2026-03-042025/26:NU12 · p.2NUBusiness & energy

Commercial and public service

Access to commercial and state services throughout the country

What's at stake: The decision affects how easily people in sparsely populated and rural areas can buy food, refuel, and reach state services. It concerns the ability to live and run a business throughout the country.

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 current support system for commercial service and the state's presence in sparsely populated areas is sufficient, or whether a more coordinated and monitored state strategy is needed for equal access to public services throughout the country.

Yes Yes — the committee proposal

The committee shares the view that access to commercial service matters for rural areas, but notes that the government has already raised support levels and introduced a new regulation for support to stores in vulnerable areas. Against this background, the committee sees no reason for further calls to action. The motions are rejected.

No No — the reservations

Reservation 7 (MP)

The reservation (MP) wants the state to ensure an equal, coordinated, and long-term presence of public services throughout the country, with ongoing follow-up, arguing that unevenly distributed state services reinforce regional disparities and weaken trust in public institutions in rural areas.

Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.

VSMPCLKDMSD
YesNoAbstainAbsent

What do the votes mean here?

Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).

No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 7 by MP.

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, LLiberalerna

Ja 153–17Ja 123–47

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.

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.

PlanVoteConfidenceEvidence
VNoAbstain 0/0/19/3departs from the planconfidence: highnot addressed
SNoAbstain 1/0/92/13departs from the planconfidence: highexplicit
MPown reservationNoNo 0/15/0/3follows the planconfidence: highexplicit
CNoAbstain 0/0/21/3departs from the planconfidence: highexplicit
LNoYes 14/0/0/2departs from the planagainst own programmeconfidence: highexplicit
KDNoYes 16/0/0/3departs from the planagainst own programmeconfidence: highexplicit
MNoYes 60/0/0/8departs from the planconfidence: mediumnot addressed
SDNoYes 61/0/0/10departs from the planconfidence: highnot addressed

Broke with the party line

SLena Malm (S, Göteborgs kommun)Yes — party line: Abstain

MPs whose vote differs from their party's majority position in this division. Marked with a dark ring in the chamber view.

Committee proposal

The Riksdag rejects the motions 2025/26:612 by Lars Isacsson et al. (S), 2025/26:1246 by Anna-Caren Sätherberg and Lena Bäckelin (both S), 2025/26:1269 by Niklas Karlsson et al. (S), 2025/26:2334 by Isak From and Åsa Karlsson (both S), 2025/26:2817 by Birger Lahti et al. (V) demands 2, 4 and 12, 2025/26:2831 by Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist et al. (C) demand 41, 2025/26:3023 by Heléne Björklund (S), 2025/26:3038 by Malin Höglund and Crister Carlsson (both M), 2025/26:3434 by Jan Riise et al. (MP) demands 1 and 2, and 2025/26:3733 by Åsa Westlund et al. (S) demand 17.

Original (Swedish)

Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2025/26:612 av Lars Isacsson m.fl. (S), 2025/26:1246 av Anna-Caren Sätherberg och Lena Bäckelin (båda S), 2025/26:1269 av Niklas Karlsson m.fl. (S), 2025/26:2334 av Isak From och Åsa Karlsson (båda S), 2025/26:2817 av Birger Lahti m.fl. (V) yrkandena 2, 4 och 12, 2025/26:2831 av Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist m.fl. (C) yrkande 41, 2025/26:3023 av Heléne Björklund (S), 2025/26:3038 av Malin Höglund och Crister Carlsson (båda M), 2025/26:3434 av Jan Riise m.fl. (MP) yrkandena 1 och 2 samt 2025/26:3733 av Åsa Westlund m.fl. (S) yrkande 17.

Riksdag decision: The Riksdag said no to 70 proposals about regional development policy in motions from the general motion period 2025. The proposals concern measures for regional development and growth, commercial and public service, reallocation of funds from production values, natural resources and property, localization of state agencies, and measures for certain regions. The Riksdag refers, among other things, to ongoing measures and investigation.

Counter-proposals

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.

VVänsterpartietNoAbstaindeparts from the plannot addressed

The plan requires that school, health care, care and other services function everywhere and that welfare exists throughout the country, with shops and services also in smaller towns.

Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto

Reasoning and quotes

The plan requires that school, health care, care and other services function everywhere and that welfare exists throughout the country, with shops and services also in smaller towns. An equal, coordinated and long-term state presence with ongoing monitoring is the tool that meets that commitment. The plan also describes how industrial towns and the countryside are left behind when services are withdrawn, which is precisely the counter-proposal's problem picture.

Original (Swedish)

Planen kräver att skola, vård, omsorg och annan service fungerar överallt och att välfärden finns i hela landet, med butik och service också på mindre orter. En likvärdig, samordnad och långsiktig statlig närvaro med löpande uppföljning är det verktyg som svarar mot det åtagandet. Planen beskriver dessutom hur bruksorter och landsbygd lämnas efter när servicen dras undan, vilket är precis motförslagets problembild.

  • service throughout the countrydecisive»Skola, vård, omsorg och annan service behöver fungera överallt.« (party programme ↗)“School, health care, care and other services need to function everywhere.”
  • welfare everywhere»Välfärden måste vara till för alla och finnas överallt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Welfare must be for all and exist everywhere.”
  • service in small towns»Äldreomsorg, förskola, skola och matbutik behöver finnas på fler mindre orter.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Elderly care, preschool, school and grocery stores need to exist in more small towns.”
  • the countryside is left behind»Stadsdelar, förorter, bruksorter, småorter och landsbygd lämnas med« (party programme ↗)“Districts, suburbs, industrial towns, small towns and countryside are left with”

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.

SSocialdemokraternaNoAbstaindeparts from the planexplicit

The election manifesto states that the state shall be present throughout the country, and the programme requires good access to society's services regardless of where one lives and greater state responsibility for equal conditions.

Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme

Reasoning and quotes

The election manifesto states that the state shall be present throughout the country, and the programme requires good access to society's services regardless of where one lives and greater state responsibility for equal conditions. The counter-proposal's requirement for an equivalent, coordinated and long-term state service presence with ongoing monitoring is precisely this commitment implemented in practice.

Original (Swedish)

Valmanifestet slår fast att staten ska finnas närvarande i hela landet, och programmet kräver god tillgång till samhällets service oavsett var man bor samt större statligt ansvar för likvärdiga förutsättningar. Motförslagets krav på en likvärdig, samordnad och långsiktig statlig servicenärvaro med löpande uppföljning är precis detta åtagande omsatt i praktiken.

  • state presence across the countrydecisive»Staten ska finnas närvarande i hela landet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The state shall be present throughout the country.”
  • public services throughout the country»God tillgång till samhällets service i hela landet.« (party programme ↗)“Good access to society's services throughout the country.”
  • greater state responsibility»Större statligt ansvar för likvärdiga förutsättningar i hela Sverige.« (party programme ↗)“Greater state responsibility for equal conditions throughout Sweden.”
  • rural conditions»Landsbygdspolitik för utveckling och välstånd i hela landet.« (party programme ↗)“Rural policy for development and wellbeing throughout the country.”

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.

MPMiljöpartietNoNofollows the planexplicit

The plan establishes that all parts of the country shall thrive and that society shall ensure that public services exist in all areas, and that society's institutions shall be present everywhere.

Plan documents: party programme

Reasoning and quotes

The plan establishes that all parts of the country shall thrive and that society shall ensure that public services exist in all areas, and that society's institutions shall be present everywhere. It also requires equivalent welfare and services regardless of where one lives. An equivalent, coordinated and long-term state presence with continuous monitoring is exactly that commitment put into action.

Original (Swedish)

Planen slår fast att alla delar av landet ska leva och att samhället ska säkerställa att samhällsservice finns i alla områden, och att samhällets institutioner ska vara närvarande överallt. Den kräver också likvärdig välfärd och service oavsett var man bor. En likvärdig, samordnad och långsiktig statlig närvaro med löpande uppföljning är precis det åtagandet omsatt i handling.

  • public services in all areasdecisive»Vi vill att alla delar av landet ska leva, och att samhället ska säkerställa att samhällsservice ska finnas i alla områden.« (party programme ↗)“We want all parts of the country to thrive, and that society shall ensure that public services shall exist in all areas.”
  • present institutions»Samhället och dess institutioner ska vara närvarande i alla områden.« (party programme ↗)“Society and its institutions shall be present in all areas.”
  • equivalent services»Alla ska ha tillgång till likvärdig välfärd, god digital infrastruktur, kultur, service och utbildning.« (party programme ↗)“All shall have access to equivalent welfare, good digital infrastructure, culture, services and education.”
  • reduced geographic divides»Vi vill minska de geografiska klyftorna och ge hela landet goda förutsättningar att utvecklas.« (party programme ↗)“We want to reduce geographic divides and give the whole country good conditions to develop.”
CCenterpartietNoAbstaindeparts from the planexplicit

The plan states that public service shall be close and reliable throughout the country and that all residents shall have equivalent service regardless of where they live.

Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme

Reasoning and quotes

The plan states that public service shall be close and reliable throughout the country and that all residents shall have equivalent service regardless of where they live. It also points out that municipalities' reduced presence leads to lower trust, which is the counter-proposal's own motivation. The requirement for equivalent, coordinated and long-term state presence with ongoing monitoring thus follows directly from the plan.

Original (Swedish)

Planen slår fast att offentlig service ska vara nära och pålitlig i hela landet och att alla invånare ska ha likvärdig service oavsett var de bor. Den pekar också ut att myndigheters minskade närvaro leder till lägre tillit, vilket är motförslagets egen motivering. Kravet på en likvärdig, samordnad och långsiktig statlig närvaro med löpande uppföljning följer därför direkt av planen.

  • service throughout the countrydecisive»Offentlig service ska vara nära och pålitlig i hela landet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Public service shall be close and reliable throughout the country.”
  • equivalent service regardless of where you live»Alla invånare ska ha tillgång till en likvärdig och pålitlig välfärd oavsett var de bor, och den offentliga servicen ska finnas där när man behöver den.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“All residents shall have access to equivalent and reliable welfare regardless of where they live, and public service shall be there when needed.”
  • state presence and trust»På många håll har myndigheters närvaro och förståelse för människors livssituation minskat, vilket leder till lägre tillit.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“In many places, the presence and understanding of people's life situations by authorities have decreased, which leads to lower trust.”
  • guaranteed social service»Det offentliga ska garantera att en sådan grundläggande samhällsservice finns, i hela landet,« (party programme ↗)“The public shall guarantee that such basic social service exists, throughout the country,”

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.

LLiberalernaNoYesdeparts from the planexplicit

The plan establishes that access to state services shall be secured throughout the country and that state authorities shall be present in all parts of Sweden.

Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto

Reasoning and quotes

The plan establishes that access to state services shall be secured throughout the country and that state authorities shall be present in all parts of Sweden. It also requires that individuals regardless of place of residence receive equivalent quality in welfare services and that a functioning public service is crucial for the entire country's development. The counter-proposal's demand for equivalent, coordinated and long-term state presence therefore follows directly from the plan.

Original (Swedish)

Planen slår fast att tillgången till statlig service ska säkras i hela landet och att statliga myndigheter ska finnas närvarande i alla delar av Sverige. Den kräver också att individer oavsett bostadsort får likvärdig kvalitet i välfärdstjänsterna och att en fungerande offentlig service är avgörande för hela landets utveckling. Motförslagets krav på likvärdig, samordnad och långsiktig statlig närvaro följer därför direkt av planen.

  • state services in the entire countrydecisive»Tillgången till statlig service ska säkras i hela landet.« (party programme ↗)“Access to state services shall be secured throughout the country.”
  • authorities in the entire country»Vägnätet ska fungera och statliga myndigheter ska finnas närvarande i alla delar av Sverige.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The road network shall function and state authorities shall be present in all parts of Sweden.”
  • functioning public services»Viktigast är generella åtgärder för att förbättra företagsklimatet och infrastrukturen, samt en fungerande offentlig service.« (party programme ↗)“Most important are general measures to improve the business climate and infrastructure, and a functioning public service.”
  • equivalent welfare regardless of location»Oavsett bostadsort har individer rätt att få likvärdig kvalitet på vården, omsorgen, socialtjänsten och andra välfärdstjänster.« (party programme ↗)“Regardless of place of residence, individuals have the right to receive equivalent quality in healthcare, elderly care, social services and other welfare services.”

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.

KDKristdemokraternaNoYesdeparts from the planexplicit

The election manifesto explicitly undertakes to establish more state service offices so that people can feel secure throughout the country, and the party programme places on the state the responsibility to ensure that state service is accessible throughout Sweden.

Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme

Reasoning and quotes

The election manifesto explicitly undertakes to establish more state service offices so that people can feel secure throughout the country, and the party programme places on the state the responsibility to ensure that state service is accessible throughout Sweden. The goal is that all Sweden shall live and that every municipality shall be a functioning society. The counter-proposal's demand for an equivalent and long-term state presence with monitoring is thereby the plan's own line.

Original (Swedish)

Valmanifestet åtar sig uttryckligen att inrätta fler statliga servicekontor så att man ska kunna känna sig trygg i hela landet, och partiprogrammet lägger på staten ansvaret för att den statliga servicen är tillgänglig i hela Sverige. Målet är att hela Sverige ska leva och att varje kommun ska vara ett fungerande samhälle. Motförslagets krav på en likvärdig och långsiktig statlig närvaro med uppföljning är därmed planens egen linje.

  • more state service officesdecisive»Fler poliser med lokal närvaro, utbyggd primärvård, enklare starta lokal läkarmottagning och inrätta fler statliga servicekontor. Du ska känna dig trygg i hela landet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“More police with local presence, expanded primary care, easier to start a local medical practice and establish more state service offices. You shall feel secure throughout the country.”
  • state service responsibility»Samtidigt har staten ansvar för att den statliga servicen är tillgänglig i hela Sverige.« (party programme ↗)“At the same time, the state has responsibility for ensuring that state service is accessible throughout Sweden.”
  • all Sweden shall live»Målet är att hela Sverige ska leva och att varje kommun och region ska vara ett fungerande« (party programme ↗)“The goal is that all Sweden shall live and that every municipality and region shall be a functioning”
  • commercial service in rural areas»Rädda lanthandeln genom att bredda driftstödet till dagligvarubutiker.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Save the country shops by broadening operational support to grocery stores.”

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.

MModeraternaNoYesdeparts from the plannot addressed

The counter-proposal wants to ensure equivalent and long-term government social service throughout the country with continuous monitoring.

Plan documents: 2022 manifesto

Reasoning and quotes

The counter-proposal wants to ensure equivalent and long-term government social service throughout the country with continuous monitoring. The plan makes exactly this a starting point: all of Sweden must function if people are to be able to live and work there, mobile coverage and the knowledge that police will come must apply regardless of where you live, and broadband shall be classified as national infrastructure. The counter-proposal's demand is therefore in line with the plan's rural commitments.

Original (Swedish)

Motförslaget vill säkerställa en likvärdig och långsiktig statlig samhällsservice i hela landet med löpande uppföljning. Planen gör just detta till en utgångspunkt: hela Sverige måste fungera om det ska gå att bo och verka där, mobiltäckning och vetskapen om att polisen kommer ska gälla oavsett var man bor, och bredband ska klassas som nationell infrastruktur. Motförslagets krav ligger därmed i linje med planens landsbygdsåtaganden.

  • government service regardless of residencedecisive»Mobiltäckning överallt ska vara en självklarhet, liksom vetskapen om att polisen kommer när du ringer oavsett var du bor.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Mobile coverage everywhere shall be a matter of course, as well as the knowledge that police will come when you call regardless of where you live.”
  • all the country shall function»Moderaterna vill ta vara på hela Sveriges möjligheter. Men ska det gå att bo och verka i hela Sverige måste också hela Sverige fungera.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Moderates want to take advantage of all of Sweden's possibilities. But if it is to be possible to live and work in all of Sweden then all of Sweden must also function.”
  • broadband as national infrastructure»Klassa bredband som nationell infrastruktur och prioritera därefter« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Classify broadband as national infrastructure and prioritize accordingly”
  • infrastructure in the whole country»Laga Sveriges vägar så att du kan komma fram säkert och i tid« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Fix Sweden's roads so you can get there safely and on time”

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.

SDSverigedemokraternaNoYesdeparts from the plannot addressed

The plan wants to invest in a strong welfare and public services throughout the country and explicitly regrets that public services have been dismantled in the countryside.

Plan documents: 2022 manifesto

Reasoning and quotes

The plan wants to invest in a strong welfare and public services throughout the country and explicitly regrets that public services have been dismantled in the countryside. The requirement for equitable, coordinated and long-term state presence with continuous follow-up is the same commitment in practice. The plan also sees potential in relocating more government jobs to smaller towns.

Original (Swedish)

Planen vill satsa på en stark välfärd och samhällsservice i hela landet och beklagar uttryckligen att offentlig service monterats ned på landsbygden. Kravet på en likvärdig, samordnad och långsiktig statlig närvaro med löpande uppföljning är samma åtagande i praktiken. Planen ser dessutom potential i att utlokalisera fler myndighetsjobb till mindre orter.

  • public services throughout the countrydecisive»Sverigedemokraterna vill satsa på en stark välfärd och samhällsservice i hela landet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden Democrats want to invest in strong welfare and public services throughout the country.”
  • restore services in the countryside»Skolresultaten har sjunkit, köerna till sjukvården har vuxit, polisen kommer allt mer sällan till den som utsatts för vardagsbrott och offentlig service har monterats ned på landsbygd och i stora delar av landet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“School results have fallen, queues for healthcare have grown, police come increasingly rarely to those subjected to everyday crime and public services have been dismantled in the countryside and in large parts of the country.”
  • policy for the whole country»Bedriva en politik för hela Sverige« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Conduct a policy for all of Sweden”
  • state presence in smaller towns»Sverigedemokraterna ser potential för att utlokalisera fler myndighetsjobb till mindre orter men det främsta verktyget för tillväxt och jobb på landsbygd är enklare regler och möjligheter för landsbygden att växa.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden Democrats see potential in relocating more government jobs to smaller towns but the main tool for growth and jobs in the countryside is simpler rules and opportunities for the countryside to grow.”

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

Embed as a widget (iframe): previewSizeLanguage

Sources and documents

Documents under consideration

Source: The Swedish Parliament