Public holidays etc.
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
The debate concerned public holidays, flag days, and symbolism. S urged approval of the committee's proposal to reject motions on new memorial days and an investigation of the status of the Scanian flag 1. S emphasized the importance of the Swedish flag and the EU flag 1. SD urged approval of a reservation and proposed a flag law to regulate authorities' flagging as well as expressing that desecration of the flag is reprehensible 2. M urged approval of the committee's proposal and argued against more official flags as it risks diluting the symbolism of the Swedish flag and creating division 3. V urged approval of a reservation and advocated that the Sami national day should become a public flag day to make the Sami visible and included 4.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Per-Arne Håkansson (S)
Madam Speaker! I would like to begin by reminding you of a small anniversary that is approaching. This year marks 20 years since Sweden's national day on 6 June also became a public holiday. It was introduced in 2005, and I personally remember a party congress I attended a few years earlier where my party decided to work towards its implementation. At that time, we had had an official national day since 1983, when the Swedish flag day, which had been celebrated for almost 100 years prior to that, was granted this status.
Public holidays and flag-raising are issues where the popular anchoring perhaps weighs as heavily as the legislation and the regulatory frameworks that have been developed. Tradition, customs and identity are things that have great significance in these contexts and which perhaps have also been guiding to that which has also become codified over the years.
Madam Speaker! In the Committee on the Constitution's report 2024/25:KU8, proposals are addressed that focus on 19 motions from the general motion period. The motions concern matters such as memorial days, general flag days, rules for flag flying, the status of the Scanian flag, Sweden's national anthem, and an award for Swedes living abroad. Some motions are such that they have returned on several previous occasions.
I would like to vote in favor of the committee's proposed decision in the report and thereby reject the motions.
When it comes to the legislation regarding our Swedish flag, the first paragraph contains some sentences about its appearance and shape, such as that the flag is blue with a yellow cross and that the cross is set at right angles to the flag's edges. It also states that the flag's color is exactly medium blue on the fields and golden yellow on the cross.
In this context, it can be noted that the Foundation Sweden's National Day, where the Speaker is chairman and the principals are the realm's 21 county governors, emphasizes perhaps the most important thing: The flag at the top whenever you feel like it!
In Sweden, we have 17 public flag days. But we also have, as emphasized by the Foundation for Sweden's National Day, many private flag days based on individual good reasons to fly the flag. I want to emphasize the importance of what the foundation highlights, namely to promote interest in and respect for the national day and the flag.
It should be emphasized that foreign citizens living in Sweden also have full rights to fly their own nation's flag. One rule to adhere to is that there may only be one nation's flag on the same flagpole.
I also want to emphasize for my part the importance of the EU flag being present in many official contexts - of course here in the Riksdag but also at many municipal and regional buildings. It demonstrates our self-evident sense of belonging to Europe and the significance it has in people's everyday lives.
Madam Speaker! I would now like to account for some of the considerations that have taken place in the work with the now submitted report.
Some motions propose that new official days of remembrance should be introduced. One concerns making March 16 a day of remembrance for all victims of chemical weapons of mass destruction, with Ola Möller as the main proposer. Other motions propose that initiatives be taken for a national day of remembrance for the Armenian genocide, one for the victims of communism, and one for introducing a special day for emergency services personnel. One motion wants to introduce Public Health Day, another that August 23, according to a resolution from the EU Parliament, should be a day of remembrance for the victims of totalitarian regimes.
I have the greatest respect for the proposals being put forward. The Committee on the Constitution has, however, on several previous occasions, rejected motions to introduce memorial days to commemorate specific persons or events. Some days that have been given special designation in Swedish calendars, alongside the general flag days and the ecclesiastical holidays, are, among others, International Women's Day on March 8, Europe Day on May 9, and International Children's Day in October. Forum för levande historia also has a mandate to promote the observance of Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27. These specially designated days have emerged through a strong anchoring in society.
The consideration also addresses a well-intentioned motion to introduce a general flag day for the Sámi as an indigenous people in the north.
The committee has previously considered that there are no grounds for the Riksdag to take the initiative for the memorial days or special days proposed and therefore rejects the motions.
Madam Speaker! I also, as a person from Scania, want to say a few words about the status of the Scanian flag. In a motion by Boriana Åberg with several from the Moderaterna, it is proposed that the official status of the Scanian flag should be investigated. The motioners state that the regional council in Skåne in 1999 decided to use the Scanian flag and that in 2017 it was decided that it should be flown outside the region's premises together with the Swedish flag and the EU flag.
Similar motions have previously been rejected. The committee sees no reason for the Riksdag to take the initiative for an investigation into the status of the Scania flag. It is, however, of course completely free for everyone to fly it, both in Skåne and in other places.
Local and regional identity is obviously important, and provincial identity is perhaps not always geographically determined. For my part, I see, for example, here at home in Skåne's Ängelholm, a flag with Gotland's provincial coat of arms, with the standing ram in the background, in a garden I often pass by. On the other hand, what I understand to be regarded as Gotland's flag is the yellow field and green cross. There are many provincial symbols to highlight.
Once again, the popular anchoring and the liberal view on flagging can be emphasized. It is as I see it to be preferable in these contexts and also exists as a starting point in existing regulations.
Lars Andersson (SD)
Madam Speaker! I begin by moving to approve reservation 2 in the Committee on the Constitution's report KU8 Public holidays etc. The report deals not only with public holidays but also with areas concerning our beautiful flag, our national anthem, memorial days and decorations.
It is pleasant to see a relatively solid interest from at least most of our parliamentary parties regarding these central parts of our realm, with varying motions of different kinds. The area that seems most engaging is precisely the memorial days. As we have heard, there is everything from motions on memorial days for victims of weapons of mass destruction, the Armenian genocide at the beginning of the last decade, victims of communism, and even victims of totalitarian regimes, to perhaps slightly more uplifting motions about emergency services personnel and public health. It is, to say the least, a broad spectrum, which is positive.
In addition, there are some minor points regarding further public flag days, the kingdom's second most beautiful flag, which naturally is the Scanian flag, our national anthem, the possibility of awards for Swedes living abroad, etcetera. I myself will focus on our Swedish flag and the regulations surrounding it.
Madam Speaker! Today we have a regulatory framework for the appearance, colors, and dimensions of flags. However, we have no guidelines regulating the specific times when our authorities should fly flags or even which flag should be flown. This instead becomes a matter for individual heads of agencies or someone else. This occurs in various places, from the EU flag to local flags as well as both political and ideological flags.
The Sweden Democrats argue that the regulatory framework for flags should be gathered into a flag law, similar to what exists in many other European countries. These can be used as a model for the design of a similar law in Sweden. The law should, of course, contain rules for the flag's appearance and which flag days should be considered official so that authorities have a uniform set of rules to adhere to. Furthermore, these authorities shall only fly the Swedish flag, regional flags, and naturally any guest flags or authority-specific flags.
Private flagging is not something intended to be covered, but is rather something that can be encouraged, but no more than that.
Madam Speaker! Finally, the Sweden Democrats consider the desecration of the Swedish flag to be reprehensible and that this should in some way be expressed in the law. However, we do not advocate for a ban as we have a very extensive freedom of expression in Sweden, and we shall protect it.
However tasteless and primitive the desecration of flags, or various books, may be, it is the Sweden Democrats' opinion that such actions fall under freedom of speech, which we as a party stand up for one hundred percent.
Susanne Nordström (M)
Madam Speaker! You already know that we are debating issues regarding public flag days, public holidays and so on, and I thought I would start by moving for the approval of the proposal in the committee report. Then I thought I would use my speaking time to talk about flags.
We have all seen it fluttering in the wind - the Swedish flag. The flag is a symbol that carries a history of unity and community. What would happen if we start mixing in more official flags? Would we then be heading towards a future where we risk becoming more divided than united? I am thinking of the motion from the people of Skåne about wanting to make the Scanian flag an official flag.
The Scanians, our dear southern Swedish rebels, have a flag that they are so proud of, and I guess, Madam Speaker, that they would prefer to see the flag on the nation's most prominent flagpoles - perhaps even at the top of the Globen.
But the Swedish flag is more than just the colors blue and yellow. The flag is a symbol that we all, from Kiruna to Ystad, belong together. If we start with more official flags; where do we then draw the line? Should Västerbotten have its own flag with cheese on it? Or should Gothenburg have a flag with a shrimp sandwich? It will become a pennant parade without equal, and no one will know anymore which flag applies when we are going to cheer for Sweden in the European Football Championship.
If we introduce more official flags, we risk diluting the symbolism of the Swedish flag. And let us not forget the practical consequences. Introducing more official flag or public holidays is not free. It costs time, money, and effort. Municipalities must adapt, employers must juggle schedules, and suddenly we wonder why nothing was done at work when half the year is red days.
The Swedish flag is more than just a piece of cloth. It is a link between generations, a promise of community and a safe point in a changing world. If we begin to divide this symbolic heritage into several flags, we risk creating small islands of identity instead of a common shore.
Madam Speaker! Sweden is a country with strong traditions. We do not need more official flags competing with the one we already have. I like Skåne, and your flag is beautiful – fantastic on your home turf – but perhaps not on the catwalk across the entire country.
So let us cherish and develop the common symbols we already have. Let the Swedish flag continue to be a symbol of our unity, our traditions, and our future. And let us focus on building a Sweden where everyone feels at home - under the same roof and under the same flag.
Jessica Wetterling (V)
Madam Speaker! Sometimes it is an advantage to come last in the debate. Then one can answer questions about what would happen without anyone else being able to answer, unless it is the case that other members of the KU want to request the floor. But that is something we do not do all too often in the KU. I conclude my speech with this question, so I will deliver my speech first. Instead, everyone can ponder a bit together on the question of what would happen.
Madam Speaker! In a few weeks, on February 6, the Sami National Day is celebrated. It was introduced in 1992, and it is common for all of Sápmi. The reason that it became February 6 is historical. It was then that the first Sami land meeting was held in Tråante - Trondheim - in 1917. The meeting gathered over a hundred Sami from Sweden and Norway, of which a large part were women. It was the first time in Sami history that North and South Sami from Norway and Sweden gathered for a borderless meeting to discuss common problems, and it became a strong Sami manifestation against authorities and oppression.
That is why February 6 has been chosen as an important symbolic day for all Sámi, regardless of which country they live in. One of the initiators was, moreover, the pioneer Elsa Laula, who at the age of 27 founded the first Sámi national organization, Lapska Centralförbundet, for which she also became chairperson. Her own experiences of state policy made her fight throughout her entire life to improve the conditions for the Sámi people. Her work together with other Sámi is also what is the basis for Sámi organizing in our day.
Madam Speaker! The Left Party considers that the Sami National Day, which is already observed and celebrated in many places today, should also be a general flag day where the Sami flag is hoisted. Since 2007, the Sami flag has flown outside Stockholm City Hall on the Sami National Day. But it is unfortunate if the reasons for and why it occurs are somewhat arbitrary or based on the political will in that specific municipality. There is also actually an important point in highlighting both the Sami National Day as well as dates of significance for the other national minorities. Knowledge is low in many places that there are five national minorities as well as an indigenous people, and to fly the flag would not only be a symbolic act but also an act that is visible and inclusive.
Here at the end of my speech, I would like to move for the adoption of reservation 1.
But then I must also answer the initial question about what would happen. What could happen is that there will be a number of weapon shields in the chamber foyer instead of landscape shields. I do not think that it creates so much division. It is also one of the reasons why we are seated according to our constituencies in the chamber, that is to say, to show that we come from different parts of Sweden but are still part of the same country. Just when it concerns the Sami national day, it would be a strong signal that the historical oppression and the dark history is something else today. We want to make the Sami visible and include them in our community.
The deliberation was hereby concluded.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.