2025-04-092024/25:KU26 · p.2KUConstitution
New free municipality experiment
A new free-municipality trial for greater local self-government
What's at stake: The outcome affects whether municipalities and regions get a new tool to test exemptions from state rules and new working methods, such as directly elected municipal executive boards, aimed at strengthening local self-government and the capacity to carry out their tasks.
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 a new, more far-reaching free-municipality trial should be launched, allowing municipalities and regions to test exemptions from state rules to strengthen self-government and capacity, or whether current inquiries and initiatives in the area are considered sufficient.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee notes that the question of municipal pilot schemes is already the subject of several ongoing inquiries and government initiatives, and therefore sees no reason to initiate a new free-municipality trial. The Riksdag therefore rejects the motion.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 2 (C)
The reservation (C) calls for launching a new, more far-reaching free-municipality trial in which municipalities and regions could test local and regional development proposals through legislative amendments, exemptions and dispensations, for example directly elected municipal executive boards and fewer alternates for municipal posts. The reasoning is to strengthen the municipal sector's capacity, competitiveness and self-government and to increase participation in decision-making, particularly for small municipalities.
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 2 by C.
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: LLiberalerna
Ja 279–18Ja 266–31
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.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | Yes | Yes 20/0/0/4 | follows the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| S | Yes | Yes 93/0/0/13 | follows the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| MP | No | Yes 14/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | No | No 1/18/0/5 | follows the plan | confidence: high | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 13/0/0/3 | departs from the planagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| KD | No | Yes 15/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 60/0/0/8 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| SD | No | Yes 62/0/0/10 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
Broke with the party line
| CHelena Lindahl (C, Västerbottens län) | Yes — party line: No |
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 motion 2024/25:2955 by Muharrem Demirok et al. (C) demand 44.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motion 2024/25:2955 av Muharrem Demirok m.fl. (C) yrkande 44.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag said no to approximately 40 proposals in motions on municipal and regional matters from the general motion period 2024. The proposals deal, for example, with municipal cooperation and competence, the number of members and deputies in the municipal council and municipal party support. The Riksdag refers, among other things, to the fact that work is already underway within the areas covered by the motions.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to enable differentiated allocation of responsibilities that allows municipalities to voluntarily transfer areas of responsibility to other municipalities or to regional level. (C) — Reservation 2
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 wants incomes and costs distributed solidaristically across the country and that school, healthcare and care function everywhere, which speaks against an experiment where municipalities receive exemptions and exceptions from common rules in competition with each other.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants incomes and costs distributed solidaristically across the country and that school, healthcare and care function everywhere, which speaks against an experiment where municipalities receive exemptions and exceptions from common rules in competition with each other. Fewer substitutes in municipal assignments also contradicts the plan's will for more people to participate on equal terms in political life. The plan meanwhile values municipal self-government.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill att inkomster och kostnader fördelas solidariskt över landet och att skola, vård och omsorg fungerar överallt, vilket talar mot ett försök där kommuner får dispenser och undantag från gemensamma regler i konkurrens med varandra. Färre ersättare i kommunala uppdrag går också emot planens vilja att fler ska delta på jämlika villkor i det politiska livet. Planen värnar samtidigt det kommunala självstyret.
- solidaristic distributiondecisive»Inkomster och kostnader behöver fördelas solidariskt över landet.« (party programme ↗)“Incomes and costs need to be distributed solidaristically across the country.”
- equivalent services»Skola, vård, omsorg och annan service behöver fungera överallt.« (party programme ↗)“School, healthcare, care and other services need to function everywhere.”
- broad political participation»Vi vill bryta upp de gamla strukturer som fortfarande håller tillbaka många från att delta på jämlika villkor i det politiska livet.« (party programme ↗)“We want to break open the old structures that still hold back many from participating on equal terms in political life.”
- municipal self-government»Det kommunala självstyret är en betydelsefull del av den svenska demokratin.« (party programme ↗)“Municipal self-government is an important part of Swedish democracy.”
The party programme requires nationally established regulations for all tax-financed activities and equivalent access to welfare throughout the country, which speaks against an attempt where municipalities receive exemptions and exceptions from current legislation.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme requires nationally established regulations for all tax-financed activities and equivalent access to welfare throughout the country, which speaks against an attempt where municipalities receive exemptions and exceptions from current legislation. Reducing the number of substitutes also conflicts with the requirement that elected officials reflect the population's composition. The plan at the same time gives municipalities freedom in choice of management forms, which makes the assessment uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet kräver nationellt fastställda regelverk för all skattefinansierad verksamhet och likvärdig tillgång till välfärden i hela landet, vilket talar mot ett försök där kommuner får dispenser och undantag från gällande författningar. Att minska antalet ersättare går dessutom mot kravet att de folkvalda ska avspegla befolkningens sammansättning. Planen ger samtidigt kommunerna frihet i valet av driftsformer, vilket gör bedömningen osäker.
- nationally uniform regulationsdecisive»ska det finnas nationellt fastställda regelverk.« (party programme ↗)“shall there be nationally established regulations.”
- equivalence throughout the country»Alla invånare i hela landet ska ha likvärdig tillgång till skola, vård och omsorg.« (party programme ↗)“All inhabitants throughout the country shall have equivalent access to school, healthcare and care services.”
- representative elected officials»Våra folkvalda ska avspegla befolkningens sammansättning.« (party programme ↗)“Our elected officials shall reflect the population's composition.”
- municipal freedom in management forms»De politiskt beslutande församlingarna i kommuner och landsting ska ha frihet att för de« (party programme ↗)“The politically deciding bodies in municipalities and county councils shall have freedom for the”
The plan is explicitly decentralist and wants municipalities and regions given increased responsibility and influence over decisions affecting them, with decisions made close to citizens and regulations that work for small municipalities too.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan is explicitly decentralist and wants municipalities and regions given increased responsibility and influence over decisions affecting them, with decisions made close to citizens and regulations that work for small municipalities too. A more far-reaching free-municipality trial with exemptions and exceptions for local development initiatives is one such means. Trial activities are not explicitly mentioned, therefore inference.
Original (Swedish)
Planen är uttalat decentralistisk och vill att kommuner och regioner ges ökat ansvar och inflytande över de beslut som berör dem, med beslut fattade nära medborgarna och regelverk som fungerar även för små kommuner. Ett mer långtgående frikommunförsök med dispenser och undantag för lokala utvecklingsförslag är ett medel för detta. Försöksverksamhet nämns inte uttryckligen, därför härledning.
- increased municipal responsibilitydecisive»kommuner ges ett ökat ansvar och inflytande över de« (party programme ↗)“municipalities shall be given increased responsibility and influence over the”
- decentralization»Miljöpartiet de gröna förespråkar decentralisering.« (party programme ↗)“The Green Party advocates decentralization.”
- rules for small municipalities too»regelverk ska fungera lika bra för små kommuner som« (party programme ↗)“regulations shall work equally well for small municipalities as”
- power close to those affected»Makt ska utövas av dem som påverkas av den.« (party programme ↗)“Power shall be exercised by those affected by it.”
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 decentralize further and give municipalities and regions power over labor market, infrastructure and growth issues, and would like to see more municipal divisions where residents wish it.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to decentralize further and give municipalities and regions power over labor market, infrastructure and growth issues, and would like to see more municipal divisions where residents wish it. A municipal pilot with constitutional changes, exemptions and exceptions is the same thinking put into practice and aligns with the plan's desire to clean up unnecessary rules. The plan therefore supports the requirement.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill decentralisera mera och ge kommuner och regioner makt över arbetsmarknads-, infrastruktur- och tillväxtfrågor, och ser gärna fler kommundelningar där invånarna önskar det. Ett frikommunförsök med författningsändringar, dispenser och undantag är samma tanke omsatt i praktiken och ligger nära planens vilja att rensa bort överflödiga regler. Planen stöder därför kravet.
- decentralize furtherdecisive»Decentralisera mera. Människor ska få bestämma mer själva, och politiska beslut ska fattas nära dem som berörs.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Decentralize further. People shall be allowed to decide more themselves, and political decisions shall be made close to those affected.”
- regional self-determination»Genom att decentralisera makt och inflytande i frågor som arbetsmarknads-, infrastruktur- och tillväxtpolitik kan invånarna regionalt få råda över viktiga framtidsfrågor.« (party programme ↗)“By decentralizing power and influence in questions such as labor market, infrastructure and growth policy, residents regionally can have a say over important future questions.”
- local organizational experiments»Samtidigt ser vi gärna fler kommundelningar där invånarna så önskar.« (party programme ↗)“At the same time, we would like to see more municipal divisions where residents wish it.”
- fewer rules and bureaucracy»Vi ska rensa upp bland överflödiga regler och byråkrati.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We shall clean up unnecessary rules and bureaucracy.”
The party programme explicitly establishes that to facilitate local reform work it shall become easier for municipalities to during a trial period test new organizational forms.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme explicitly establishes that to facilitate local reform work it shall become easier for municipalities to during a trial period test new organizational forms. A new municipality experiment with exemptions and waivers is precisely that instrument. The plan also wants the state to facilitate for municipalities that themselves want to raise the quality of service.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår uttryckligen fast att det för att underlätta lokalt reformarbete ska bli lättare för kommuner att under en försöksperiod pröva nya organisationsformer. Ett nytt frikommunförsök med dispenser och undantag är precis det instrumentet. Planen vill dessutom att staten ska underlätta för kommuner som själva vill höja kvaliteten på servicen.
- municipal experiments with organizational formsdecisive»lättare för kommuner att under en försöksperiod pröva nya organisationsformer.« (party programme ↗)“easier for municipalities to during a trial period test new organizational forms.”
- the state facilitates municipal initiatives»Staten ska underlätta för de kommuner som vill gå samman« (party programme ↗)“The state shall facilitate for the municipalities that want to merge”
- living self-government»Demokratin förutsätter aktiva medborgare och ett levande demokratiskt samtal.« (party programme ↗)“Democracy presupposes active citizens and a living democratic dialogue.”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The subsidiarity principle is the plan's fundamental power-distribution principle and municipal self-government shall according to the plan be strong and constitutionally regulated.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The subsidiarity principle is the plan's fundamental power-distribution principle and municipal self-government shall according to the plan be strong and constitutionally regulated. A free-municipality experiment with exemptions and exceptions gives municipalities precisely the room to decide for themselves what they are able to manage. The plan furthermore wants planning for society to be characterized by a purposeful pursuit of a decentralized society.
Original (Swedish)
Subsidiaritetsprincipen är planens grundläggande maktfördelningsprincip och den kommunala självstyrelsen ska enligt planen vara stark och grundlagsreglerad. Ett frikommunförsök med dispenser och undantag ger kommunerna just det utrymme att själva avgöra det de klarar av. Planen vill dessutom att samhällsplaneringen präglas av en strävan mot ett decentraliserat samhälle.
- strong municipal self-governmentdecisive»Den kommunala självstyrelsen ska vara stark« (party programme ↗)“Municipal self-government shall be strong”
- subsidiarity in the constitution»inskriven i svensk grundlag som riktlinje för den vertikala maktdelningen.« (party programme ↗)“inscribed in Swedish constitutional law as a guideline for vertical power distribution.”
- decentralized society»präglas av en målmedveten strävan mot ett decentraliserat samhälle.« (party programme ↗)“characterized by a purposeful pursuit of a decentralized society.”
- developed resident influence»Andra former av invånarinflytande bör finnas och utvecklas.« (party programme ↗)“Other forms of resident influence should exist and be developed.”
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 counter-proposal requires a new, more far-reaching free municipality experiment where municipalities and regions can test local solutions through exemptions and exceptions.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal requires a new, more far-reaching free municipality experiment where municipalities and regions can test local solutions through exemptions and exceptions. The plan is based on decisions being made at the lowest possible level, that different municipalities and regions should be allowed to choose different paths and that a diversity of solutions is needed that can be measured against each other, because decentralized decision-making makes society more robust. The plan therefore supports the requirement.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget kräver ett nytt, mer långtgående frikommunförsök där kommuner och regioner får testa lokala lösningar genom dispenser och undantag. Planen bygger på att beslut ska fattas på lägsta möjliga nivå, att olika kommuner och regioner ska tillåtas välja olika vägar och att det behövs en mångfald av lösningar som kan mätas mot varandra, eftersom decentraliserat beslutsfattande gör samhället mer robust. Planen stöder därför kravet.
- municipal freedom of actiondecisive»tillåta att olika regioner och kommuner väljer« (party programme ↗)“allow different regions and municipalities to choose”
- test different solutions»Det behövs en mångfald av olika lösningar som kan mätas mot varandra.« (party programme ↗)“A diversity of different solutions is needed that can be measured against each other.”
- decisions at lowest level»Beslut ska fattas på lägsta möjliga nivå, så nära medborgarna som möjligt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Decisions should be made at the lowest possible level, as close to citizens as possible.”
- decentralization creates robustness»Decentraliserat beslutsfattande gör samhället mer robust« (party programme ↗)“Decentralized decision-making makes society more robust”
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 decisions, to the extent possible, should be brought closer to citizens and that municipal self-determination is a central part of democracy.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that decisions, to the extent possible, should be brought closer to citizens and that municipal self-determination is a central part of democracy. A free municipality experiment with exemptions and local development proposals aligns with this and with openness to strengthened elements of direct democracy. The plan does not mention any such experiment, however, so support is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att beslut så långt det går bör föras närmare medborgarna och att det kommunala självbestämmandet är en central del av demokratin. Ett frikommunförsök med dispenser och lokala utvecklingsförslag ligger i linje med detta och med öppenheten för stärkta inslag av direktdemokrati. Planen nämner dock inget försök av detta slag, varför stödet härleds.
- decisions near citizensdecisive»För att öka den demokratiska legitimiteten bör beslut så långt det går föras närmre medborgarna.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“To increase democratic legitimacy, decisions should, to the extent possible, be brought closer to citizens.”
- municipal self-governance»Vi betraktar det kommunala självbestämmandet som en central del av demokratin« (party programme ↗)“We regard municipal self-determination as a central part of democracy”
- strengthened direct democracy»Möjligheterna att stärka inslag av direktdemokrati ska utgöra ett komplement till den representativa demokratin.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The possibilities of strengthening elements of direct democracy shall serve as a complement to representative democracy.”
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 (2024/25:KU26)
- Committee report full text (HC01KU26)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2024/25:1043 — Åtgärder mot kommunalt befogenhetsöverskridande i utrikespolitiska frågor av Magnus Berntsson (KD)
- Motion 2024/25:1377 — Några valfrågor av Matheus Enholm m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1379 — Kommunpolitik av Matheus Enholm m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:1493 — Öppna omröstningar i kommunfullmäktige av Dan Hovskär (KD)
- Motion 2024/25:190 — Möjliggörande av fler folkinitiativ av Jonas Andersson (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:2244 — Återkallande av uppdrag i styrelser, nämnder med mera för förtroendevalda som blivit vildar i kommun- och regionfullmäktige av Mattias Eriksson Falk m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:2246 — Reglera utskott i kommunallagen av Mattias Eriksson Falk och Roger Hedlund (båda SD)
- Motion 2024/25:2250 — Krav på folkomröstning vid förslag om sammanslagning av kommuner och regioner av Mattias Eriksson Falk och Roger Hedlund (båda SD)
- Motion 2024/25:2263 — Utökning av antalet ersättare i kommunfullmäktige av Mattias Eriksson Falk och Roger Hedlund (båda SD)
- Motion 2024/25:2285 — Utökad möjlighet att behålla förtroendeuppdrag vid tillfällig flytt för studier av Mattias Eriksson Falk och Roger Hedlund (båda SD)
- Motion 2024/25:2304 — Översyn av 37 och 38 §§ kommunallagen av Mats Wiking m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2024/25:2350 — Tomma stolar i kommunfullmäktige av Johan Andersson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2024/25:2585 — Avpolitisera den kommunala revisionen av Boriana Åberg (M)
- Motion 2024/25:277 — Öppna omröstningar i kommunfullmäktige - en demokratifråga av Gudrun Brunegård (KD)
- Motion 2024/25:2955 — Livskraft och framtidstro på Sveriges landsbygder av Muharrem Demirok m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2024/25:2963 — Förtroendevaldas närvaro av Markus Wiechel och Alexander Christiansson (båda SD)
- Motion 2024/25:3022 — Utgiftsområde 9 Hälsovård, sjukvård och social omsorg av Fredrik Lundh Sammeli m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2024/25:472 — Kommunjurist som lyder under oppositionen av Josef Fransson (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:476 — Sänkta partistöd för en stärkt demokrati av Josef Fransson (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:633 — Komplettering av kommunallagens bestämmelser om ledighet från anställning för förtroendevalda av Mattias Eriksson Falk och Roger Hedlund (båda SD)
Source: The Swedish Parliament