2025-10-222025/26:KrU2 · p.3KrUCulture
The Government's proposal on follow-up of the public service assignments
Follow-up of the public service mandate - new external analyses of efficiency and impartiality
What's at stake: More external analyses could strengthen public trust in public broadcasting over time, but according to critics involve extra work and costs for the broadcasters, as well as a risk to their independence. The decision concerns the trade-off between increased scrutiny and avoiding duplication of existing oversight.
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 new external analyses of public broadcasters' efficiency, productivity and impartiality should be carried out during the mandate period, in addition to existing oversight, or whether current follow-up tools are sufficient.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee shares the government's assessment that an external analysis of public broadcasters' impact on the media market, an analysis of efficiency and productivity work, and a research study on the impartiality condition should be carried out during the mandate period, in order to safeguard the legitimacy of and trust in the operations in the long term. The committee therefore approves the government's follow-up proposal and rejects the motions calling for the new analyses to be dropped.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 2 (S, V, C, MP)
The reservation (S, V, C, MP) argues that a range of tools already exist to monitor and scrutinise public broadcasting - including the National Audit Office, the Media Authority, the supervisory board and the broadcasters' own auditors - and that additional external analyses would only create extra work without strengthening legitimacy or trust. It also warns that the measures risk negatively affecting the broadcasters' independence.
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: approving what the committee proposes and rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 2 by S, V, C, 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 | No | No 0/18/0/4 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| S | No | No 0/93/0/13 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| MP | No | No 0/15/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | No | No 0/21/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| L | No | Yes 13/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| KD | Yes | Yes 17/0/0/2 | follows the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| M | Yes | Yes 59/0/0/9 | follows the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| SD | Yes | Yes 63/0/0/9 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag approves what the Government proposes regarding the follow-up of the public service assignment (section 11 of the proposition). The Riksdag thus approves proposition 2024/25:166 item 15 and rejects motions 2024/25:3435 by Vasiliki Tsouplaki et al. (V) request 9 and 2024/25:3437 by Catarina Deremar et al. (C) request 2.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen godkänner vad regeringen föreslår om uppföljningen av public service-uppdraget (avsnitt 11 i propositionen). Därmed bifaller riksdagen proposition 2024/25:166 punkt 15 och avslår motionerna 2024/25:3435 av Vasiliki Tsouplaki m.fl. (V) yrkande 9 och 2024/25:3437 av Catarina Deremar m.fl. (C) yrkande 2.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag said yes to the Government's legislative proposal that rules for the public service assignment and the financing of the assignment shall be gathered in a new law on public service. The Riksdag also said yes to the Government's other proposals regarding, among other things, the design of the public service assignment and the economic conditions for public service companies during the assignment period 2026–2033. The Law on Public Service and the amendments to the Radio and Television Act come into force on 2 December 2025 and other legislative amendments on 1 January 2026.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to retain requirements for equality and diversity in public service companies' programming. (S, V, C, MP) — 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 requires that public service has a strong and independent role that stands free from political power and that politics maintains arm's length distance from content.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that public service has a strong and independent role that stands free from political power and that politics maintains arm's length distance from content. Recurring external analyses of media market impact, productivity and impartiality are precisely the kind of politically commissioned scrutiny that risks pressing the operation into a governance logic. The counter-proposal's objection that existing tools suffice is therefore in line with the plan's independence requirements.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att public service har en stark och självständig roll som står oberoende från den politiska makten och att politiken håller armlängds avstånd till innehållet. Återkommande externa analyser av mediemarknadspåverkan, produktivitet och opartiskhet är just den sorts politiskt beställda granskning som riskerar att pressa in verksamheten i en styrningslogik. Motförslagets invändning att befintliga verktyg räcker ligger därför i linje med planens självständighetskrav.
- independent public servicedecisive»Vi vill se en stark, bred och självständig roll för public service, med ett uppdrag som utgår från grundlagen men står oberoende från den politiska makten« (party programme ↗)“We want to see a strong, broad and independent role for public service, with a mandate that originates from the constitution but stands independent from political power”
- arm's length distance to content»Politiken ska skapa förutsättningar för en bred kultur som kommer alla till del och hålla armlängds avstånd till innehållet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Politics should create conditions for broad culture available to all and maintain arm's length distance from content.”
- media independence»Vi driver på för villkor som säkrar en stark självständighet för medier, fackföreningar, folkbildning, konst, kultur- och föreningsliv.« (party programme ↗)“We push for conditions that secure strong independence for media, trade unions, popular education, art, culture and associational life.”
The plan requires a broad, independent and constitutionally protected public service, free and independent media and the principle of arm's length distance.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires a broad, independent and constitutionally protected public service, free and independent media and the principle of arm's length distance. External analyses of media market impact and a research study on the impartiality condition risk moving scrutiny closer to the principal and compromising independence. The counter-proposal's objection that existing tools are sufficient is therefore supported.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver en bred, oberoende och grundlagsskyddad public service, fri och oberoende media samt principen om armlängds avstånd. Externa analyser av mediemarknadspåverkan och en forskningsstudie om opartiskhetsvillkoret riskerar att flytta granskningen närmare uppdragsgivaren och tumma på oberoendet. Motförslagets invändning att befintliga verktyg räcker stöds därför.
- independent public servicedecisive»Bred, oberoende och grundlagsskyddad public service som är gemensamt finansierad.« (party programme ↗)“Broad, independent and constitutionally protected public service that is commonly financed.”
- free and independent media»Fri och oberoende media.« (party programme ↗)“Free and independent media.”
- arm's length distance»Försvar för det konstnärliga skapandets frihet och principen om armlängds avstånd.« (party programme ↗)“Defence of artistic creation's freedom and the principle of arm's length distance.”
- constitutionally protected public service»Vi vill grundlagsskydda public service.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We wish to constitutionally protect public service.”
The plan states that policy should provide the media and culture with preconditions but not control content, and that the principle of arm's length distance should be safeguarded.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that policy should provide the media and culture with preconditions but not control content, and that the principle of arm's length distance should be safeguarded. External analyses of impartiality conditions and of the activity's impact on the media market risk coming close to such content control. The counter-proposal's objection that existing tools suffice and that independence can be harmed therefore aligns with the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att politiken ska ge medierna och kulturen förutsättningar men inte styra innehållet, och att principen om armlängds avstånd ska värnas. Externa analyser av opartiskhetsvillkoret och av verksamhetens påverkan på mediemarknaden riskerar att komma nära en sådan innehållsstyrning. Motförslagets invändning att befintliga verktyg räcker och att oberoendet kan skadas ligger därför i linje med planen.
- no political content controldecisive»Politiken ska ge konsten och kulturen förutsättningar, inte styra dess innehåll.« (party programme ↗)“Policy shall provide art and culture with preconditions, not control its content.”
- arm's length distance»om armlängds avstånd ska värnas och den konstnärliga friheten stärkas.« (party programme ↗)“that arm's length distance should be safeguarded and artistic freedom strengthened.”
- constitutionally protected public service»skydda ett oberoende public service i grundlagen« (2022 manifesto ↗)“protect an independent public service in the constitution”
- independent public service»brett och oberoende public service och en mångfald av kommersiella medier« (party programme ↗)“broad and independent public service and a diversity of commercial media”
The plan requires that politics maintain arm's length distance and that public service remain independent and free from political control.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that politics maintain arm's length distance and that public service remain independent and free from political control. Externally commissioned analyses of media market impact, efficiency and impartiality risk precisely the kind of steering the plan wants to avoid, and the plan furthermore wants to eliminate extra work that adds no value. The counter-proposal's demand thus aligns with the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att politiken håller armlängds avstånd och att public service förblir oberoende och fritt från politisk kontroll. Externt beställda analyser av mediemarknadspåverkan, effektivitet och opartiskhet riskerar just den styrning planen vill undvika, och planen vill dessutom rensa bort merarbete som inte tillför nytta. Motförslagets krav ligger därför i linje med planen.
- arm's length distance from politicsdecisive»Den akademiska och konstnärliga friheten liksom den fria kulturen är grundbultar i ett vitalt civilsamhälle. Politiken ska bidra till goda förutsättningar men hålla armlängds avstånd.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Academic and artistic freedom as well as free culture are cornerstones of a vital civil society. Politics should provide good conditions but maintain arm's length distance.”
- independent public service defended»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 vital media monitoring throughout the country is crucial for democracy. Press freedom should be protected and independent public service defended.”
- media free from political control»Tillgången till oberoende medier som står fria från såväl politisk kontroll och censur« (party programme ↗)“Access to independent media that are free from both political control and censorship”
- politics not a taste judge»Skaparglädje frodas i frihet. Politiken ska akta sig för att agera smakdomare och diktera kulturens innehåll.« (party programme ↗)“Creative joy thrives in freedom. Politics should refrain from acting as judge of taste and dictating cultural content.”
The plan requires that public service companies get increased statutory protection for their independence from political control and that media independence is protected.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that public service companies get increased statutory protection for their independence from political control and that media independence is protected. The counter-proposal warns that additional external analyses of, among other things, the impartiality condition risk negatively affecting operations' independence, which is close to the plan's line that the state shall control less. The plan's general requirement for evaluation is directed primarily at schools and cultural support, not at public service review forms.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att public service-bolagen får ökat skydd i lagen för sitt oberoende från politisk styrning och att mediernas oberoende värnas. Motförslaget varnar för att ytterligare externa analyser av bland annat opartiskhetsvillkoret riskerar att påverka verksamheternas oberoende negativt, vilket ligger nära planens linje att staten ska styra mindre. Planens generella krav på utvärdering är i första hand riktade mot skolan och kulturstöd, inte mot public service granskningsformer.
- statutory protected independencedecisive»Därför ska Sveriges Television, Sveriges Radio och Utbildningsradion ha ökat skydd i lagen för sitt oberoende från politisk styrning, och public service-bolagen ska fortsätta ha ett brett programutbud.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Therefore, Swedish Television, Swedish Radio, and Educational Radio shall have increased statutory protection for their independence from political control, and public service companies shall continue to have a broad programme range.”
- media independence»Mediernas oberoende måste värnas.« (party programme ↗)“Media independence must be protected.”
- independence from micromanagement»ske i former som garanterar kulturlivets oberoende gentemot politisk detaljstyrning.« (party programme ↗)“take place in forms that guarantee cultural life's independence from political micromanagement.”
- state shall control less»Därför vill vi att staten ska styra mindre och att det ska vara kulturskapare och inte politiker som fattar besluten om stöd.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Therefore we want the state to control less and that it shall be culture creators, not politicians, who make decisions about support.”
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 evaluation, cost monitoring and quality control important political tasks in the interest of citizens.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme makes evaluation, cost monitoring and quality control important political tasks in the interest of citizens. The counter-proposal's demand to refrain from external analyses of media market impact, efficiency and impartiality precisely limits such monitoring. The plan's emphasis on public service independence points partly in the other direction, which is why the uncertainty is great.
Original (Swedish)
Principprogrammet gör utvärdering, kostnadsuppföljning och kvalitetskontroll till viktiga politiska uppgifter i medborgarnas intresse. Motförslagets krav på att avstå från externa analyser av mediemarknadspåverkan, effektivitet och opartiskhet begränsar just den uppföljningen. Planens betoning av public services oberoende talar delvis åt andra hållet, varför osäkerheten är stor.
- monitoring and quality controldecisive»Politikernas uppgift är i första hand att ta tillvara medborgarnas intresse. Utvärdering, kostnadsuppföljning och kvalitetskontroll är därför viktiga politiska uppgifter.« (party programme ↗)“The task of politicians is first and foremost to look after the interest of citizens. Evaluation, cost monitoring and quality control are therefore important political tasks.”
- independent public service»Betydelsen av oberoende och reklamfria radio- och TV-kanaler utan vinstintressen är stor.« (party programme ↗)“The importance of independent and ad-free radio and TV channels without profit interests is great.”
- support but not control»Den innebär att kulturverksamhet som bedrivs av det civila samhället ska stödjas av det offentliga, men inte styras« (party programme ↗)“It means that cultural activities conducted by civil society should be supported by the public sector, but not controlled”
The plan wants explicitly to strengthen the requirement for factuality and impartiality in public service and create conditions for a media market where actors operate in competition with each other.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants explicitly to strengthen the requirement for factuality and impartiality in public service and create conditions for a media market where actors operate in competition with each other. External analyses of media market impact, efficiency and impartiality are in line with this, while the counter-proposal wants to refrain from them. The plan therefore speaks against the counter-proposal's requirement.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill uttryckligen stärka kravet på saklighet och opartiskhet i public service och skapa förutsättningar för en mediemarknad där aktörer verkar i konkurrens med varandra. Externa analyser av mediemarknadspåverkan, effektivitet och opartiskhet ligger i linje med detta, medan motförslaget vill avstå från dem. Planen talar därför emot motförslagets krav.
- scrutinised impartialitydecisive»Värna och stärka public services kärnuppdrag och kravet på saklighet och opartiskhet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Protect and strengthen public service's core task and the requirement for factuality and impartiality”
- media market in competition»Moderaternas mediepolitik har som mål att skapa förutsättningar för ett brett utbud av medier i olika format som kan verka fritt, självständigt och i konkurrens med varandra.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Moderate Party's media policy aims to create conditions for a broad range of media in various formats that can operate freely, independently and in competition with each other.”
- adapted media support»Reformera mediestödet för att stödja den digitala transformationen och omställningen« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Reform media support to support the digital transformation and transition”
The plan requires clear results for every public initiative and wants to reduce the state's grip on the media sphere while strengthening free and impartial opinion formation.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires clear results for every public initiative and wants to reduce the state's grip on the media sphere while strengthening free and impartial opinion formation. The counter-proposal wants to avoid external analyses of media-market impact, efficiency and impartiality, citing additional work and independence. This conflicts with the plan's requirement for scrutiny and documented results for tax-financed activities.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver tydliga resultat för varje offentlig satsning och vill minska det offentligas grepp om mediesfären samtidigt som fri och värdeoberoende åsiktsbildning stärks. Motförslaget vill slippa externa analyser av mediemarknadspåverkan, effektivitet och opartiskhet med hänvisning till merarbete och oberoende. Det står i strid med planens krav på granskning och redovisade resultat för skattefinansierad verksamhet.
- performance requirements for initiativesdecisive»Begära tydliga resultat för varje offentlig satsning« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Demand clear results for every public initiative”
- reduced public media influence»Minska det offentligas ekonomiska kontroll över samtidskulturen och mediesfären« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Reduce the state's economic control over contemporary culture and the media sphere”
- impartial opinion formation»Stärka möjligheten till fri och värdeoberoende åsiktsbildning« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen the opportunity for free and impartial opinion formation”
- media independence»Mediernas oberoende ska öka genom minskad politisk styrning från statsmakten och åtgärder för en ökad mångfald.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Media independence should increase through reduced political control by the state and measures for increased diversity.”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2025/26:KrU2)
- Committee report full text (HD01KrU2)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2024/25:3435 — med anledning av prop. 2024/25:166 En lag om public service och riktlinjer för verksamheten 2026-2033 av Vasiliki Tsouplaki m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2024/25:3436 — med anledning av prop. 2024/25:166 En lag om public service och riktlinjer för verksamheten 2026-2033 av Lawen Redar m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2024/25:3437 — med anledning av prop. 2024/25:166 En lag om public service och riktlinjer för verksamheten 2026-2033 av Catarina Deremar m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2024/25:3439 — med anledning av prop. 2024/25:166 En lag om public service och riktlinjer för verksamheten 2026-2033 av Mats Berglund m.fl. (MP)
- Proposition 2024/25:166 — En lag om public service och riktlinjer för verksamheten 2026-2033
Source: The Swedish Parliament