in all decisions and that all children have the right to a safe upbringing in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme establishes that the best interests of children shall be considered in all decisions and that all children have the right to a safe upbringing in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The counter-proposal's demands for clearer criteria, qualified personnel and increased authority coordination in cases of exemption from citizenship are precisely what that principle requires. The plan also requires objectivity and impartiality in the exercise of administrative authority.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår fast att barnens bästa ska beaktas vid alla beslut och att alla barn har rätt till en trygg uppväxt enligt barnkonventionen. Motförslagets krav på tydligare kriterier, kvalificerad personal och ökad myndighetssamverkan i ärenden om befrielse från medborgarskap är precis vad den principen kräver. Planen kräver också saklighet och opartiskhet i myndighetsutövningen.
- the Convention on the Rights of the Child governs decisionsdecisive»Alla barn ska ha rätt till en trygg uppväxt i enlighet med FN:s barnkonvention.« (party programme ↗)“All children shall have the right to a safe upbringing in accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.”
- the best interests of the child in all decisions»bästa ska beaktas vid alla beslut.« (party programme ↗)“best interests shall be considered in all decisions.”
- objective and impartial exercise of administrative authority»beakta allas likhet inför lagen och iaktta saklighet och opartiskhet.« (party programme ↗)“consider everyone's equality before the law and observe objectivity and impartiality.”
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 requires that the Convention on the Rights of the Child becomes Swedish law, that political decisions are preceded by child impact assessments and that children's legal security is strengthened, and the election manifesto that a child perspective should permeate immigration laws.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme requires that the Convention on the Rights of the Child becomes Swedish law, that political decisions are preceded by child impact assessments and that children's legal security is strengthened, and the election manifesto that a child perspective should permeate immigration laws. Clearer criteria for the child's best interests, qualified staff and better inter-agency cooperation in cases concerning release from citizenship follow directly from these commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet kräver att barnkonventionen blir svensk lag, att politiska beslut föregås av barnkonsekvensanalys och att barnets rättstrygghet stärks, och valmanifestet att barnperspektivet ska genomsyra migrationslagarna. Tydligare kriterier för barnets bästa, kvalificerad personal och bättre myndighetssamverkan i ärenden om befrielse från medborgarskap följer direkt av dessa åtaganden.
- child convention as lawdecisive»barnkonvention ska bli svensk lag« (party programme ↗)“Convention on the Rights of the Child should become Swedish law”
- strengthened legal security for children»ohälsa. Barnets rättstrygghet måste stärkas om det« (party programme ↗)“ill-health. Children's legal security must be strengthened if it”
- child perspective in immigration laws»Barnperspektivet ska genomsyra migrationslagarna« (2022 manifesto ↗)“A child perspective should permeate immigration laws”
- strengthened inter-agency cooperation»Samverkan mellan olika aktörer som« (party programme ↗)“Cooperation between different actors such as”
The party programme gives children's rights and perspective greatest importance when society's actors make decisions, and wants to see enforceable rights in a clear societal contract.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme gives children's rights and perspective greatest importance when society's actors make decisions, and wants to see enforceable rights in a clear societal contract. The election manifesto requires that exercise of state authority maintain high legal security and that everyone can have their case examined. Clearer criteria for the child's best interests, qualified staff and better cooperation in cases on release from citizenship therefore follow from the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet ger barnens rättigheter och perspektiv största betydelse när samhällets aktörer fattar beslut, och vill se utkrävbara rättigheter i ett tydligt samhällskontrakt. Valmanifestet kräver att myndighetsutövningen håller hög rättssäkerhet och att alla ska kunna få sin sak prövad. Tydligare kriterier för barnets bästa, kvalificerad personal och bättre samverkan i ärenden om befrielse från medborgarskap följer därför av planen.
- children's rightsdecisive»Samhällets aktörer ska inta individens perspektiv. Av största betydelse är då barnens rättigheter och perspektiv.« (party programme ↗)“Society's actors shall take the individual's perspective. Of greatest importance then are children's rights and perspective.”
- every child's right»Särskilt viktigt är att värna varje barns rätt att bli respekterad och att bli sedd för den man är.« (party programme ↗)“Especially important is to protect every child's right to be respected and to be seen for who they are.”
- legally secure exercise of state authority»Alla som bor i Sverige ska kunna få sin sak prövad. Ledtiderna för handläggning och myndighetsutövning i domstolar och myndigheter måste kortas och tillgången till ombud förbättras.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Everyone living in Sweden shall be able to have their case examined. Waiting times for processing and exercise of state authority in courts and agencies must be shortened and access to representatives improved.”
- enforceable rights»Vi vill se en rättighetslagstiftning, ett tydligt samhällskontrakt med utkrävbara rättigheter.« (party programme ↗)“We want to see rights-based legislation, a clear societal contract with enforceable rights.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan emphasizes that the child convention has been incorporated into Swedish law and that children's rights have thus been clarified, and it wants to make it easier for children born in Sweden to become citizens within the framework of an inclusive citizenship concept.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan emphasizes that the child convention has been incorporated into Swedish law and that children's rights have thus been clarified, and it wants to make it easier for children born in Sweden to become citizens within the framework of an inclusive citizenship concept. Strengthening authorities' work so that children are not deprived of their citizenship in conflict with the child's best interest follows from this. The plan also requires that authorities can effectively share information with each other.
Original (Swedish)
Planen framhåller att barnkonventionen införlivats i svensk lag och att barns rättigheter därmed tydliggjorts, och den vill göra det enklare för barn som föds i Sverige att bli medborgare inom ramen för ett inkluderande medborgarbegrepp. Att stärka myndigheternas arbete så att barn inte befrias från sitt medborgarskap i strid med barnets bästa följer av detta. Planen kräver också att myndigheter effektivt kan dela information med varandra.
- child convention is lawdecisive»Genom att FN:s barnkonvention införlivats i svensk lag tydliggörs« (party programme ↗)“By the UN child convention having been incorporated into Swedish law is clarified”
- children's citizenship»Det måste bli enklare för barn som föds i Sverige att bli svenska medborgare.« (party programme ↗)“It must become easier for children born in Sweden to become Swedish citizens.”
- inclusive citizenship concept»Liberalismen utgår från ett inkluderande medborgarbegrepp.« (party programme ↗)“Liberalism is based on an inclusive citizenship concept.”
- authority cooperation»myndigheter effektivt kan dela information med varandra.« (party programme ↗)“authorities can effectively share information with each other.”
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 the child's best interest should come first, that the child perspective should always be present in migration matters and that the process should be designed so that legal certainty is guaranteed to the individual.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme establishes that the child's best interest should come first, that the child perspective should always be present in migration matters and that the process should be designed so that legal certainty is guaranteed to the individual. Strengthening the authorities' work with clearer criteria and qualified staff in matters of exemption from citizenship is a direct implementation of this.
Original (Swedish)
Principprogrammet slår fast att barnets bästa ska komma i främsta rummet, att barnperspektivet alltid ska finnas med i migrationsärenden och att processen ska vara utformad så att rättssäkerhet garanteras den enskilde. Att stärka myndigheternas arbete med tydligare kriterier och kvalificerad personal i ärenden om befrielse från medborgarskap är en direkt tillämpning av detta.
- the child's best interest firstdecisive»barnets bästa ska komma i främsta rummet.« (party programme ↗)“the child's best interest shall come first.”
- child perspective in migration matters»Barnperspektivet ska alltid finnas med i migrations« (party programme ↗)“The child perspective should always be present in migration”
- legal certainty in process»måste hela processen vara utformad så att rättssäkerhet garanteras den« (party programme ↗)“must the entire process be designed so that legal certainty is guaranteed to the”
- the Convention on the Rights of the Child as basis»att stödja barn och ungdomar ska ske med utgångspunkt i FN:s barnkonvention« (party programme ↗)“that support for children and young people should be made on the basis of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan does not address exemption from citizenship.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan does not address exemption from citizenship. The closest-lying requirement is that all exercise of public power shall be regulated by law, be equal and predictable, and that official liability be sharpened for the decisions that are made. Because citizenship in the plan has high value with rights and duties, these principles argue for clearer criteria and qualified processing when children are involved.
Original (Swedish)
Planen behandlar inte befrielse från medborgarskap. Närmast ligger kravet på att all offentlig maktutövning ska vara lagstyrd, likabehandlande och förutsebar, och på ett skärpt tjänstemannaansvar för de beslut som fattas. Eftersom medborgarskapet i planen har ett högt värde med rättigheter och skyldigheter talar dessa principer för tydligare kriterier och kvalificerad handläggning när barn berörs.
- law-regulated exercise of powerdecisive»All offentlig maktutövning ska vara lagstyrd och vägledas av« (party programme ↗)“All exercise of public power shall be regulated by law and guided by”
- sharpened official liability»Skärpa tjänstemannaansvaret så att du som skattebetalare vet att med all offentlig maktutövning följer ett ansvar för de beslut som fattas« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sharpen official liability so that you as a taxpayer know that all exercise of public power is followed by accountability for the decisions that are made”
- the value of citizenship»Med det svenska medborgarskapet följer rättigheter och« (party programme ↗)“With Swedish citizenship come rights and”
- protection of children's rights»att säkerställa rättigheterna för barn och andra som inte kan« (party programme ↗)“to ensure the rights of children and others who cannot”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan requires that investigations concerning children are quality-assured and legally secure and that quality and legal protection in such investigations increase.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that investigations concerning children are quality-assured and legally secure and that quality and legal protection in such investigations increase. The party programme states that the child's best interests shall be considered in all situations. The counter-proposal's requirement for clearer criteria, qualified staff and better agency cooperation in cases of exemption from citizenship therefore aligns with the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att utredningar som rör barn är kvalitetssäkrade och rättssäkra och att kvalitet och rättssäkerhet i sådana utredningar ökar. Partiprogrammet slår fast att barnens bästa ska beaktas i alla situationer. Motförslagets krav på tydligare kriterier, kvalificerad personal och bättre myndighetssamverkan i ärenden om befrielse från medborgarskap ligger därför i linje med planen.
- legally secure child investigationsdecisive»Öka kvalité och rättssäkerhet i utredningar om barn« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Increase quality and legal protection in investigations concerning children”
- quality-assured investigations»Utredningar rörande barn ska vara kvalitetssäkrade och rättssäkra.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Investigations concerning children shall be quality-assured and legally secure.”
- the child's best interests»Att barnets bästa alltid ska beaktas« (2022 manifesto ↗)“That the best interests of the child shall always be considered”
- children's best interests in all situations»Sverigedemokraternas familjepolitik är att barnens bästa skall beaktas i alla situationer« (party programme ↗)“Sweden Democrats' family policy is that the best interests of the child shall be considered in all situations”
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.
Share and embed
Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2023/24:SfU15)
- Committee report full text (HB01SfU15)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2023/24:2847 — med anledning av prop. 2023/24:107 Ändringar i medborgarskapslagen av Tony Haddou m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2023/24:2857 — med anledning av prop. 2023/24:107 Ändringar i medborgarskapslagen av Annika Hirvonen m.fl. (MP)
- Proposition 2023/24:107 — Ändringar i medborgarskapslagen
Source: The Swedish Parliament