2026-04-292025/26:FöU12 · p.5FöUDefence
Other measures for stronger population protection
What's at stake: How population protection is organised affects how well the civilian population can be protected and cared for during an armed attack or other crisis, and how resilient civil-society structures become. At issue is whether responsibility should be formalised in law or continue to be handled through the agencies' ongoing planning.
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, beyond the new law on shelters and protected spaces, a formal population-protection system should also be introduced with clear lines of responsibility, organisation and staffing, plus targeted support for civil society, or whether planning of where shelters and other measures are needed should continue to be led by the responsible agencies on a risk basis without new statutory rules.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee welcomes the government's bill on shelters and protected spaces and backs it. On the future location of shelters, the committee agrees with the government that it is difficult to determine in advance with certainty where they will be needed, and that such decisions must rest on analyses produced jointly by the relevant authorities. The committee notes that an overall plan with a geographic risk-based prioritisation has already been produced by the responsible agency together with the county administrative boards, and it therefore rejects the motions calling for further parliamentary statements on the matter.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 6 (S)
The reservation (S) calls for the concept of population protection, removed from Swedish law in 2006, to be reinstated together with a formal system of clear responsibilities, organisation and staffing corresponding to the former home-defence organisation. Shelters should be upgraded to increase their protective effect and the number of available places, and the government should examine how support for civil society's assembly premises can be strengthened, since a well-organised civil society and an informed population are central to the will to defend the country and to resilience against disinformation.
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 6 by S.
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 13/0/0/8 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | No 0/92/0/14 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | Yes 15/0/0/3 | 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 9/0/0/7 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 16/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 57/0/0/9 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| SD | No | Yes 60/0/0/10 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2025/26:227 by Björn Tidland (SD), 2025/26:1965 by Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage (M), 2025/26:1969 by Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage (M) and 2025/26:3556 by Peter Hultqvist et al. (S) calls 79 and 85.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2025/26:227 av Björn Tidland (SD), 2025/26:1965 av Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage (M), 2025/26:1969 av Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage (M) och 2025/26:3556 av Peter Hultqvist m.fl. (S) yrkandena 79 och 85.
Riksdag decision: The Government wants to strengthen protection for the civilian population at elevated alert. The Riksdag approved the Government's proposal for a new law on shelters and protected spaces. Today there are approximately 64,000 shelters with space for 7 million individuals in Sweden. However, this is not sufficient to provide the population with adequate protection. Now the Government wants to ensure that Sweden has modern protection for the civilian population at elevated alert or armed attack. The Government has therefore proposed a new law on shelters and protected spaces. The new law means among other things that provisions are introduced for a new protection alternative in addition to that on shelters, so-called protected spaces. A protected space is a space for protection of the population that provides limited protection in relation to shelters. The law amendments begin to apply on 1 June 2026.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants the government to conduct a complete impact and cost analysis and ensure municipalities are provided with financial resources for new civil defense tasks. (S) — Reservation 6
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 makes it a cornerstone to build and support independent grassroots movements and pushes for conditions that secure independence for adult education, culture, and civil society organizations.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan makes it a cornerstone to build and support independent grassroots movements and pushes for conditions that secure independence for adult education, culture, and civil society organizations. The counter-proposal's demand for a legally established civil protection organization and strengthened support for civil society meeting places follow from that, together with the plan's demand for a robust total defence with broad crisis capacity. Upgraded shelters are the material side of the same commitment.
Original (Swedish)
Planen gör det till en grundpelare att bygga och stötta självständiga folkrörelser och driver på för villkor som säkrar självständighet för folkbildning, kultur- och föreningsliv. Motförslagets krav på en lagfäst befolkningsskyddsorganisation och stärkt stöd till civilsamhällets samlingslokaler följer av det, tillsammans med planens krav på ett robust totalförsvar med bred krisförmåga. Upprustade skyddsrum är den materiella sidan av samma åtagande.
- grassroots movements as cornerstonedecisive»Att bygga och stötta självständiga och demokratiska folkrörelser är därför en grundpelare i vår politiska strategi.« (party programme ↗)“Building and supporting independent and democratic grassroots movements is therefore a cornerstone in our political strategy.”
- broad total defence»Vi vill se ett modernt totalförsvar byggt på allmän värnplikt, med en bred förmåga att möta olika former av kriser Sverige kan ställas inför.« (party programme ↗)“We want to see a modern total defence built on universal conscription, with a broad capacity to meet various forms of crises Sweden could face.”
- support for civil society»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 a strong independence for media, trade unions, adult education, arts, culture, and civil society organizations.”
- investments in preparedness»Investeringar i samhällets kärnverksamheter, gemensamt ägande i nyckelsektorer och medvetna strategier för landets ekonomiska utveckling är viktiga delar av det.« (party programme ↗)“Investments in society's core operations, shared ownership in key sectors, and conscious strategies for the country's economic development are important parts of 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 requires that work on civil defence and crisis preparedness continues and that Sweden has a people's defence with expanded conscription and civil defence duty.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that work on civil defence and crisis preparedness continues and that Sweden has a people's defence with expanded conscription and civil defence duty. To regulate population protection by law with clear responsibility and staffing, furnish shelters and strengthen civil society's meeting places are concrete expressions of the same commitment. The plan also emphasizes resilience against disinformation, which the counter-proposal connects to.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att arbetet med det civila försvaret och krisberedskapen fortsätter och att Sverige har ett folkförsvar med utbyggd värn- och civilplikt. Att lagreglera befolkningsskyddet med tydligt ansvar och bemanning, rusta skyddsrummen och stärka civilsamhällets samlingslokaler är konkreta uttryck för samma åtagande. Planen betonar också motståndskraften mot desinformation, som motförslaget knyter an till.
- fortified civil defencedecisive»Rusta upp det civila försvaret. Arbetet att förstärka det civila försvaret och krisberedskapen måste fortsätta« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen civil defence. The work of strengthening civil defence and crisis preparedness must continue”
- people's defence with civil duty»Svenskt folkförsvar med utbyggd värn- och civilplikt.« (party programme ↗)“Swedish people's defence with expanded conscription and civil defence duty.”
- resilience against disinformation»Arbetet för att stärka förmågan att stå emot cyberattacker och desinformation ska stärkas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Work to strengthen the ability to withstand cyber attacks and disinformation must be strengthened.”
- meeting places nationwide»Kulturell infrastruktur med fler samlingslokaler och andra mötesplatser« (party programme ↗)“Cultural infrastructure with more meeting places and other meeting points”
Worldstate weighed in: Large military exercise in Sweden 27 April–13 May 2026 — Tests population protection in practice and strengthens the case for clear organization now
The election manifesto wants to allocate a larger share of defence spending to civil defence and increase funding for crisis preparedness, and the party programme wants to complement military service with civil service to strengthen society's resilience.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto wants to allocate a larger share of defence spending to civil defence and increase funding for crisis preparedness, and the party programme wants to complement military service with civil service to strengthen society's resilience. Reinstating civil protection in law with clear responsibility and staffing and upgrading shelters is in line with this. The demand for strengthened support for civil society gathering places follows from the fact that support for civil society shall be long-term and clear.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet vill lägga en större andel av försvarets pengar på det civila försvaret och öka anslagen till krisberedskap, och partiprogrammet vill komplettera värnplikten med civilplikt för att stärka samhällets motståndskraft. Att återinföra befolkningsskyddet i lag med tydligt ansvar och bemanning samt rusta upp skyddsrummen ligger i linje med detta. Kravet på stärkt stöd till civilsamhällets samlingslokaler följer av att stödet till civilsamhället ska vara långsiktigt och tydligt.
- strengthened civil defencedecisive»satsa en större andel av försvarets pengar på det civila försvaret, och öka anslagen till krisberedskap« (2022 manifesto ↗)“allocate a larger share of defence spending to civil defence and increase funding for crisis preparedness”
- civil service strengthens resilience»Värnplikten ska kompletteras med en civilplikt för att stärka samhällets motståndskraft« (party programme ↗)“Military service shall be complemented with civil service to strengthen society's resilience”
- crisis knowledge among more people»införa en civiltjänstgöring som komplement till värnplikten för att ge fler den kunskap och träning som behövs i kris« (2022 manifesto ↗)“introduce civil service as a complement to military service to give more people the knowledge and training needed in crisis”
- long-term support 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.”
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 civil defence and society's preparedness for war and crisis must be strengthened, which supports the counter-proposal's demand for upgraded shelters and clear responsibility and staffing organization for civilian protection.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that civil defence and society's preparedness for war and crisis must be strengthened, which supports the counter-proposal's demand for upgraded shelters and clear responsibility and staffing organization for civilian protection. The plan also attributes a decisive role to civil society for cohesion and resilience, which supports strengthened support for gathering places. The plan does not mention shelters specifically, which is why the position is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att civilförsvaret och samhällets beredskap inför krig och kris ska rustas, vilket bär motförslagets krav på upprustade skyddsrum och en tydlig ansvars- och bemanningsorganisation för befolkningsskyddet. Planen tillmäter dessutom civilsamhället en avgörande roll för sammanhållning och motståndskraft, vilket stödjer stärkt stöd till samlingslokaler. Planen nämner inte skyddsrum specifikt, varför ställningstagandet är härlett.
- strengthen civil defencedecisive»Även det civila försvaret är livsviktigt. Vi måste rusta civilförsvaret och samhällets beredskap inför krig och kris.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Civil defence is also vital. We must strengthen civil defence and society's preparedness for war and crisis.”
- increased civil preparedness»Centerpartiet vill rusta försvaret, stärka Sveriges civila beredskap och fullfölja inträdet i Nato.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Centre Party wants to strengthen defence, increase Sweden's civil preparedness and complete NATO membership.”
- civil society's role»Det civila samhället, människornas frivilliga organisering, är en fundamental del av varje väl fungerande demokrati och välfärdsstat.« (party programme ↗)“Civil society, people's voluntary organizing, is a fundamental part of every well-functioning democracy and welfare state.”
- own territorial defence»Sverige måste därför kunna försvara sitt eget territorium.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden must therefore be able to defend its own territory.”
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 affirms that civil defence shall be strengthened at the same pace as the military and that total defence needs to be strengthened powerfully in the most serious security situation since the Second World War.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan affirms that civil defence shall be strengthened at the same pace as the military and that total defence needs to be strengthened powerfully in the most serious security situation since the Second World War. The counter-proposal's demands for population protection in law, upgraded shelters and strengthened support to civil society's local facilities align with that commitment, as does the plan's will to increase space for voluntary efforts in total defence. The plan does not explicitly mention shelters, hence the derivation.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att det civila försvaret ska stärkas i samma takt som det militära och att totalförsvaret behöver stärkas kraftigt i det svåraste säkerhetsläget sedan andra världskriget. Motförslagets krav på befolkningsskydd i lag, upprustade skyddsrum och stärkt stöd till civilsamhällets lokaler ligger i linje med det åtagandet, liksom med planens vilja att öka utrymmet för ideella insatser i totalförsvaret. Planen nämner inte skyddsrum uttryckligen, därav härledningen.
- strengthened civil defencedecisive»Antalet anställda och värnpliktiga i krigsorganisationen ska öka, ny materiel tillföras och det civila försvaret stärkas i samma takt som det militära.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The number of employed and conscripted in the wartime organization shall increase, new material be supplied and civil defence be strengthened at the same pace as the military.”
- powerfully strengthened total defence»I ett säkerhetspolitiskt läge som är det svåraste sedan andra världskrigets slut behöver Sveriges totalförsvar stärkas kraftigt.« (party programme ↗)“In a security-policy situation that is the most serious since the end of the Second World War Sweden's total defence needs to be strengthened powerfully.”
- civil society in total defence»Utrymmet för ideella insatser i vård och omsorg, utbildning och kultur, bistånd och totalförsvar ska öka.« (party programme ↗)“Space for voluntary efforts in care and social services, education and culture, aid and total defence shall increase.”
- expanded civil conscription»Upprustningen av totalförsvaret gör det befogat att väsentligt fler unga kommer att kallas in till militär eller civil plikttjänstgöring.« (party programme ↗)“The upgrading of total defence makes it warranted that significantly more young people will be called in for military or civil conscription.”
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 requires that the overall total defence has sufficient resources to guarantee the population good protection against both civil disasters and military threats, and highlights civil resistance as a complement where citizens can participate without weapons.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme requires that the overall total defence has sufficient resources to guarantee the population good protection against both civil disasters and military threats, and highlights civil resistance as a complement where citizens can participate without weapons. The counter-proposal's requirements for a statutory civil defence with organisation, staffing and upgraded shelters thus follow from this. Support for civil society's premises is supported by the plan's view of the role of associational life.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet kräver att det samlade totalförsvaret har tillräckliga resurser för att garantera befolkningen ett gott skydd mot både civila katastrofer och militära hot, och lyfter civilmotstånd som ett komplement där medborgare kan delta utan vapen. Motförslagets krav på ett lagfäst befolkningsskydd med organisation, bemanning och upprustade skyddsrum följer av detta. Stödet till civilsamhällets lokaler stöds av planens syn på föreningslivets roll.
- good protection for the populationdecisive»Det samlade totalförsvaret måste ha tillräckliga resurser för att kunna garantera befolkningen ett gott skydd mot effekterna av såväl civila katastrofer som aktuella militära hotbilder.« (party programme ↗)“The overall total defence must have sufficient resources to be able to guarantee the population good protection against the effects of both civil disasters and current military threat images.”
- civil resistance as complement»Civilmotstånd och andra alternativa försvarsformer ska vara ett komplement till det militära försvaret och vara en möjlighet till aktiva insatser för medborgare, som utan att bruka vapen vill delta i försvaret av Sverige.« (party programme ↗)“Civil resistance and other alternative defence forms shall be a complement to military defence and be an opportunity for active efforts for citizens, who without using weapons want to participate in the defence of Sweden.”
- popular anchoring of defence»Alla svenska medborgare ska omfattas av en totalförsvarsplikt. Därigenom förankras det svenska försvaret hos det svenska folket.« (party programme ↗)“All Swedish citizens shall be covered by a total defence duty. Thereby Swedish defence is anchored in the Swedish people.”
- support for civil society»Därför måste stat och kommun främja det engagemang som finns i föreningar och folkrörelser, i religiösa samfund och i andra sociala rörelser.« (party programme ↗)“Therefore the state and municipalities must promote the commitment that exists in associations and popular movements, in religious communities and in other social movements.”
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 military defence cannot accomplish its tasks if civil defence does not function, and promises long-term planning as well as strengthened staffing for civil defence.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that military defence cannot accomplish its tasks if civil defence does not function, and promises long-term planning as well as strengthened staffing for civil defence. The counter-proposal's requirements for a statutory civil protection organization with clear responsibility and staffing, upgraded shelters, and strengthened civil society are in line with these commitments. The plan also sees citizens' own preparedness as part of security.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att det militära försvaret inte kan lösa sina uppgifter om det civila försvaret inte fungerar, och lovar långsiktig planering samt förstärkt personalförsörjning för det civila försvaret. Motförslagets krav på en lagfäst befolkningsskyddsorganisation med tydligt ansvar och bemanning, upprustade skyddsrum och stärkt civilsamhälle ligger i linje med dessa åtaganden. Planen ser också medborgarnas egen beredskap som en del av tryggheten.
- civil defence as a prerequisitedecisive»Fungerar inte det civila försvaret så kan inte heller det militära försvaret lösa sina uppgifter.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“If civil defence does not function, then military defence cannot accomplish its tasks either.”
- staffing of civil defence»Förstärka det civila försvarets personalförsörjning« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen civil defence's staffing”
- long-term civil defence planning»Säkra en långsiktig planering för det civila försvaret« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Ensure long-term planning for civil defence”
- strong civil defence»Tryggheten i Sverige förutsätter också ett starkt civilförsvar« (party programme ↗)“Security in Sweden presupposes also a strong civil defence”
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 appropriations for agencies responsible for civil defence and preparedness to increase and support for civil organisations with public tasks to be strengthened, as well as the Home Guard and voluntary organisations that carry defence will.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants appropriations for agencies responsible for civil defence and preparedness to increase and support for civil organisations with public tasks to be strengthened, as well as the Home Guard and voluntary organisations that carry defence will. The counter-proposal's demand for a regulated population protection with responsibility and staffing, upgraded shelters and support for civil society facilities thus follows from these commitments. The plan does not use the term population protection, so the position is inferred from civil defence and total defence commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill att anslagen till myndigheter med ansvar för civilförsvar och beredskap ökar och att stödet till civilorganisationer med samhällsuppdrag stärks, liksom Hemvärnet och frivilligorganisationerna som bär försvarsviljan. Motförslagets krav på ett reglerat befolkningsskydd med ansvar och bemanning, upprustade skyddsrum och stöd till civilsamhällets lokaler följer av dessa åtaganden. Planen använder inte begreppet befolkningsskydd, varför ställningstagandet härleds ur krisberedskaps- och totalförsvarsåtagandena.
- strengthened civil defencedecisive»Anslagen till de myndigheter som har övergripande ansvar för civilförsvar, krisledning och beredskap bör öka och stödet till civilorganisationer med samhällsuppdrag ska stärkas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Appropriations to the agencies that have overarching responsibility for civil defence, crisis management and preparedness should increase and support for civil organisations with public tasks shall be strengthened.”
- strengthened volunteer defence»Sverigedemokraterna vill också stärka Hemvärnet och frivilligorganisationer som utgör viktiga komponenter för försvarsviljan och civilsamhällets uthållighet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden Democrats also want to strengthen the Home Guard and volunteer organisations that are important components of defence will and civil society's resilience.”
- informed population»Medborgarna behöver också bättre kunskap om hur de ska agera vid olika typer av kriser« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Citizens also need better knowledge about how to act in different types of crises”
- civil defence as foundation»Ett välfungerande civilförsvar skapar förutsättningarna för det militära försvaret« (party programme ↗)“A well-functioning civil defence creates the conditions for military defence”
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:FöU12)
- Committee report full text (HD01FöU12)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2025/26:182 — Tillträde till skyddsrum för sällskapsdjur av Victoria Tiblom (SD)
- Motion 2025/26:1965 — Plan för skyddsrum av Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage (M)
- Motion 2025/26:1969 — Tillgång till skyddsrum av Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage (M)
- Motion 2025/26:227 — Operativa skyddsrum i Sverige av Björn Tidland (SD)
- Motion 2025/26:3336 — Skyddsrum och husdjur i beredskapsplaneringen av Marléne Lund Kopparklint (M)
- Motion 2025/26:3556 — Totalförsvarets beredskap av Peter Hultqvist m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2025/26:3931 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:142 Ett starkare skydd för civilbefolkningen vid höjd beredskap av Hanna Gunnarsson m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2025/26:3935 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:142 Ett starkare skydd för civilbefolkningen vid höjd beredskap av Peter Hultqvist m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2025/26:3938 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:142 Ett starkare skydd för civilbefolkningen vid höjd beredskap av Mikael Larsson och Kerstin Lundgren (båda C)
- Motion 2025/26:3944 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:142 Ett starkare skydd för civilbefolkningen vid höjd beredskap av Ulf Holm m.fl. (MP)
- Proposition 2025/26:142 — Ett starkare skydd för civilbefolkningen vid höjd beredskap
Source: The Swedish Parliament