2025-11-192025/26:KU13 · p.1KUConstitution
Government bill
Supplementary provisions to the EU regulation on political advertising
What's at stake: The decision determines how strict and predictable the regulation of political advertising will be, affecting everyone from large advertisers to small parties, non-profit associations, local media and individual opinion-makers who risk sanction fees if they get it wrong.
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 bill supplementing the EU regulation on political advertising, with dynamic references to the regulation and sanctions for breaches, or reject it in favour of a reworked law with static references, an explicit exemption for the constitutional protections of press and expression freedom, and a graduated sanctions system.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee endorses the government's proposal, considering the law supplementing the EU regulation on political advertising well balanced, and proposes that parliament adopt the bills with a minor editorial adjustment. The committee holds that static references should be used for the sanctions provisions for reasons of predictability, while other references should be dynamic so that changes to the regulation take immediate effect in Sweden, and sees no need for an explicit provision exempting the law where it would conflict with the constitutional protections of press and expression freedom.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 1 (SD)
The reservation holds that the government's proposal goes further than necessary and should be rejected. Combining dynamic references to the regulation with sanctions such as injunctions, fines and sanction fees creates legal uncertainty for, among others, small parties, non-profit associations, local media and individual opinion-makers, who risk refraining from lawful advertising out of fear of getting it wrong. Without a statutory sanction ladder - a warning, followed by correction and, if needed, a sanction fee - and clear criteria for mitigating and aggravating circumstances, the framework risks being more restrictive than necessary and leading to over-compliance and self-censorship.
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: adopting the government's legislative proposal and 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.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Yes 18/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| S | No | Yes 93/0/0/13 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| MP | No | Yes 15/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| C | No | Yes 19/0/0/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 13/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| KD | No | Yes 16/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| M | No | Yes 60/0/0/8 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| SD | No | No 0/61/0/11 | follows the plan | confidence: high | derived |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag adopts the government's proposal for 1. an act with supplementary provisions to the EU regulation on political advertising, 2. an act amending the Act (1971:289) on General Administrative Courts with the amendment that the fourth comma in section 18 subsection 4 shall be deleted. The Riksdag hereby approves proposition 2025/26:4 points 1 and 2 and rejects motion 2025/26:1426 by Michael Rubbestad et al. (SD) amendment 1.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen antar regeringens förslag till 1. lag med kompletterande bestämmelser till EU:s förordning om politisk reklam, 2. lag om ändring i lagen (1971:289) om allmänna förvaltningsdomstolar med den ändringen att det fjärde kommatecknet i 18 § fjärde stycket 5 ska utgå. Därmed bifaller riksdagen proposition 2025/26:4 punkterna 1 och 2 samt avslår motion 2025/26:1426 av Michael Rubbestad m.fl. (SD) yrkande 1.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag approved the government's proposal on supplementary provisions to the EU regulation on political advertising. The proposal essentially entails that certain supplementary provisions to the regulation are collected in a new act. The new act describes, among other things, what powers the responsible authorities have and what administrative fines may be relevant in case of violations of the regulation. The purpose of the EU regulation on political advertising is to increase transparency for such advertising and to harmonize the rules for the provision of political advertising services within the EU. The new rules come into force on January 1, 2026.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to ensure a graduated sanctions scheme with warning, correction, and then sanctions fees, with clear criteria for mitigating or aggravating circumstances. (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 plan counts freedom of speech and press and freedom of association among democracy's most important building blocks and demands good scope for popular political discussions.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan counts freedom of speech and press and freedom of association among democracy's most important building blocks and demands good scope for popular political discussions. A sanctions rule system combining dynamic EU references with fines and sanction fees risks silencing small parties, civil associations and local opinion-formers, which clashes with that. The plan is also critical of EU law limiting member states' democratic scope for action.
Original (Swedish)
Planen räknar yttrande- och tryckfriheten och föreningsfriheten till demokratins viktigaste byggstenar och kräver gott om utrymmen för folkliga politiska diskussioner. Ett sanktionsregelverk som kombinerar dynamiska EU-hänvisningar med viten och sanktionsavgifter riskerar att tysta små partier, ideella föreningar och lokala opinionsbildare, vilket krockar med det. Planen är dessutom kritisk mot att EU-rätten begränsar medlemsländernas demokratiska handlingsutrymme.
- freedom of speech and associationdecisive»Några av den politiska demokratins viktigaste byggstenar är föreningsfriheten, yttrande- och tryckfriheten, demonstrationsfriheten, meddelarfriheten och offentlighetsprincipen.« (party programme ↗)“Some of the most important building blocks of political democracy are freedom of association, freedom of speech and press, freedom of demonstration, freedom to convey information and the public access principle.”
- scope for public debate»Det behövs gott om utrymmen för folkliga politiska diskussioner som kan mynna ut i genomtänkta beslut.« (party programme ↗)“There needs to be good scope for popular political discussions that can lead to well-considered decisions.”
- EU limits democracy»EU-rätten innehåller orimliga begränsningar av medlemsländernas rätt att genomföra den politik de vill, även när besluten har fattats demokratiskt.« (party programme ↗)“EU law contains unreasonable limitations on member states' right to carry out the policy they want, even when the decisions have been democratically made.”
flags: citat_migrerat
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 wishes to see viable popular movements, freedom of association, media diversity throughout the country and protection for civil liberties and rights.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wishes to see viable popular movements, freedom of association, media diversity throughout the country and protection for civil liberties and rights. A sanctions system that causes small parties, non-profit organisations and local media to refrain from lawful advertising goes against this, and the counter-proposal's demand for a statutory sanctions scale is therefore supported. The plan's demand for measures against disinformation meanwhile speaks for regulation, which is why the uncertainty is large.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill se livskraftiga folkrörelser, föreningsfrihet, mediemångfald i hela landet och skydd för medborgerliga fri- och rättigheter. Ett sanktionssystem som får små partier, ideella föreningar och lokala medier att avstå från laglig annonsering går emot detta, och motförslagets krav på en lagfäst sanktionsstege stöds därför. Planens krav på åtgärder mot desinformation talar samtidigt för reglering, varför osäkerheten är stor.
- viable popular movementsdecisive»Livskraftiga folkrörelser för att hålla ihop samhället.« (party programme ↗)“Viable popular movements to hold society together.”
- freedom of association»Föreningsfrihet och rätt att organisera sig fackligt.« (party programme ↗)“Freedom of association and right to organise trade unions.”
- media diversity throughout the country»Mediemångfald med bredare perspektiv i hela landet.« (party programme ↗)“Media diversity with broader perspectives throughout the country.”
- measures against disinformation»Åtgärder mot desinformation, hatpropaganda och hot.« (party programme ↗)“Measures against disinformation, hate propaganda and threats.”
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 states that freedom of expression is a cornerstone of democracy and that support and conditions for civil society must be long-term and clear.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that freedom of expression is a cornerstone of democracy and that support and conditions for civil society must be long-term and clear. The counter-proposal's demand for a statutory sanction ladder and clear criteria aims at ensuring that small parties, associations and local media do not refrain from lawful advertising for fear of sanctions. The plan simultaneously wants to regulate platforms' political influence, which is why support is weak.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att yttrandefriheten är en grundbult i demokratin och att stöd och villkor för civilsamhället måste vara långsiktiga och tydliga. Motförslagets krav på en lagfäst sanktionsstege och tydliga kriterier syftar till att små partier, föreningar och lokala medier inte ska avstå från laglig annonsering av rädsla för sanktioner. Planen vill samtidigt reglera plattformarnas politiska påverkan, varför stödet är svagt.
- freedom of expression as cornerstonedecisive»Yttrandefriheten är en grundbult i alla demokratiska system.« (party programme ↗)“Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of all democratic systems.”
- clear conditions for civil society»Stöd och villkor för civilsamhället måste vara långsiktiga och tydliga.« (party programme ↗)“Support and conditions for civil society must be long-term and clear.”
- legally secure legislation»prövas noggrant utifrån rättssäkerhet och grundläggande fri- och rättigheter.« (party programme ↗)“be carefully tested based on legal security 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 plan regards the constitutionally protected freedoms of expression and press as self-evident and wants to safeguard vigorous media scrutiny throughout the country and legal certainty against the state.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan regards the constitutionally protected freedoms of expression and press as self-evident and wants to safeguard vigorous media scrutiny throughout the country and legal certainty against the state. A sanctions system that can deter small parties, non-profit associations and local media from lawful advertising affects precisely those actors. The plan wants to tighten regulations on party financing, but does not discuss sanction escalation, so support is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Planen betraktar de grundlagsskyddade yttrande- och tryckfriheterna som självklara och vill värna en livskraftig mediebevakning i hela landet samt rättssäkerheten gentemot staten. Ett sanktionssystem som kan avskräcka små partier, ideella föreningar och lokala medier från laglig annonsering träffar just de aktörerna. Planen vill visserligen skärpa reglerna kring partiers finansiering, men uttalar sig inte om sanktionstrappor, varför stödet är härlett.
- constitutionally protected freedom of expressiondecisive»För oss är de grundlagsskyddade fri- och rättigheterna« (party programme ↗)“For us, the constitutionally protected freedoms and rights”
- vigorous local media»En allsidig, oberoende och livskraftig mediebevakning i hela landet är avgörande för demokratin. Pressfriheten ska skyddas och oberoende public service försvaras.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Comprehensive, independent and vigorous media scrutiny throughout the country is crucial for democracy. Press freedom shall be protected and independent public service defended.”
- legal certainty and proportionality»Rättsstaten och individens rättigheter gentemot staten måste försvaras. Vi säger därför nej till visitationszoner, kollektiv bestraffning, omvänd bevisbörda, anonyma vittnen, preventiv avlyssning och inskränkningar av religionsfriheten.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The rule of law and the individual's rights against the state must be defended. We therefore say no to stop-and-search zones, collective punishment, reverse burden of proof, anonymous witnesses, preventive surveillance and restrictions on freedom of religion.”
- tightened rules for parties»Reglerna för finansiering av politiska partier bör skärpas och deras motståndskraft mot yttre påverkan och infiltration rustas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Rules for financing political parties should be tightened and their resilience against external influence and infiltration strengthened.”
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 states that every person has the right to freely and openly express their opinion and form opinion, and that measures restricting the individual are only justified when a contrary interest weighs clearly more heavily.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that every person has the right to freely and openly express their opinion and form opinion, and that measures restricting the individual are only justified when a contrary interest weighs clearly more heavily. The counter-proposal wants to prevent small parties, local media and individual opinion-formers from refraining from lawful advertising out of fear of sanctions, which responds to the plan's requirement that citizens want and dare to engage politically. A legally established sanctions ladder thus aligns with the plan's proportionality principle.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att varje människa har rätt att fritt och öppet uttrycka sin åsikt och bilda opinion, och att åtgärder som inskränker den enskilde bara är berättigade när ett motstående intresse väger uppenbart tyngre. Motförslaget vill motverka att små partier, lokala medier och enskilda opinionsbildare avstår från laglig annonsering av rädsla för sanktioner, vilket svarar mot planens krav på att medborgare vill och vågar engagera sig politiskt. En lagfäst sanktionsstege ligger därmed i linje med planens proportionalitetsprincip.
- freedom of expression and opiniondecisive»Det liberala samhället förutsätter tankefrihet. Varje människa har rätt att fritt och öppet uttrycka« (party programme ↗)“The liberal society presupposes freedom of thought. Every person has the right to freely and openly express”
- proportionality in restrictions»negativt är endast berättigade om ett motstående intresse väger uppenbart tyngre och åtgärden är« (party programme ↗)“negative is only justified if a contrary interest weighs clearly more heavily and the measure is”
- political engagement shall be valued»Demokratin förutsätter att medborgare vill och vågar engagera sig politiskt.« (party programme ↗)“Democracy presupposes that citizens want and dare to engage politically.”
- strong press and freedom of expression»Mediernas oberoende måste värnas. Tryck- och yttrandefrihetslagstiftningen har en unik och stark« (party programme ↗)“The independence of the media must be valued. Press and freedom of expression legislation has a unique and strong”
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 strong protection of freedom of expression and that the general public must not infringe upon it except in the cases and in the manner prescribed by the constitution - this speaks for a clear and statutory sanctions order rather than dynamic references with uncertain sanctions.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires strong protection of freedom of expression and that the general public must not infringe upon it except in the cases and in the manner prescribed by the constitution - this speaks for a clear and statutory sanctions order rather than dynamic references with uncertain sanctions. The plan also requires a delimitation of EU's tasks to prevent unwelcome centralization, and that state and municipality promote the engagement of the association sector. The counter-proposal's requirements for predictability for small parties, associations and local media are therefore in line with the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver ett starkt skydd för yttrandefriheten och att det allmänna inte får ingripa mot den annat än i de fall och den ordning som grundlagen föreskriver — det talar för en tydlig och lagfäst sanktionsordning framför dynamiska hänvisningar med osäkra sanktioner. Planen kräver också en avgränsning av EU:s uppgifter för att förhindra ovälkommen centralisering, och att stat och kommun främjar föreningslivets engagemang. Motförslagets krav på förutsebarhet för små partier, föreningar och lokala medier ligger därför i linje med planen.
- constitutional protection of freedom of expressiondecisive»inte får ingripa mot yttrandefriheten, annat än i de fall och den ordning som föreskrivs i« (party programme ↗)“must not infringe upon freedom of expression, except in the cases and in the manner prescribed in”
- delimit EU competence»för att förhindra ovälkommen centralisering.« (party programme ↗)“to prevent unwelcome centralization.”
- constitution superior to norms»grunden för alla offentliga normer och beslut.« (party programme ↗)“the basis for all public norms and decisions.”
- promote associational life»Därför måste stat och kommun främja det engagemang som finns i föreningar och« (party programme ↗)“Therefore, state and municipality must promote the engagement that exists in associations and”
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 establishes that EU law as a main rule shall be implemented at minimum level and that over-implementation shall be counteracted, and the party programme gives the constitutional laws an incontestable protection for freedom of expression and press.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that EU law as a main rule shall be implemented at minimum level and that over-implementation shall be counteracted, and the party programme gives the constitutional laws an incontestable protection for freedom of expression and press. A regulatory framework on political advertising that through dynamic references and penalties deters small parties, associations and opinion-makers from lawful advertising goes against both predictability and freedom of expression. The plan therefore supports the counter-proposal's demand for clearer and more restrained regulation.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att EU-rätt som huvudregel ska genomföras på miniminivå och att överimplementering ska motverkas, och partiprogrammet ger grundlagarna ett oavvisligt skydd för yttrande- och pressfriheten. Ett regelverk om politisk reklam som genom dynamiska hänvisningar och sanktioner avskräcker små partier, föreningar och opinionsbildare från laglig annonsering går emot både förutsebarhet och yttrandefrihet. Planen ger därför stöd åt motförslagets krav på en tydligare och mer återhållsam reglering.
- EU rules at minimum leveldecisive»Minska regelkrånglet och onödig byråkrati, bland annat genom att motverka överimplementering i Sverige av EU-beslut – som huvudregel ska EU-direktiv genomföras på miniminivå« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Reduce red tape and unnecessary bureaucracy, among other things by counteracting over-implementation in Sweden of EU decisions - as a main rule EU directives shall be implemented at minimum level”
- incontestable constitutional protection»Våra grundlagar ska ge ett oavvisligt skydd för« (party programme ↗)“Our constitutional laws shall give an incontestable protection for”
- broad freedom of expression»Yttrandefriheten gäller även för åsikter som provocerar och« (party programme ↗)“Freedom of expression applies also to opinions that provoke and”
- predictable exercise of power»All offentlig maktutövning ska vara lagstyrd och vägledas av« (party programme ↗)“All public exercise of power shall be law-governed and guided by”
flags: citat_migrerat
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 defend freedom of expression against EU censorship, strengthen free and value-independent opinion formation and stop transfers of power to the EU.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to defend freedom of expression against EU censorship, strengthen free and value-independent opinion formation and stop transfers of power to the EU. The counter-proposal's objection to combining dynamic EU references with tangible sanctions, which risk discouraging small parties, associations and local media from lawful advertising, is directly in line with this. The plan explicitly protects each citizen's right to express themselves without reprisals.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill försvara yttrandefriheten mot EU-censur, stärka den fria och värdeoberoende åsiktsbildningen och stoppa maktöverföringar till EU. Motförslagets invändning mot att dynamiska EU-hänvisningar kombineras med kännbara sanktioner, som riskerar att avskräcka små partier, föreningar och lokala medier från laglig annonsering, ligger direkt i linje med detta. Planen värnar uttryckligen varje medborgares rätt att uttrycka sig utan repressalier.
- against EU censorshipdecisive»Försvara yttrandefriheten mot EU-censur och politiska påverkansoperationer« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Defend freedom of expression against EU censorship and political influence operations”
- protection of freedom of expression»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 subject to threats or reprisals should be protected and strengthened.”
- free opinion formation»Stärka möjligheten till fri och värdeoberoende åsiktsbildning« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen the possibility of free and value-independent opinion formation”
- stop transfer of power»Stoppa maktöverföringar och EU-skatter« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Stop transfers of power and EU taxes”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2025/26:KU13)
- Committee report full text (HD01KU13)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2025/26:1426 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:4 Kompletterande bestämmelser till EU:s förordning om politisk reklam av Michael Rubbestad m.fl. (SD)
- Proposition 2025/26:4 — Kompletterande bestämmelser till EU:s förordning om politisk reklam
Source: The Swedish Parliament