2025-11-052025/26:UFöU1 · p.1UFöUDefence
Rejection of the proposition
Rejecting the entire government bill on a new decision-making procedure for NATO's deterrence and defence activities
What's at stake: The decision concerns the balance of power between the Riksdag and the government when it comes to deploying armed forces abroad, and how quickly Sweden can act within NATO cooperation compared with how broadly anchored and democratically legitimate such decisions are.
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 Riksdag should reject the government's bill in its entirety and retain the current arrangement, under which deploying Swedish armed forces abroad requires the Riksdag's consent in each individual case, or whether the new legislation should be adopted.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee does not share the motion's view that the proposal should be rejected in its entirety. The committee notes that NATO membership entails a commitment to continuously contribute to the alliance's deterrence and defence activities, which requires the ability to decide on participation quickly and effectively. The committee agrees with the government's assessment that new legislation is needed rather than relying on the constitutional provision on consent in a particular case, and welcomes that the Riksdag will, as a general rule, continue to approve such deployments. The motion calling for rejection is rejected by the committee.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 1 (V)
The reservation (V) argues that there is no justification for such a power shift from the Riksdag to the government, and that the Riksdag, as Sweden's highest decision-making and directly elected body, should be the one making decisions with the greatest legitimacy. A worsened security environment may create a need for swift action, but experience from, among other things, the COVID-19 pandemic and support to Ukraine shows, according to the reservation, that the Riksdag can already make rapid decisions, including through committee initiatives. In cases of political disagreement or on controversial issues, it is considered especially important that decisions are made by the Riksdag, and a democratic decision-making order is also judged to strengthen Sweden's ability to withstand pressure from individual countries to take part in operations that are not in Sweden's or NATO's collective interest. The reservation also points to shortcomings in how the existing law treats troops from other allied countries. It therefore proposes that the Riksdag reject motion 2025/26:309.
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 1 by V.
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 0/19/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| S | Yes | Yes 91/0/0/15 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| MP | No | Yes 14/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| C | Yes | Yes 19/0/0/5 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| L | Yes | Yes 14/0/0/2 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| KD | Yes | Yes 16/0/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| M | Yes | Yes 58/0/0/10 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| SD | Yes | Yes 61/0/0/11 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
Committee proposal
Parliament rejects motion 2025/26:309 by Hanna Gunnarsson et al. (V).
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motion 2025/26:309 av Hanna Gunnarsson m.fl. (V).
Riksdag decision: Parliament approved the government's proposal on a clear decision procedure for participation in NATO's collective defence and deterrence activities. The proposal means that a regulation in law is introduced on how decisions on deploying Swedish armed forces in such activities shall be made. According to the main rule, it is continuing to be Parliament that makes decisions on the framework for Swedish participation in NATO. In urgent situations, however, the government shall have its own mandate to deploy numerically limited armed forces for a limited time. The law changes enter into force on 1 December 2025.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants parliament to reject the government's proposal to expand executive authority to deploy armed forces abroad. (V) — Reservation 1
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 people's political power over the state is exercised by the Riksdag and that the government is accountable to it.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that the people's political power over the state is exercised by the Riksdag and that the government is accountable to it. A rejection of legislation that moves decisions about deploying armed forces from the Riksdag to the government follows from that principle, especially as the plan sees fundamental problems with NATO's structure and wants Sweden not to be drawn into geopolitical conflicts. The counter-proposal's demand is therefore supported by the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att folkets politiska makt över staten utövas av riksdagen och att regeringen är ansvarig inför den. Ett avslag på en lagreglering som flyttar beslut om att sätta in väpnade styrkor från riksdagen till regeringen följer av den principen, särskilt som planen ser grundläggande problem med Natos uppbyggnad och vill att Sverige inte dras in i geopolitiska konflikter. Motförslagets krav stöds därför av planen.
- Riksdag's supremacydecisive»Folkets politiska makt över staten ska utövas av riksdagen, tillsatt genom allmänna, fria och rättvisa val« (party programme ↗)“The people's political power over the state shall be exercised by the Riksdag, elected through general, free and fair elections.”
- government accountability to Riksdag»Regeringen ska vara ansvarig inför riksdagen.« (party programme ↗)“The government shall be accountable to the Riksdag.”
- criticism of NATO»Vi ser grundläggande problem med Natos uppbyggnad.« (party programme ↗)“We see fundamental problems with NATO's structure.”
The election manifesto states that NATO membership is the best way for Sweden's security, and the party programme wants Sweden to be among the most active in working for collective security within NATO.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto states that NATO membership is the best way for Sweden's security, and the party programme wants Sweden to be among the most active in working for collective security within NATO. A rejection of the entire legislative framework would leave in place an arrangement that complicates rapid and continuous contribution to the alliance's activities. The plan's parliamentary principle qualifies but does not sustain a total rejection.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet slår fast att Natomedlemskapet är den bästa vägen för Sveriges säkerhet, och partiprogrammet vill att Sverige hör till de mest aktiva i arbetet för gemensam säkerhet inom Nato. Ett avslag på hela lagregleringen skulle lämna kvar en ordning som försvårar snabbt och kontinuerligt bidrag till alliansens verksamhet. Planens parlamentariska princip kvalificerar men bär inte ett totalavslag.
- Swedish NATO membershipdecisive»Sverige ska gå med i Nato. Ett svenskt medlemskap i Nato är den bästa vägen för vårt lands säkerhet och Sverige har därför lämnat in sin medlemsansökan.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden shall join NATO. Swedish NATO membership is the best way for our country's security and Sweden has therefore submitted its membership application.”
- active collective security»ett Sverige som hör till de mest aktiva i arbetet för gemensam säkerhet« (party programme ↗)“a Sweden that is among the most active in working for collective security”
- Nordic security cooperation»Utvecklat nordiskt samarbete, också inom säkerhetspolitiken med hela Norden med i« (party programme ↗)“Developed Nordic cooperation, also in security policy with the whole of the Nordic region included”
- parliamentary anchorage»ser principen om att all offentlig makt utgår från folket och den parlamentariska demokratin« (party programme ↗)“sees the principle that all public power emanates from the people and parliamentary democracy”
The plan establishes that power should be shared and always critically scrutinised and that decisions should be made as close to those affected as possible, and that NATO membership must be reconciled with an independent foreign and security policy.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that power should be shared and always critically scrutinised and that decisions should be made as close to those affected as possible, and that NATO membership must be reconciled with an independent foreign and security policy. A shift of power from the Riksdag to the government regarding deployment of armed forces contradicts these principles. The counter-proposal's requirement for rejection thus aligns with the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att makt bör delas och alltid granskas kritiskt och att beslut ska fattas så nära de berörda som möjligt, samt att Natomedlemskapet måste förenas med en självständig utrikes- och säkerhetspolitik. En maktförskjutning från riksdagen till regeringen i frågan om insats av väpnade styrkor går emot dessa principer. Motförslagets krav på avslag ligger därför i linje med planen.
- power shall be shared and scrutiniseddecisive»Överdriven maktkoncentration är odemokratiskt och korrumperar.« (party programme ↗)“Excessive power concentration is undemocratic and corrupting.”
- independent security policy»Sveriges medlemskap i Nato måste förenas med en självständig utrikes- och« (party programme ↗)“Sweden's membership in NATO must be reconciled with an independent foreign and”
- protect the constitutional state»Miljöpartiet vill värna och stärka rättsstaten« (party programme ↗)“The Greens want to protect and strengthen the constitutional state”
- popularly rooted decisions»Därför bör beslut tas så nära människor som möjligt« (party programme ↗)“Therefore decisions should be made as close to people as possible”
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 fulfilling NATO membership and to strengthen defence rapidly, powerfully and long-term, and bases security on close military cooperation with democracies in the region.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan commits to fulfilling NATO membership and to strengthen defence rapidly, powerfully and long-term, and bases security on close military cooperation with democracies in the region. To reject the bill entirely would leave participation in the alliance's joint deterrence and defence activities unregulated and hinder that commitment. The plan's requirement to protect the Riksdag's position justifies objections to parts of the proposal, but not a total rejection.
Original (Swedish)
Planen åtar sig att fullfölja Natomedlemskapet och att rusta försvaret snabbt, kraftfullt och långsiktigt, och bygger säkerheten på nära militärt samarbete med demokratier i närområdet. Att avslå lagförslaget i sin helhet skulle lämna deltagandet i alliansens gemensamma avskräcknings- och försvarsverksamhet oreglerat och försvåra det åtagandet. Planens krav på att riksdagens ställning skyddas motiverar invändningar mot delar av förslaget, men inte ett totalavslag.
- fulfil NATO membershipdecisive»Centerpartiet vill rusta försvaret, stärka Sveriges civila beredskap och fullfölja inträdet i Nato.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Centerpartiet wants to strengthen defence, strengthen Sweden's civil preparedness and complete the entry into NATO.”
- rapid defence strengthening»Sverige ska försvaras. Vi vill rusta det militära försvaret snabbt, kraftfullt och långsiktigt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden shall be defended. We want to strengthen military defence rapidly, powerfully and long-term.”
- close military cooperation»genom ett eget försvar samt genom nära militärt samarbete med« (party programme ↗)“through its own defence as well as through close military cooperation with”
- protect the Riksdag's position»Våra demokratiska institutioner behöver skydd. Vi vill göra det svårare att ändra grundlagen, skydda oppositionens ställning i riksdagen och stärka domstolarnas oberoende.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Our democratic institutions need protection. We want to make the constitution harder to amend, protect the opposition's position in the Riksdag, and strengthen the independence of the courts.”
The plan establishes that Sweden shall be part of NATO and together with allies defend both Sweden and our part of the world, and that Sweden within NATO shall particularly contribute to the defence of Finland and the Baltics.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that Sweden shall be part of NATO and together with allies defend both Sweden and our part of the world, and that Sweden within NATO shall particularly contribute to the defence of Finland and the Baltics. A rejection of the entire legal regulation would leave in place an order not adapted to this continuous commitment. The plan values democracy's transparency, but provides no support for rejecting a regulation of participation in the alliance's activities.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att Sverige ska vara med i Nato och tillsammans med allierade försvara både Sverige och vår del av världen, och att Sverige inom Nato särskilt ska bidra till försvaret av Finland och Baltikum. Ett avslag på hela lagregleringen skulle lämna kvar en ordning som inte är anpassad till detta kontinuerliga åtagande. Planen värnar folkstyrets insyn, men ger inget stöd för att avvisa en reglering av deltagandet i alliansens verksamhet.
- full NATO membershipdecisive»Därför ska Sverige gå med i Nato och tillsammans med USA, Kanada och våra europeiska grannar försvara både Sverige och vår del av världen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Therefore Sweden shall join NATO and together with the USA, Canada and our European neighbours defend both Sweden and our part of the world.”
- security through cooperation»Grunden för Sveriges säkerhetspolitik ska vara samarbete med andra demokratier.« (party programme ↗)“The foundation for Sweden's security policy shall be cooperation with other democracies.”
- active contribution within NATO»Sverige ska inom Nato särskilt kunna bidra med den infrastruktur som behövs för att skapa ett nödvändigt och strategiskt djup för försvaret av Finland och Baltikum.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden shall within NATO particularly be able to contribute the infrastructure needed to create necessary and strategic depth for the defence of Finland and the Baltics.”
- transparency and anchorage»Offentlighetsprincipen har en grundläggande betydelse för att förankra och fördjupa folkstyret,« (party programme ↗)“The public access principle has fundamental importance for anchoring and deepening democracy,”
The party programme establishes that Sweden cannot remain neutral if neighbouring countries are attacked, that close cooperation with NATO is a natural part of security policy and that defence shall be capable of deterring war during crises in the neighbouring region.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme establishes that Sweden cannot remain neutral if neighbouring countries are attacked, that close cooperation with NATO is a natural part of security policy and that defence shall be capable of deterring war during crises in the neighbouring region. A rejection of the entire regulatory framework would leave participation in the alliance's deterrence activities without appropriate decision-making procedures. The requirement that operations occur only after independent Swedish decisions is also met by the new arrangement.
Original (Swedish)
Principprogrammet slår fast att Sverige inte kan stå neutralt om grannländerna anfalls, att ett nära samarbete med Nato är en naturlig del av säkerhetspolitiken och att försvaret ska kunna verka krigsavhållande vid kriser i närområdet. Ett avslag på hela lagregleringen skulle lämna deltagandet i alliansens avskräckningsverksamhet utan ändamålsenlig beslutsordning. Kravet på att insatser sker efter självständiga svenska beslut tillgodoses även med den nya ordningen.
- solidarity with neighbouring countriesdecisive»Vi kan inte stå neutrala om våra grannländer anfalls.« (party programme ↗)“We cannot remain neutral if our neighbouring countries are attacked.”
- close cooperation in alliance»Ett öppet och nära samarbete med NATO bör, givet nämnda kriterier, vara en naturlig del av svensk säkerhetspolitik.« (party programme ↗)“Close and open cooperation with NATO should, given the criteria mentioned, be a natural part of Swedish security policy.”
- war-deterring readiness»Försvarsmakten ska ha en sådan styrka, sammansättning, beredskap och gruppering att den kan verka krigsavhållande vid säkerhetspolitiska kriser i närområdet.« (party programme ↗)“The Armed Forces shall have such strength, composition, readiness and deployment that it can deter war during security policy crises in the neighbouring region.”
- independent Swedish decisions»insatser ska genomföras först efter självständiga svenska beslut.« (party programme ↗)“operations shall be conducted only after independent Swedish decisions.”
The plan wants Sweden as a NATO member to have high ambition and be able to contribute quickly and concretely to the alliance's joint operations, and it wants to gather security policy leadership in a national security council.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants Sweden as a NATO member to have high ambition and be able to contribute quickly and concretely to the alliance's joint operations, and it wants to gather security policy leadership in a national security council. To reject the new decision-making order entirely would maintain an order that complicates rapid participation. The plan therefore argues against the counter-proposal's demands.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill att Sverige som Natomedlem ska ha hög ambitionsnivå och kunna bidra snabbt och konkret till alliansens gemensamma verksamhet, och den vill samla den säkerhetspolitiska ledningen i ett nationellt säkerhetsråd. Att avslå den nya beslutsordningen i sin helhet skulle behålla en ordning som försvårar snabbt deltagande. Planen talar därför emot motförslagets krav.
- active NATO memberdecisive»Sverige ska som medlem i Nato vara en säkerhetsproducent i vårt närområde och även få ut mesta möjliga effekt av medlemskapet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden as a member of NATO should be a security producer in our region and also get the most out of membership.”
- adaptation to NATO»Förbereda försvaret för svenskt Natomedlemskap« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Prepare the defence for Swedish NATO membership”
- full NATO membership»Vi ska vara en fullvärdig medlem i Nato« (party programme ↗)“We shall be a full member of NATO”
- coordinated security policy leadership»Inrätta ett nationellt säkerhetsråd på Statsrådsberedningen« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Establish a national security council at the Prime Minister's Office”
flags: citat_migrerat
The plan affirms defence alliances such as NATO and requires that Sweden be armed for a new security policy situation with a total defence that is armed for war.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan affirms defence alliances such as NATO and requires that Sweden be armed for a new security policy situation with a total defence that is armed for war. The counter-proposal wants to reject the entire statutory framework, which leaves in place a decision procedure that is not adapted to the alliance commitment. The plan's demand for strengthened democracy motivates transparency but not that the regulations fall entirely.
Original (Swedish)
Planen bejakar försvarsallianser som Nato och kräver att Sverige rustas för en ny säkerhetspolitisk situation med ett totalförsvar som är rustat för krig. Motförslaget vill avslå hela lagregleringen, vilket lämnar kvar en beslutsordning som inte är anpassad till alliansåtagandet. Planens krav på stärkt folkstyre motiverar insyn men inte att regleringen faller i sin helhet.
- new security policy situationdecisive»Rusta Sverige inför en ny säkerhetspolitisk situation i vårt närområde« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Arm Sweden for a new security policy situation in our region”
- defence alliances strengthen security»Genom bilaterala- och internationella avtal, samarbeten och försvarsallianser såsom Nato, stärker vi vår säkerhet och värnar Sveriges försvars- och säkerhetspolitiska intressen.« (party programme ↗)“Through bilateral and international agreements, cooperation and defence alliances such as NATO, we strengthen our security and protect Sweden's defence and security policy interests.”
- total defence»Återupprätta ett totalförsvar som är rustat för krig« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Re-establish a total defence that is armed for war”
- strengthened democracy»Bejaka och stärka det svenska folkstyrets oberoende« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Uphold and strengthen Swedish democracy's independence”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2025/26:UFöU1)
- Committee report full text (HD01UFöU1)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2025/26:275 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:6 En tydlig beslutsordning för deltagande i Natos samlade verksamhet för avskräckning och försvar av Mikael Larsson och Kerstin Lundgren (båda C)
- Motion 2025/26:309 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:6 En tydlig beslutsordning för deltagande i Natos samlade verksamhet för avskräckning och försvar av Hanna Gunnarsson m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2025/26:358 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:6 En tydlig beslutsordning för deltagande i Natos samlade verksamhet för avskräckning och försvar av Emma Berginger m.fl. (MP)
- Proposition 2025/26:6 — En tydlig beslutsordning för deltagande i Natos samlade verksamhet för avskräckning och försvar
Source: The Swedish Parliament