2026-06-152025/26:JuU40 · p.1JuUJustice
Rejection of the proposition
A new offence for abuse of public position – rejecting the entire bill
What's at stake: The proposal would extend criminal liability for public employees to situations not currently covered by the exercise of public authority, such as favouring a local supplier or a relative in a purchase. The question is whether this strengthens protection against corruption and abuse of power, or instead risks creating uncertainty, unease and excessive caution among public employees.
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 parliament should adopt the government's proposal for expanded criminal liability for public officials, including the new offence of abuse of public position, or whether the entire bill should be rejected.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee endorses the bill and rejects the motions for outright rejection, on the grounds that the current framework has gaps that risk undermining trust in public administration, in particular regarding misuse of public funds and favouritism in purchasing and procurement, which today often fall outside the exercise of public authority, and that the importance of an effective system for individual accountability outweighs the risks raised by the motions.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 1 (MP)
The reserving member shares the view that corruption and abuse of power must be tackled but considers that the proposal fails to meet the requirements of precision, legal certainty and proportionality; a well-established system of accountability already exists through criminal law, employment law, disciplinary responsibility and oversight, and expanded criminal liability instead risks creating unease, reduced efficiency, recruitment problems, and employees concealing mistakes rather than addressing them; the reserving member instead wants better control mechanisms, preventive training and increased transparency.
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 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 | Yes | Yes 19/1/0/1 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| S | Yes | Yes 105/0/0/1 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| MP | Yes | No 0/18/0/0 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| C | Yes | Yes 24/0/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | explicit |
| L | Yes | Yes 16/0/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| KD | Yes | Yes 19/0/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| M | Yes | Yes 66/0/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| SD | Yes | Yes 70/0/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
Broke with the party line
| VJessica Wetterling (V, Västra Götalands läns västra) | No — party line: Yes |
MPs whose vote differs from their party's majority position in this division. Marked with a dark ring in the chamber view.
Committee proposal
Parliament rejects the motions 2025/26:4107 by Samuel Gonzalez Westling et al. (V), 2025/26:4116 by Mats Berglund et al. (MP) and 2025/26:4123 by Daniel Riazat et al. (-).
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2025/26:4107 av Samuel Gonzalez Westling m.fl. (V), 2025/26:4116 av Mats Berglund m.fl. (MP) och 2025/26:4123 av Daniel Riazat m.fl. (-).
Riksdag decision: Parliament approved the government's proposal which entails a new crime in the Penal Code with the designation abuse of public office and that the minimum sentence for gross dereliction of official duty is tightened to imprisonment for one year and six months. Through the new crime, it is a criminal offense to intentionally, in violation of law or other statute, take or fail to take an action in order to obtain an undue benefit or for someone else to obtain such a benefit, or in order to unjustly disadvantage someone else. The new crime applies to the person who holds a public office, performs a public assignment or other public activity. If the crime is gross, it shall be convicted as gross abuse of public office. The penalty for abuse of public office is proposed to be a fine or imprisonment for at most two years. For gross abuse of public office, imprisonment for at least one year and six months and at most six years. The legislative changes shall come into force on 1 August 2026.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to increase focus on agency controls and transparency instead of expanding criminal responsibility for civil servants. (MP) — 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 sets high demands on functioning accountability for crimes in public activities and wants to see greater social transparency to prevent fraud and corruption.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan sets high demands on functioning accountability for crimes in public activities and wants to see greater social transparency to prevent fraud and corruption. The counter-proposal's requirement to reject the bill would leave precisely the gap in individual accountability that the committee points to. The fact that the plan also wants better control and transparency does not mean it supports refraining from criminal liability.
Original (Swedish)
Planen ställer höga krav på fungerande ansvarsutkrävande vid lagbrott i offentlig verksamhet och vill se större samhällelig insyn för att stävja fusk och korruption. Motförslagets krav att avslå propositionen skulle lämna just den lucka i det individuella ansvarsutkrävandet som utskottet pekar på. Att planen även vill ha bättre kontroll och transparens gör inte att den talar för att avstå från straffansvar.
- accountability for crimesdecisive»höga krav på fungerande ansvarsutkrävande vid lagbrott.« (party programme ↗)“high demands on functioning accountability for crimes.”
- transparency against fraud and corruption»Vi vill gå mot en större samhällelig insyn« (party programme ↗)“We want to move towards greater social transparency”
- against organized economic crime»Det behövs en effektiv uppföljning av den organiserade« (party programme ↗)“There is a need for effective monitoring of organized”
The plan requires prevention of corruption and undue influence and that systems leading to poor control and leakage of tax funds are abolished.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires prevention of corruption and undue influence and that systems leading to poor control and leakage of tax funds are abolished. Rejecting the bill leaves in place the gaps that allow misuse of public funds and favoring in procurement to fall outside responsibility. The plan's requirement for legal security motivates clarification, not rejection.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver förhindrande av korruption och otillbörlig påverkan och att system som leder till bristande kontroll och läckage av skattemedel avskaffas. Att avslå propositionen lämnar kvar de luckor som gör att missbruk av allmänna medel och gynnande vid upphandling faller utanför ansvaret. Planens krav på rättssäkerhet motiverar precisering, inte avslag.
- prevented corruptiondecisive»Förhindrande av korruption och otillbörlig påverkan.« (party programme ↗)“Prevention of corruption and undue influence.”
- stopped leakage of tax funds»Avskaffande av system som leder till bristande kontroll, läckage av skattemedel,« (party programme ↗)“Abolition of systems leading to poor control, leakage of tax funds,”
- stopped welfare crime»Skattefusk, välfärdsbrottslighet och penningtvätt ska stoppas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Tax evasion, welfare crime and money laundering shall be stopped.”
- legally secure criminal policy»Kriminalpolitik byggd på evidens, effektivitet och rättssäkerhet.« (party programme ↗)“Criminal policy built on evidence, effectiveness and legal security.”
The counter-proposal wants to reject the bill and settle for existing control and supervision systems.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal wants to reject the bill and settle for existing control and supervision systems. The plan assumes that power corrupts and must always be scrutinised critically, wants to strengthen work against common resources being exploited and give the justice system resources to prosecute crimes. This argues for sharpened individual accountability, although the plan simultaneously demands thorough legal certainty review of new legislation.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget vill avslå propositionen och nöja sig med befintliga kontroll- och tillsynssystem. Planen utgår från att makt korrumperar och alltid ska granskas kritiskt, vill stärka arbetet mot att gemensamma resurser utnyttjas och ge rättsväsendet resurser att lagföra brott. Det talar för ett skärpt individuellt ansvarsutkrävande, även om planen samtidigt kräver noggrann rättssäkerhetsprövning av ny lagstiftning.
- power must be scrutinised criticallydecisive»Överdriven maktkoncentration är odemokratiskt och korrumperar. Därför bör makt delas« (party programme ↗)“Excessive concentration of power is undemocratic and corrupts. Therefore power should be divided”
- misuse of common resources prioritised»förtroendet för våra trygghetssystem undergrävs – måste prioriteras högt. Samarbetet och« (party programme ↗)“confidence in our security systems is undermined – must be prioritised highly. Cooperation and”
- crimes must be prosecuted»Miljöpartiet vill att rättsväsendet får de resurser som behövs för att lagföra brott, skydda« (party programme ↗)“The Green Party wants the justice system to receive the resources needed to prosecute crimes, protect”
- legal certainty review of new law»prövas noggrant utifrån rättssäkerhet och grundläggande fri- och rättigheter.« (party programme ↗)“be carefully reviewed on the basis of legal certainty and fundamental freedoms and 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 election manifesto explicitly commits to tightening rules against corruption, establishing an anti-corruption authority and making Sweden more transparent.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto explicitly commits to tightening rules against corruption, establishing an anti-corruption authority and making Sweden more transparent. Rejecting a proposition that closes loopholes around misuse of public funds and favouritism in procurement goes against that, even if the counter-proposal also wants better control and training. The plan's proportionality requirement gives some support to the objections but weighs lighter than the anti-corruption commitment.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet åtar sig uttryckligen att skärpa reglerna mot korruption, inrätta en antikorruptionsmyndighet och göra Sverige mer transparent. Att avslå en proposition som täpper till luckor kring missbruk av allmänna medel och gynnande vid upphandling går emot det, även om motförslaget också vill ha bättre kontroll och utbildning. Planens proportionalitetskrav ger visst stöd åt invändningarna men väger lättare än antikorruptionsåtagandet.
- tightened rules against corruptiondecisive»Sverige ska bli ännu mer transparent. Vi vill inrätta en antikorruptionsmyndighet, skärpa regler mot korruption och införa ett lobbyregister.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden shall become even more transparent. We want to establish an anti-corruption authority, tighten rules against corruption and introduce a lobbying register.”
- transparency against corruption»Öppenhet och transparens är grundförutsättningar för frihet, demokrati och för att förhindra korruption och övergrepp.« (party programme ↗)“Openness and transparency are basic prerequisites for freedom, democracy and for preventing corruption and abuse.”
- confidence in the public»Som medborgare ska du kunna lita på att staten, regionerna och kommunerna lever upp till sina delar av samhällskontraktet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“As a citizen you should be able to trust that the state, regions and municipalities live up to their parts of the social contract.”
- proportionality in legislation»Det måste finnas en proportionalitet mellan lagstiftningens inskränkning av medborgarnas integritet och lagarnas syfte.« (party programme ↗)“There must be proportionality between legislation's restriction of citizens' integrity and the laws' purpose.”
The counter-proposal wishes to reject the government bill and be satisfied with existing control mechanisms.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal wishes to reject the government bill and be satisfied with existing control mechanisms. The plan requires that the rule of law be strengthened, that individuals' accountability of authorities be improved and points out freedom from corruption as a bearing social factor, which speaks for expanded criminal responsibility. The plan's emphasis on transparency and scrutiny, however, gives some support to the counter-proposal's alternative.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget vill avslå propositionen och nöja sig med befintliga kontrollmekanismer. Planen kräver att rättsstaten stärks, att den enskildes ansvarsutkrävande gentemot myndigheter förbättras och pekar ut frånvaro av korruption som en bärande samhällsfaktor, vilket talar för ett utvidgat straffansvar. Planens betoning av offentlighet och granskning ger dock visst stöd åt motförslagets alternativ.
- strengthened rule of lawdecisive»Rättsstaten ska stärkas.« (party programme ↗)“The rule of law shall be strengthened.”
- freedom from corruption»Demokrati, jämställdhet, utbildning, marknadsekonomi, frihandel, privat äganderätt, rättsstat och frånvaro av korruption är de viktigaste faktorerna till utveckling.« (party programme ↗)“Democracy, gender equality, education, market economy, free trade, private property, rule of law and freedom from corruption are the most important factors for development.”
- responsibility for authority errors»Rätten till kompensation eller skadestånd vid myndigheters misstag eller övergrepp behöver förbättras.« (party programme ↗)“The right to compensation or damages for authorities' mistakes or abuse needs to be improved.”
- transparency and scrutiny»Offentlighetsprincipen har en grundläggande betydelse för att förankra och fördjupa folkstyret, och är en förutsättning för granskning och debatt.« (party programme ↗)“Freedom of information principles has a fundamental importance for anchoring and deepening democracy, and is a prerequisite for scrutiny and debate.”
The counter-proposal wants to reject the proposition and be satisfied with existing control and supervision systems.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal wants to reject the proposition and be satisfied with existing control and supervision systems. The plan requires effective means against abuse of power and power concentration, that respect for the laws is maintained with firmness and that all crimes are prosecuted without exception. Leaving loopholes around misuse of public funds contradicts the personal responsibility for conscious actions that the documents are built on.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget vill avslå propositionen och nöja sig med befintliga kontroll- och tillsynssystem. Planen kräver effektiva medel mot maktmissbruk och maktkoncentration, att respekten för lagarna upprätthålls med fasthet och att alla brott beivras utan undantag. Att lämna luckor kring missbruk av allmänna medel strider mot det personliga ansvar för medvetna handlingar som dokumenten bygger på.
- effective means against abuse of powerdecisive»Det måste finnas effektiva medel mot maktmissbruk och maktkoncentration. En obunden« (party programme ↗)“There must be effective means against abuse of power and power concentration. An unbound”
- prosecution with firmness»därför upprätthållas med fasthet och förövare av brott ska skyndsamt lagföras.« (party programme ↗)“therefore maintained with firmness and perpetrators of crimes shall be prosecuted swiftly.”
- all crimes shall be prosecuted»upprätthålla de rättsregler som beslutats. Alla brott ska effektivt och utan undantag beivras,« (party programme ↗)“uphold the legal rules that have been decided. All crimes shall be effectively and without exception prosecuted,”
- personal responsibility»Alla människor har ett personligt ansvar för sina medvetna handlingar. Omgivningen har« (party programme ↗)“All people have a personal responsibility for their conscious actions. The surroundings have”
The plan promises to tighten civil service responsibility so that responsibility follows with all public exercise of power and to clarify how responsibility can be enforced for public decisions.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan promises to tighten civil service responsibility so that responsibility follows with all public exercise of power and to clarify how responsibility can be enforced for public decisions. A motion to reject the entire proposition would leave today's gaps untouched. The demand is rejected.
Original (Swedish)
Planen lovar att skärpa tjänstemannaansvaret så att ansvar följer med all offentlig maktutövning och att förtydliga hur ansvar kan utkrävas för offentliga beslut. Ett yrkande om att avslå hela propositionen skulle lämna dagens luckor orörda. Kravet avvisas.
- tightened civil service responsibilitydecisive»Skärpa tjänstemannaansvaret så att du som skattebetalare vet att med all offentlig maktutövning följer ett ansvar för de beslut som fattas« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Tighten civil service responsibility so that you as a taxpayer know that with all public exercise of power follows responsibility for the decisions that are made”
- clear accountability»Vi ser stora behov av att förstärka domstolarnas oberoende och förtydliga hur ansvar kan utkrävas för offentliga beslut.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We see great needs to strengthen the courts' independence and clarify how responsibility can be enforced for public decisions.”
- law-governed exercise of power»All offentlig maktutövning ska vara lagstyrd och vägledas av« (party programme ↗)“All public exercise of power shall be governed by law and guided by”
The election manifesto explicitly requires that civil service accountability be reinstated and that the possibilities for holding officials to account be strengthened when the handling of public resources fails.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto explicitly requires that civil service accountability be reinstated and that the possibilities for holding officials to account be strengthened when the handling of public resources fails. The counter-proposal wants instead to refrain from expanded criminal liability and settle for control, education and transparency. This is in direct conflict with the plan's commitment to individual civil service accountability.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet kräver uttryckligen att tjänstemannaansvaret återinförs och att möjligheterna till ansvarsutkrävande stärks när hanteringen av offentliga resurser brister. Motförslaget vill i stället avstå från ett utvidgat straffansvar och nöja sig med kontroll, utbildning och transparens. Det står i direkt strid med planens åtagande om individuellt tjänstemannaansvar.
- reinstated civil service accountabilitydecisive»Återinför tjänstemannaansvaret« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Reinstate civil service accountability.”
- accountability in administration»Tjänstemannaansvar ska införas och åtgärder ska genomföras för att öka transparensen och möjligheten att utkräva politiskt ansvarsutkrävande.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Civil service accountability shall be introduced and measures shall be implemented to increase transparency and the possibility of holding politicians to account.”
- accountability for shortcomings in resource management»Sverigedemokraterna vill stärka möjligheter för ansvarsutkrävande när hanteringen av de offentliga resurserna brister.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden Democrats want to strengthen the possibilities for holding officials to account when the handling of public resources fails.”
- sharpened penalties for fraud»Skärpa straffen för fusk inom välfärdssystemen« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sharpen the penalties for fraud within welfare systems.”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2025/26:JuU40)
- Committee report full text (HD01JuU40)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2025/26:4099 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:217 Ett utökat straffrättsligt tjänstemannaansvar av Teresa Carvalho m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2025/26:4107 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:217 Ett utökat straffrättsligt tjänstemannaansvar av Samuel Gonzalez Westling m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2025/26:4112 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:217 Ett utökat straffrättsligt tjänstemannaansvar av Ulrika Liljeberg m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2025/26:4116 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:217 Ett utökat straffrättsligt tjänstemannaansvar av Mats Berglund m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2025/26:4123 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:217 Ett utökat straffrättsligt tjänstemannaansvar av Daniel Riazat m.fl. (-)
- Proposition 2025/26:217 — Ett utökat straffrättsligt tjänstemannaansvar
Source: The Swedish Parliament