2024-04-032023/24:KU13 · p.3KUConstitution
Discrimination
Constitutional protection against discrimination based on political opinion
What's at stake: Without explicit protection, individuals risk being denied public-sector employment because of their political views or party affiliation; the question is how strong such protection should be and how soon it should be written into the constitution.
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 an explicit ban on discrimination based on political opinion, particularly in public-sector employment, should be written into the constitution now, or whether the matter should wait for the ongoing inquiry into general constitutional protection against discrimination.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee points out that the rights committee already appointed by the government has been tasked with assessing whether general protection against discrimination should be added to the constitution, and therefore sees no reason to take separate action now.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 1 (SD)
The reservation (SD) wants an inquiry into how an explicit ban on discrimination based on political opinion can be written into the constitution, clearly establishing that no one may be treated differently because of political views when hired in public, municipal or regional employment, pointing out that the European Convention already prohibits such discrimination.
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 SD.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
The decision would have held
Explicit commitments that contradicted the vote: KDKristdemokraterna
Ja 217–63Ja 202–78
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: low | not addressed |
| S | No | Yes 92/0/0/14 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | Yes 14/0/0/4 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | No | Abstain 0/0/21/3 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 14/0/0/2 | differs | confidence: medium | derived |
| KD | No | Yes 15/0/0/4 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| M | No | Yes 60/0/0/8 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| SD | No | No 0/63/0/9 | match | confidence: high | not addressed |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2023/24:469 by Matheus Enholm et al. (SD) motion 2, 2023/24:474 by Matheus Enholm et al. (SD) motions 3 and 4 as well as 2023/24:2490 by Malin Björk et al. (C) motion 1.3.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2023/24:469 av Matheus Enholm m.fl. (SD) yrkande 2, 2023/24:474 av Matheus Enholm m.fl. (SD) yrkandena 3 och 4 samt 2023/24:2490 av Malin Björk m.fl. (C) yrkande 1.3.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag rejected approximately forty proposals in motions on freedoms and rights from the general motion period of 2023. The Riksdag mainly refers to ongoing work. The motions deal with, among other things, constitutional protection of abortion rights, withdrawal of citizenship, discrimination, protection of property rights, the security and safety work of religious communities, a worldview-neutral state and freedom of association.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to introduce a prohibition against discrimination on grounds of political opinion in the constitution. (SD) — 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 party programme lists discrimination grounds in an open enumeration and establishes that such differential treatment can never be tolerated, and that the constitutional laws shall protect democracy and people's rights.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme lists discrimination grounds in an open enumeration and establishes that such differential treatment can never be tolerated, and that the constitutional laws shall protect democracy and people's rights. The programme also rejects politically motivated organisational bans and lifts freedom of association as a cornerstone. A constitutionally protected safeguard against discrimination on grounds of political opinion thus aligns with the plan's principles, even though the plan does not address just this ground.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet räknar upp diskrimineringsgrunder i en öppen uppräkning och slår fast att sådan särbehandling aldrig kan tolereras, samt att grundlagarna ska värna demokratin och människors rättigheter. Programmet avvisar också politiskt motiverade organisationsförbud och lyfter föreningsfriheten som en grundbult. Ett grundlagsfäst skydd mot diskriminering på grund av politisk åskådning ligger därmed i linje med planens principer, även om planen inte behandlar just denna grund.
- discrimination never acceptabledecisive»hudfärg, religion, kulturell eller etnisk bakgrund etc., aldrig kan tolereras.« (party programme ↗)“skin colour, religion, cultural or ethnic background etc., can never be tolerated.”
- the constitution protects rights»Grundlagarna ska värna demokratin och människors rättigheter,« (party programme ↗)“The constitutional laws shall protect democracy and people's rights,”
- no to political bans»politiskt motiverade organisationsförbud« (party programme ↗)“politically motivated organisational bans”
- political freedoms and rights»föreningsfriheten, yttrande- och tryckfriheten, offentlighetsprincipen« (party programme ↗)“freedom of association, freedom of speech and the press, public access principle”
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 the authorities respect equal treatment under the law and observe objectivity and impartiality, and that everyone has equal rights to influence society's development.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that the authorities respect equal treatment under the law and observe objectivity and impartiality, and that everyone has equal rights to influence society's development. That no one shall be treated differently in public employment on the basis of political opinion follows directly from this. The plan furthermore counts the freedom to express one's opinion and form an opinion as the core of democracy.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att myndigheterna beaktar allas likhet inför lagen och iakttar saklighet och opartiskhet, och att alla har lika rätt att påverka samhällets utveckling. Att ingen ska särbehandlas i offentlig anställning på grund av politisk uppfattning följer direkt av det. Planen räknar dessutom friheten att uttrycka sin mening och bilda opinion till demokratins kärna.
- equal treatment under the lawdecisive»beakta allas likhet inför lagen och iaktta saklighet och opartiskhet« (party programme ↗)“respect equal treatment under the law and observe objectivity and impartiality”
- equal rights to influence»Alla har lika rätt att påverka samhällets utveckling.« (party programme ↗)“Everyone has equal rights to influence society's development.”
- freedom of speech and expression»Den innefattar friheten att få uttrycka sin mening, kritisera« (party programme ↗)“It includes the freedom to express one's opinion, to criticize”
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 all forms of discrimination must be countered and that no improper registration or special treatment based on political opinions or democratic activity may occur.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme states that all forms of discrimination must be countered and that no improper registration or special treatment based on political opinions or democratic activity may occur. The election manifesto furthermore wants to strengthen anti-discrimination legislation. Investigating an explicit constitutional protection against discrimination based on political views is therefore in line with the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår fast att alla former av diskriminering ska motverkas och att ingen otillbörlig registrering eller särbehandling baserad på politiska åsikter eller demokratisk verksamhet får förekomma. Valmanifestet vill dessutom stärka lagstiftningen mot diskriminering. Att utreda ett uttryckligt grundlagsskydd mot diskriminering på grund av politisk åskådning ligger därför i linje med planen.
- no register based on political opiniondecisive»Ingen otillbörlig registrering eller övervakning baserad på politiska åsikter eller demokratisk verksamhet får förekomma.« (party programme ↗)“No improper registration or surveillance based on political opinions or democratic activity may occur.”
- all discrimination countered»Alla former av diskriminering ska motverkas.« (party programme ↗)“All forms of discrimination must be countered.”
- stronger anti-discrimination legislation»stärka lagstiftningen mot diskriminering och se över rätten till rättshjälp i diskrimineringsfall.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“strengthen anti-discrimination legislation and review the right to legal aid in discrimination cases.”
- free opinion formation»Yttrandefriheten och den fria åsiktsbildningen är ovärderliga.« (party programme ↗)“Freedom of expression and free opinion formation are invaluable.”
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 wants to strengthen the prohibition on discrimination among the fundamental rights that shall be protected, and the party programme combats all structures that discriminate against people.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto wants to strengthen the prohibition on discrimination among the fundamental rights that shall be protected, and the party programme combats all structures that discriminate against people. Investigating an explicit constitutional prohibition on discrimination on the basis of political opinion is in line with that and concerns a freedom the plan treats as inviolable. The plan does not, however, mention this particular ground for discrimination, which is why the conclusion is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet vill stärka diskrimineringsförbudet bland de grundläggande rättigheter som ska värnas, och partiprogrammet bekämpar alla strukturer som diskriminerar människor. Att utreda ett uttryckligt grundlagsförbud mot diskriminering på grund av politisk åskådning ligger i den linjen och rör en frihet planen behandlar som orubblig. Planen nämner dock inte just denna diskrimineringsgrund, varför slutsatsen är härledd.
- strengthened prohibition on discriminationdecisive»Vi vill stärka bland annat äganderätten, diskrimineringsförbudet, minoritetsskyddet och minoritetsspråkens ställning« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to strengthen, among other things, property rights, the prohibition on discrimination, minority protection and the status of minority languages”
- combat all discrimination»Vi bekämpar alla strukturer, formella och informella, som förtrycker eller diskriminerar människor.« (party programme ↗)“We combat all structures, formal and informal, that oppress or discriminate against people.”
- intensified work against discrimination»Mer måste göras mot diskriminering. Vi vill stärka myndigheternas arbete mot diskriminering och höja ersättningen till dem som utsatts« (2022 manifesto ↗)“More must be done against discrimination. We want to strengthen the authorities' work against discrimination and increase compensation to those who have been subjected to it”
- human rights as foundation»Respekten för de mänskliga rättigheterna är grunden för ett demokratiskt samhälle.« (party programme ↗)“Respect for human rights is the foundation of a democratic 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 wants to see strengthened constitutional protection for freedoms and rights and establishes that constitutional protection for democracy and individual rights should be strong.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to see strengthened constitutional protection for freedoms and rights and establishes that constitutional protection for democracy and individual rights should be strong. The right to engage politically should be especially protected, which carries the requirement for protection against discrimination based on political views in public employment. The plan also wants to modernize discrimination legislation.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill se ett förstärkt grundlagsskydd för fri- och rättigheter och slår fast att grundlagsskyddet för demokratin och de individuella rättigheterna ska vara starkt. Rätten att engagera sig politiskt ska särskilt värnas, vilket bär kravet på skydd mot särbehandling på grund av politisk åskådning i offentlig anställning. Planen vill dessutom modernisera diskrimineringslagstiftningen.
- strong constitutional protectiondecisive»Grundlagsskyddet för demokratin och de individuella fri- och rättigheterna ska vara starkt.« (party programme ↗)“Constitutional protection for democracy and individual freedoms and rights should be strong.”
- protection for political engagement»rättigheten att engagera sig politiskt måste värnas« (party programme ↗)“the right to engage politically must be protected”
- constitutionally protected rights»Vi vill se ett förstärkt grundlagsskydd för vårt demokratiska statsskick, öka domstolarnas oberoende och verka för en författningsdomstol som ska kunna häva lagar eller bestämmelser som strider mot grundlagsskyddade fri- och rättigheter.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to see strengthened constitutional protection for our democratic system of government, increase the independence of the courts, and work for a constitutional court that can strike down laws or regulations that violate constitutionally protected freedoms and rights.”
- modernized discrimination law»Vi vill modernisera diskrimineringslagen, prioritera polisens hatbrottsverksamhet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to modernize the discrimination law, prioritize the police's hate crime work”
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 explicitly establishes that the constitution shall ensure that no one is discriminated against, among other things on the basis of political or other opinion.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme explicitly establishes that the constitution shall ensure that no one is discriminated against, among other things on the basis of political or other opinion. That is precisely what the counter-proposal wants to investigate and establish in the constitution. The programme moreover wants the constitution to protect individuals' rights from violations and that an effective constitutional review power shall exist, which strengthens the conclusion.
Original (Swedish)
Principprogrammet slår uttryckligen fast att grundlagen ska säkerställa att ingen diskrimineras bland annat på grund av politisk eller annan åskådning. Det är precis vad motförslaget vill utreda och fastslå i grundlagen. Programmet vill dessutom att grundlagen ska skydda den enskildes rättigheter från övergrepp och att en effektiv lagprövningsrätt ska finnas, vilket förstärker slutsatsen.
- constitutional protection against discriminationdecisive»på grund av kön, ålder, funktionsvariationer, etniskt ursprung, religion, sexuell identitet, politisk eller annan åskådning, nationellt eller socialt ursprung« (party programme ↗)“on the basis of sex, age, functional variations, ethnic origin, religion, sexual identity, political or other opinion, national or social origin”
- the constitution protects rights»Grundlagen ska säkerställa de rättigheter som alltid ska finnas för den enskilda människan och skydda dessa rättigheter från övergrepp.« (party programme ↗)“The constitution shall ensure the rights that should always exist for the individual and protect these rights from violations.”
- effective constitutional review»Det ska finnas en effektiv lagprövningsrätt.« (party programme ↗)“There shall be an effective constitutional review power.”
- the constitution as firm foundation»Grundlagen ska vara den fasta grunden för alla offentliga normer och beslut.« (party programme ↗)“The constitution shall be the firm foundation for all public norms and decisions.”
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 wishes the constitution to have a clear rights catalogue that gives practical and effective protection for the individual against municipalities and state bodies, which is precisely the situation the counter-proposal targets in public employment.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wishes the constitution to have a clear rights catalogue that gives practical and effective protection for the individual against municipalities and state bodies, which is precisely the situation the counter-proposal targets in public employment. Strengthening protection of citizens' freedoms and rights is an explicit commitment, and the plan sees freedom of expression as a core issue where the alternative is ideological corridors. Investigating an explicit constitutional prohibition on discrimination on grounds of political opinion thereby aligns with the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill att grundlagen ska ha en tydlig rättighetskatalog som ger praktiskt och effektivt skydd för den enskilde gentemot kommuner och statliga myndigheter, vilket är precis den situation motförslaget tar sikte på vid offentliga anställningar. Att stärka skyddet för medborgarnas fri- och rättigheter är ett uttalat åtagande, och planen ser åsiktsfrihet som en kärnfråga där alternativet är åsiktskorridorer. Att utreda ett uttryckligt grundlagsförbud mot diskriminering på grund av politisk åskådning ligger därför i linje med planen.
- clear rights cataloguedecisive»Vår svenska grundlag ska ha en tydlig katalog av fri- och rättigheter.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Our Swedish constitution shall have a clear catalogue of freedoms and rights.”
- protection against the public»grundlagen också ger ett praktiskt och effektivt skydd för enskilda människor i relation till exempelvis en kommun eller en statlig myndighet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“the constitution also provides practical and effective protection for individuals in relation to, for instance, a municipality or a state body”
- strengthened rights protection»Stärka domstolarnas oberoende och skyddet för medborgarnas fri- och rättigheter« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen courts' independence and protection of citizens' freedoms and rights”
- protect against ideological corridors»Alternativet är censur, diskriminering och åsiktskorridorer.« (party programme ↗)“The alternative is censorship, discrimination and ideological corridors.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan wants to strengthen basic law protection of rights and states that every citizen's right to express themselves freely without suffering reprisals must be protected and strengthened.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to strengthen basic law protection of rights and states that every citizen's right to express themselves freely without suffering reprisals must be protected and strengthened. The party programme prohibits both negative and positive discrimination on the Swedish labor market. The counter-proposal's demand for a constitutionally enshrined prohibition on discrimination based on political opinion, even in public employment, follows directly from these commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill förstärka grundlagens rättighetsskydd och slår fast att varje medborgares rätt att uttrycka sig fritt utan att drabbas av repressalier ska värnas och stärkas. Partiprogrammet förbjuder både negativ och positiv särbehandling på den svenska arbetsmarknaden. Motförslagets krav på ett grundlagsfäst förbud mot diskriminering på grund av politisk åskådning, även vid offentlig anställning, följer direkt av dessa åtaganden.
- protection against reprisals for opinionsdecisive»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 threats or reprisals must be protected and strengthened.”
- strengthened basic law protection»Förstärka grundlagens rättighetsskydd vad gäller yttrandefrihet, äganderätt och frihet från religion« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen basic law protection of rights regarding freedom of expression, property rights and freedom from religion”
- no discrimination in working life»Vare sig negativ eller positiv särbehandling på basis av kön, ålder, sexuell läggning, nationalitet eller födelseland skall vara tillåtet på den svenska arbetsmarknaden.« (party programme ↗)“Neither negative nor positive discrimination on the basis of gender, age, sexual orientation, nationality or country of origin shall be permitted on the Swedish labor market.”
- strengthened norm testing»Öka möjligheten till normprövning i grundlagen« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Increase the possibility of norm testing in basic law”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2023/24:KU13)
- Committee report full text (HB01KU13)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2023/24:1055 — Införande av ett tredje juridiskt kön av Daniel Vencu Velasquez Castro och Anna Wallentheim (båda S)
- Motion 2023/24:1182 — Stärkt föreningsfrihet av Ola Möller (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1524 — Politik för de nationella minoriteterna av Amanda Lind m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:1732 — En livssynsöppen stat av Jakob Olofsgård (L)
- Motion 2023/24:1881 — En ny könstillhörighetslag, ett tredje juridiskt kön och könsmarkören X i pass av Ulrika Westerlund m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:1892 — Sveriges kristna kulturarv av Julia Kronlid och Aron Emilsson (båda SD)
- Motion 2023/24:2251 — Stärkt äganderätt av Sten Bergheden (M)
- Motion 2023/24:2291 — Slöjförbud i den svenska för- och grundskolan av Richard Jomshof (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:2413 — Kampen mot separatismen av Mauricio Rojas m.fl. (L)
- Motion 2023/24:2435 — Dubbelt medborgarskap av Larry Söder (KD)
- Motion 2023/24:2481 — Familjerätt, hbtqi-frågor och funktionsrätt av Martina Johansson m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2023/24:2490 — Demokrati och konstitution av Malin Björk m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2023/24:2528 — Religionsfrihet av Markus Wiechel m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:2617 — Utgiftsområde 9 Hälsovård, sjukvård och social omsorg av Fredrik Lundh Sammeli m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:2664 — Jämställdhetspolitisk motion av Janine Alm Ericson m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:2669 — Rättspolitik av Märta Stenevi m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:267 — Säkerheten runt verksamheter med judisk profil av Magnus Berntsson (KD)
- Motion 2023/24:268 — Nationellt förbud mot böneutrop från religiösa byggnader av Hans Eklind (KD)
- Motion 2023/24:2685 — Utgiftsområde 1 Rikets styrelse av Ida Karkiainen m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:366 — En förskola i världsklass av Patrick Reslow m.fl. (SD)
Source: The Swedish Parliament