2026-04-222025/26:KU33 · p.2KUConstitution
Transitional provision
Transitional provisions on access to material from seizures and searches
What's at stake: The provision determines whether people who requested access to a public document before the law change should be assessed under the older, more generous rules even if the authority had not yet made a decision, which affects legal certainty and predictability for the individual.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is how the transitional provision should be designed for the new restriction on access to material seized or copied during a search – whether the old rules should apply only when reviewing appeals of decisions already made, or whether they should apply to all requests submitted before the law change took effect, regardless of whether a decision had already been made.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee supports the government's proposal and reaches the same assessment as the government regarding the design of the transitional provision, under which the older rules apply only when reviewing an appeal of a decision made before the law took effect. The committee therefore rejects the motion.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 1 (V)
The reservation agrees on the need to limit access to material seized or copied during a search, but, in line with the Council on Legislation, considers that the transitional provision should instead be designed so that the older wording still applies to a request for access to a public document submitted before the law took effect, regardless of whether the authority had already made a decision, since retroactive application of law often creates legal uncertainty.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 1 by V.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | No 0/16/0/6 | follows the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| S | No | Yes 90/0/0/16 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| MP | No | Yes 12/0/1/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | No | Yes 20/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 11/0/0/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 14/0/0/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 55/0/0/11 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| SD | No | Yes 60/0/0/10 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
Broke with the party line
| MPNils Seye Larsen (MP, Västerbottens län) | Abstain — 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 motion 2025/26:3873 by Jessica Wetterling et al. (V).
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motion 2025/26:3873 av Jessica Wetterling m.fl. (V).
Riksdag decision: The government proposes that a digital recording that has been seized or copied in a house search should not be considered a public document. Parliament agreed to adopt as pending the government's proposal for amendment to the Freedom of the Press Act. The government's proposal means that a recording for automated processing that has been seized or copied in a house search, among other things in a criminal investigation, should not be considered a public document. The same applies to such a recording that has been received by a public authority as a result of the authority taking over responsibility for the seized information carrier or copy from the house search. If a recording is added to an investigation of a crime or criminal activity or other activity at the authority, it shall, however, continue to be a public document. Since the proposal concerns amendments to the Constitution, it is required that Parliament votes the same way twice on the proposal and that a general election is held between the votes. This is the first decision on the proposal. Parliament agreed to adopt the proposal as pending. The legislative changes enter into force on 1 January 2027.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants older rules to apply to requests for public information submitted before the law change. (V) — Reservation 1
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The plan does not take a position on transitional provisions, but establishes that the principle of public access is one of democracy's most important building blocks and that the justice system's legal certainty should be defended and continue to be realised.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan does not take a position on transitional provisions, but establishes that the principle of public access is one of democracy's most important building blocks and that the justice system's legal certainty should be defended and continue to be realised. Allowing the older wording to apply to a request submitted before coming into force protects both public access and the individual's predictability. The plan's demands for public oversight pull in the same direction.
Original (Swedish)
Planen tar inte ställning till övergångsbestämmelser, men slår fast att offentlighetsprincipen är en av demokratins viktigaste byggstenar och att rättsväsendets rättssäkerhet ska försvaras och fortsätta förverkligas. Att låta den äldre lydelsen gälla för en begäran som lämnats in före ikraftträdandet skyddar både insynen och den enskildes förutsebarhet. Planens krav på medborgerlig insyn drar åt samma håll.
- public access and transparencydecisive»Några av den politiska demokratins viktigaste byggstenar är föreningsfriheten, yttrande- och tryckfriheten« (party programme ↗)“Some of political democracy's most important building blocks are freedom of association, freedom of expression and freedom of the press”
- legal certainty»Utvecklingen av ett rättsväsende byggt på rättssäkerhet är viktig att försvara och fortsätta förverkliga.« (party programme ↗)“The development of a justice system built on legal certainty is important to defend and continue to realise.”
- public oversight»Rättssäkerheten behöver upprätthållas genom rättshjälp, medborgerlig insyn och oberoende granskning.« (party programme ↗)“Legal certainty needs to be upheld through legal aid, public oversight and independent review.”
- constitutional protection for rights»Grundlagarna ska värna demokratin och människors fri- och rättigheter.« (party programme ↗)“The constitutional laws should protect democracy and people's freedoms and rights.”
The plan says nothing about this particular transitional provision, but the party programme upholds the principles of the rule of law, the public access principle and civil liberties and rights.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan says nothing about this particular transitional provision, but the party programme upholds the principles of the rule of law, the public access principle and civil liberties and rights. The counter-proposal wants the older, more open wording to apply to a request submitted before the regulation comes into force, precisely to avoid retroactive legal application and legal uncertainty. It lies close to the plan's principles, but the conclusion is inferred.
Original (Swedish)
Planen säger inget om just denna övergångsbestämmelse, men partiprogrammet slår vakt om rättsstatens principer, offentlighetsprincipen och medborgerliga fri- och rättigheter. Motförslaget vill att den äldre, mer öppna lydelsen gäller för en begäran som lämnats in före ikraftträdandet, just för att undvika retroaktiv rättstillämpning och rättsosäkerhet. Det ligger nära planens principer, men slutsatsen är härledd.
- the principles of the rule of lawdecisive»Slå vakt om rättsstatens principer.« (party programme ↗)“Uphold the principles of the rule of law.”
- protected public access principle»Offentlighetsprincip i all offentligt finansierad verksamhet.« (party programme ↗)“Public access principle in all publicly funded activities.”
- civil liberties and rights»Skydd för medborgerliga fri- och rättigheter.« (party programme ↗)“Protection for civil liberties and rights.”
- equality before the law»Vi är lika inför lagbokens paragrafer och i våra myndigheter arbetar plikttrogna tjänstemän med hög integritet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We are equal before the law's paragraphs and in our agencies dutiful officials with high integrity 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 plan protects the constitutionally protected freedom of information and requires that legal certainty is guaranteed throughout the legal system and that new legislation is carefully tested on the basis of fundamental freedoms and rights.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan protects the constitutionally protected freedom of information and requires that legal certainty is guaranteed throughout the legal system and that new legislation is carefully tested on the basis of fundamental freedoms and rights. The counter-proposal's demand for a transitional provision that avoids retroactive application to requests for public documents already submitted follows from these principles. The plan does not directly address technical legislative transitional regulation, hence the derived coverage.
Original (Swedish)
Planen värnar den grundlagsskyddade informationsfriheten och kräver att rättssäkerheten garanteras i hela rättssystemet samt att ny lagstiftning prövas noggrant utifrån grundläggande fri- och rättigheter. Motförslagets krav på en övergångsbestämmelse som undviker retroaktiv tillämpning på redan inlämnade framställningar om allmän handling följer av dessa principer. Planen behandlar inte lagteknisk övergångsreglering direkt, därav härledd täckning.
- constitutionally protected freedom of informationdecisive»Svenskarnas grundlagsskyddade yttrande- och informationsfrihet ska värnas.« (party programme ↗)“Swedes' constitutionally protected freedom of expression and information should be protected.”
- legal certainty in the entire legal system»Alla ska vara lika inför lagen och rättssäkerheten måste garanteras i« (party programme ↗)“Everyone should be equal before the law and legal certainty must be guaranteed in”
- careful rights review»prövas noggrant utifrån rättssäkerhet och grundläggande fri- och rättigheter.« (party programme ↗)“carefully tested on the basis of legal certainty and fundamental freedoms and rights.”
- protection against rapid constitutional changes»skydda Sveriges grundlag mot snabba förändringar« (2022 manifesto ↗)“protect Sweden's constitution against rapid changes”
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 makes openness and transparency fundamental prerequisites for freedom and democracy and takes the constitutionally protected freedoms and rights for granted, and the election manifesto wants Sweden to become even more transparent and everyone to be able to have their case tried.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme makes openness and transparency fundamental prerequisites for freedom and democracy and takes the constitutionally protected freedoms and rights for granted, and the election manifesto wants Sweden to become even more transparent and everyone to be able to have their case tried. A transitional rule that lets the older, more open wording apply for requests submitted before entry into force avoids retroactive restriction and strengthens legal security. The plan therefore supports the demand.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet gör öppenhet och transparens till grundförutsättningar för frihet och demokrati och håller de grundlagsskyddade fri- och rättigheterna för självklara, och valmanifestet vill att Sverige blir ännu mer transparent och att alla ska kunna få sin sak prövad. En övergångsregel som låter den äldre, mer öppna lydelsen gälla för begäranden som lämnats in före ikraftträdandet undviker retroaktiv inskränkning och stärker rättssäkerheten. Planen stöder därför kravet.
- openness and insightdecisive»Öppenhet och transparens är grundförutsättningar för frihet, demokrati och för att förhindra korruption och övergrepp.« (party programme ↗)“Openness and transparency are fundamental prerequisites for freedom, democracy and for preventing corruption and abuse.”
- increased transparency»Sverige ska bli ännu mer transparent.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden shall become even more transparent.”
- constitutionally protected rights»För oss är de grundlagsskyddade fri- och rättigheterna, som exempelvis yttrande-, tryck- och meddelarfrihet, självklara och ska garanteras.« (party programme ↗)“For us, the constitutionally protected freedoms and rights, such as freedom of expression, freedom of the press and freedom to impart information, are self-evident and shall be guaranteed.”
- legally secure trial»Alla som bor i Sverige ska kunna få sin sak prövad.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Everyone who lives in Sweden shall be able to have their case tried.”
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 gives the principle of public access to documents fundamental importance for scrutiny and debate and wants to increase insight into public documents.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan gives the principle of public access to documents fundamental importance for scrutiny and debate and wants to increase insight into public documents. A transitional provision letting the older, more generous wording apply to requests submitted before entry into force aligns with this and with the plan's requirement for strengthened legal security. The plan also recognises that privacy protection may justify limitations.
Original (Swedish)
Planen ger offentlighetsprincipen en grundläggande betydelse för granskning och debatt och vill öka insynen i allmänna handlingar. En övergångsbestämmelse som låter den äldre, mer generösa lydelsen gälla för begäranden som lämnats in före ikraftträdandet ligger i linje med detta och med planens krav på stärkt rättssäkerhet. Planen erkänner samtidigt att integritetsskyddet kan motivera begränsningar.
- importance of public access principledecisive»Offentlighetsprincipen har en grundläggande betydelse för att förankra och fördjupa« (party programme ↗)“The principle of public access to documents has fundamental importance for anchoring and deepening”
- strengthened legal security»Rättssäkerheten och skyddet för de medborgerliga fri- och rättigheterna behöver förstärkas.« (party programme ↗)“Legal security and protection of civil liberties and rights need to be strengthened.”
- increased insight into documents»bör i större utsträckning göras tillgängliga på nätet för att underlätta insyn.« (party programme ↗)“should to a greater extent be made available online to facilitate insight.”
- strengthened privacy protection»Skyddet för den enskildes integritet ska stärkas.« (party programme ↗)“Protection for the individual's integrity should be 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 establishes that the public access principle is central to an open and vital democracy and that confidentiality possibilities shall be used restrictively, and that the constitution shall secure the individual's rights.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that the public access principle is central to an open and vital democracy and that confidentiality possibilities shall be used restrictively, and that the constitution shall secure the individual's rights. A transitional provision that lets the older, more open wording apply to requests made before entry into force aligns with this and reduces legal uncertainty. The plan, however, says nothing explicit about transitional regulation.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att offentlighetsprincipen är central för en öppen och vital demokrati och att sekretessmöjligheten ska nyttjas restriktivt, samt att grundlagen ska säkerställa den enskildes rättigheter. En övergångsbestämmelse som låter den äldre, mer öppna lydelsen gälla för framställningar som gjorts före ikraftträdandet ligger i linje med detta och minskar rättsosäkerheten. Planen säger dock inget uttryckligt om övergångsreglering.
- restrictive confidentialitydecisive»Sekretessmöjligheten ska nyttjas restriktivt.« (party programme ↗)“Confidentiality possibilities shall be used restrictively.”
- the public access principle»Offentlighetsprincipen, det vill säga tillgången till allmänna handlingar, är central för en« (party programme ↗)“The public access principle, that is access to public documents, is central to”
- constitutionally protected rights»Grundlagen ska säkerställa de rättigheter som alltid ska finnas för den enskilda människan« (party programme ↗)“The constitution shall secure the rights that must always exist for the individual person”
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 all public exercise of power is governed by law and guided by equal treatment and predictability, and it wants to strengthen protection for citizens' freedom and rights.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that all public exercise of power is governed by law and guided by equal treatment and predictability, and it wants to strengthen protection for citizens' freedom and rights. A transitional provision that lets the old version apply to a request submitted before it comes into force is precisely a safeguard against retroactive application. The counter-proposal's requirement thus follows from the plan's rule-of-law principles.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att all offentlig maktutövning är lagstyrd och vägleds av likabehandling och förutsebarhet, och den vill stärka skyddet för medborgarnas fri- och rättigheter. En övergångsbestämmelse som låter äldre lydelse gälla för en begäran som lämnats in före ikraftträdandet är just ett värn mot retroaktiv tillämpning. Motförslagets krav följer därmed av planens rättsstatsprinciper.
- predictable legal applicationdecisive»principer om likabehandling och förutsebarhet.« (party programme ↗)“principles of equal treatment and predictability.”
- 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”
- strengthened rights protection»Stärka domstolarnas oberoende och skyddet för medborgarnas fri- och rättigheter« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen the independence of the courts and protection for citizens' freedom and rights”
- clear rights protection»Vår svenska grundlag ska ha en tydlig katalog av fri- och rättigheter.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Our Swedish constitution shall have a clear catalogue of freedom 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 wants to strengthen the principles of the rule of law in the administrative model and strengthen the Constitution's protection of rights, and increase transparency and opportunity for accountability.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to strengthen the principles of the rule of law in the administrative model and strengthen the Constitution's protection of rights, and increase transparency and opportunity for accountability. The counter-proposal's demand for a transition provision that protects already submitted submissions against retroactive application follows from that legal certainty perspective. However, the plan does not address the legislative technique in this particular matter.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill stärka de rättsstatliga principerna i förvaltningsmodellen och förstärka grundlagens rättighetsskydd, samt öka transparensen och möjligheten till ansvarsutkrävande. Motförslagets krav på en övergångsbestämmelse som skyddar redan inlämnade framställningar mot retroaktiv tillämpning följer av den rättssäkerhetssynen. Planen behandlar dock inte lagteknikens utformning i just detta ärende.
- strengthened rule-of-law principlesdecisive»Sverigedemokraterna vill stärka de rättsstatliga principerna i den svenska förvaltningsmodellen genom ökade inslag av maktdelning och ett stärkt oberoende av domstolsväsendet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden Democrats want to strengthen the principles of the rule of law in the Swedish administrative model through increased elements of separation of powers and a strengthened independence of the judiciary.”
- strengthened rights protection»Förstärka grundlagens rättighetsskydd vad gäller yttrandefrihet, äganderätt och frihet från religion« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen the Constitution's protection of rights regarding freedom of expression, property rights and freedom of religion”
- increased transparency»Tjänstemannaansvar ska införas och åtgärder ska genomföras för att öka transparensen och möjligheten att utkräva politiskt ansvarsutkrävande.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Official responsibility should be introduced and measures should be taken to increase transparency and the opportunity to demand political accountability.”
- legislative technical quality»Lagrådets ställning bör stärkas genom att utreda möjligheten att fordra kvalificerad majoritet i riksdagen vid antaganden av lagförslag om vilka Lagrådet riktat kritik.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The position of the Lagråd should be strengthened by investigating the possibility of requiring a qualified majority in parliament when adopting legislative proposals regarding which the Lagråd has directed criticism.”
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.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2025/26:KU33)
- Committee report full text (HD01KU33)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2025/26:3873 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:71 Insyn i handlingar som inhämtas genom beslag och kopiering vid husrannsakan av Jessica Wetterling m.fl. (V)
- Proposition 2025/26:71 — Insyn i handlingar som inhämtas genom beslag och kopiering vid husrannsakan
Source: The Swedish Parliament