Conclusion and thanks

TALMANNEN

Honorable members! The first parliamentary session of the term is not completely over, but the active time in the chamber is moving towards a calmer summer period. And it has truly been active.

Conclusion and thanks

I feel like it has already been a long time, but it was actually as recently as last autumn that Sweden went to the election. After that, the government formation took place, which on October 18 at the change of government at the palace resulted in Sweden's 53rd government and the 35th Prime Minister since the modern office of Prime Minister was established in 1876.

Since then, the work in committees and the chamber has revolved around many issues, not least the autumn budget and the spring budget. Several decisions regarding support for Ukraine have been made in this chamber, by a Riksdag where the support for the Ukrainian people's important struggle is strong, broad, and rock-solid.

The first decision on support for Ukraine was, as is known, already made on 28 February 2022, just a few days after Russia's full-scale invasion. The anniversary of the invasion was marked, among other things, through a ceremony here in the chamber and by the Ukrainian flag flying on Riksplan.

Another very urgent decision that this House made after rapid preparation in the Committee on Foreign Affairs concerned the evacuation operation in Sudan. After swift handling by the Riksdag and the Government, the Armed Forces were able to carry out a complicated operation with good results.

Making decisions in this expedited manner, but at the same time while preserving democratically established principles, has at certain times proven to be necessary. Our Riksdag handles this in an exemplary way, even though I also want to emphasize that it is exceptional cases we are talking about.

I also want to, on the theme of active, hectic and good work, of course highlight another thing that the spring has revolved around here in the Riksdag: the parliamentary dimension of the Swedish EU presidency.

Our conferences have all taken place, and I assess that the chairmanship, for the part of the Riksdag, has been successful and very well executed. During this half-year, the Riksdag has been a meeting place and hub for around 600 parliamentarians during the conferences held on-site here in the Riksdag. We have, as is known, held eight conferences, six of which were on-site here, one digitally but based here in the Riksdag, and one in Brussels.

The debates and discussions have been noticed even by those who have not participated themselves. Who has not turned on the web broadcast from the chamber and for a second wondered why all the faces are suddenly unfamiliar? Important topics have been discussed, and the Swedish Parliament has ensured that everything has functioned in the best possible way. To everyone involved, members and employees in the Riksdag Administration, I would like to extend a big thank you.

(Applause)

When it comes to the parliamentary work, I naturally have some requests or pointers, if you will. "Moral cookies" is what some humorous person has also called these small guiding comments to make the chamber work run as smoothly as possible.

One thing that I have mentioned previously is that one is welcome to show this beautiful chamber to visiting groups, but that one should respect the limit of a maximum of ten people at a time. There are good reasons why this limitation is introduced in the chamber's rules of procedure, which can otherwise be read directly in the chamber app under the "More" tab. Please do take a look there!

It is the Speaker's duty to maintain order in the chamber, and I am, of course, happy to do so. Now, I intend to be a language police officer. Often, "för tids vinning" (for the sake of time) is said here in the speaking stands—an expression that, linguistically speaking, is not entirely easy for the listening public to understand. One could wonder if it is the time that is supposed to win something. A simple suggestion is that you instead say, for example: "So that the voting does not become so long, I move approval only to reservation X." It becomes clear and distinct. You can have a small competition in the committee, where the first person who happens to say "för tids vinning" has to buy coffee.

I also want to urge you to be clear when you move here in the rostrum. You are to move, not stand behind, highlight, or anything else. And what you move for is, in the normal case, either the committee's proposal in the report or a reservation, even though it is formally also possible to move for a motion—but nothing else.

How good it is to have this said! I say it out of consideration for you, as we in the Speaker's Presidium are very keen that your motions are correct before the decisions at the voting.

Finally, I have a final point to include in this section. The Riksdag Administration will soon issue a survey to all members, the so-called member survey. It concerns the support that the administration provides to you and to the parliamentary process. I know that many of you have views and ideas – now make sure to put these forward! The survey is a good opportunity to comment on both small and large matters.

Honorable members! This year is a special anniversary year. It is 500 years since Sweden left the Kalmar Union and became an independent state again by Gustav Vasa being elected king on June 6, 1523, in Strängnäs. The anniversary year marks not our country's birth, note well, but a decisive point in our history.

Sweden is, as we all know, significantly older than 500 years. The contours of our country could be discerned in the mists of history perhaps a thousand years ago in the form of a loosely connected federation of landscapes. But the choice of Gustav Vasa marks a turning point that took our country in a completely new direction.

Sweden subsequently developed into a country with a strong central power with a parliament, authorities and courts, an independent state with its own history. June 6 therefore symbolizes, I argue, events that for our country had the same far-reaching significance as the events on July 14, 1789 in France or May 17, 1814 in Norway.

The Riksdag marks the anniversary under the heading The Riksdag over 500 years. Through school materials, the website, poster exhibitions, and various activities, we highlight how Sweden's system of government has evolved. This autumn, we are also publishing a jubilee book where this history is told, but also the history of the Riksdag's buildings, as it will then have been 40 years since the Riksdag returned here to Helgeandsholmen after a little over a decade at Sergels torg. And the deputy speakers and I are making county visits all over Sweden. This year, we are visiting places where important Riksdag sessions have been held throughout the centuries.

The way decisions are made regarding common affairs has moved from the local courts of the Middle Ages via lordly meetings such as that in Strängnäs 1523, where power was exercised by a few, to parliamentary meetings with broad representation. Then we have moved from the estate parliament to the bicameral parliament 1866 and from the breakthrough of democracy 100 years ago to the unicameral parliament 50 years later.

Of course, we all in this chamber realize that the world 500 years ago was something different than the world of today. But principles that have emerged through the centuries, experiences that history has given us, and the knowledge of what has shaped our country are relevant even in our modern time. And not least, the system of government and thus the development of the Riksdag is worth telling about during this anniversary year.

I hope that you all want to help tell the story of the Riksdag over 500 years and the material that is available for schools and the general public.

Honorable members! Today we have also gathered to bid farewell to three people who have served in this chamber, who have worked in the service of democracy and politics, and who have left their assignments.

First, however, I would like to say a few words about the still quite new law that forms the framework for today's ceremony. It stipulates that a member who leaves the Riksdag can receive a diploma and a gold-colored Riksdag pin. After at least six years of consecutive service, the member can also receive the Riksdag medal in size eight. The person who leaves the Riksdag after at least twelve years of consecutive service can receive the medal in size twelve.

To be an elected member of the Riksdag, I consider it the finest assignment one can have in our country – to represent the voters, one's party, and one's constituency here in the chamber, in the committees, and in the parliamentary work, with the voters' trust behind one.

For the work here in the heart of democracy and for your efforts here, you will now be thanked with the Riksdag medal. Please stand up when you hear your names so that we can thank each of you.

The Riksdag medal of the eighth size is awarded to Lena Emilsson. You entered the Riksdag in 2014 as a representative for the Socialdemokraterna and Skåne läns västra valkrets. During your time here, you were, among other things, active in the Defence Committee and the Education Committee and personal substitute in the Judges' Board, to only mention some of your assignments here in the Riksdag.

Thank you very much for your efforts for the Riksdag, for democracy, and for Sweden!

(Applause)

The Riksdag medal of the eighth size, as well as a gold pin and diploma, are also awarded to Shadiye Heydari. You were elected to the Riksdag in 2010 as a representative for the Socialdemokraterna and Göteborgs kommun. During your years, you were a member of the Social Insurance Committee, a deputy in the Social Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee, and also a deputy on the board of the Stiftelsen Riksbankens Jubileumsfond, among other assignments.

Thank you very much for your efforts for the Riksdag, for democracy, and for Sweden!

(Applause)

Now I want to turn to Annie Lööf, who is also awarded the Riksdag medal of the eighth size, with possibly a few extra words.

Your parliamentary career started, so to speak, like mine in 2006, and you have, among many other things, been a member of the Committee on the Constitution, where we sat together for a few years, but also been a member of the Committee on Finance, the War Delegation and the Foreign Affairs Committee, been first deputy group leader, minister, and finally, but really not least, been a long-time party leader for Centerpartiet.

Your political engagement was awakened in the areas around Värnamo, and your father is said to have encouraged your engagement through a football analogy: One does not influence by sitting in the stands and shouting; one influences by being down on the pitch. And influence you have certainly exerted.

Deeply rooted in your home region and upbringing, you chose to channel your commitment first into CUF and then into Centerpartiet for issues such as the conditions in rural areas and the importance of entrepreneurship.

Whether it is the merit of football or politics, I will leave unsaid. But you are both an experienced leader and a team player, securely rooted in your values. You have driven what you and your party have seen as the best way forward for Sweden, even when it has involved difficult choices. Your actions have characterized not only your party but also politics at large in several ways.

In this context, it is impossible not to mention the autumn of 2018, that special period when you and I often met over a cup of coffee in completely relaxed and informal settings.

With this, I want to say above all that I have had the opportunity to work with you several times over the years, and I have come to place great value on your friendly manner, your personal strength, and your political commitment.

Thank you very much for your efforts for the Riksdag, for democracy, and for Sweden!

(Applause)

Honorable members! That all of us gather in the chamber like this in the summer time, to pause the pace and bid farewell to former members, gives me the same melancholy and wonderful feeling that school graduations once did. We take a moment's leave from the working community, from friends and colleagues, and from everyday life. At the same time, there is a hint of anticipation in the air for the summer, for all that each individual has ahead of them.

Gunnar Ekelöf has put into words a feeling in the summer night that I believe we have all had at some point. In the poem Eufori, he writes:

And the flame rises. It is as if the flowers pressed closer, closer and closer to the light in shimmering rainbow points. The aspen trembles and plays, the evening glow glides, and all that was inscrutable and distant is inscrutable and near.

The voting signal sounded for the last time in some months. But before you leave the chamber now, I want to thank each and every one of you for the work of the past parliamentary session. Thank you each and every one for your specific contribution to our democracy!

I would like to particularly thank the Speaker's Presidium, the group leaders, and the members of the Committee on the Constitution for very good cooperation.

I also want to thank the Director-General of the Riksdag and all the employees in the Riksdag Administration for their fine efforts in support of the parliamentary work.

I also thank the party chancellors and their staff for the excellent support for the political work in the Riksdag. A big thank you to each and every one of you, and I wish you a happy summer!

(Applause)

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Tomas Eneroth (S)

Mr. Speaker! On behalf of all members of the Riksdag, I would like to wish both you and the deputy speakers a nice holiday and a nice summer.

We are incredibly grateful for the work you do – how you, with good pedagogical skill and patience, handle the Riksdag's debates and the rowdy voting procedures, and how you, with a sense for our constitution and for ensuring that we can still maintain a good atmosphere, have guided us through this parliamentary year.

I also want to extend a thank you from us members to all the Riksdag employees for the support you give us members – to the Chamber Office for keeping things in order, to the cleaning staff for ensuring that it looks orderly, to the security guards for ensuring order, to the communications department so that others see the order, and to the committee offices, janitorial services, member services, and everyone else for actually managing to maintain the order in this fantastic place where sentences are broken, decisions are made, and democracy functions. Thank you, all of you! I hope that you also get some time off and a really lovely summer.

I believe that all of us members here have noted that the Speaker's Presidency has, a bit more often than before, pointed out in the debate that the debate should be conducted through the Speaker, not through direct argumentation against one another. I appreciate that you do this, and I actually believe that it contributes to us being better able to distinguish between substance and person and upholding the Swedish parliamentary tradition of having correct and, in comparison to the British Parliament, almost a little boring debates. We take the debate seriously. For us, it is the weight of the arguments, and not a flashy formulation that goes viral in a few minutes, that is to have the greatest significance.

We have different views in this chamber, both in terms of values and in substance. But we jointly share the privilege and the responsibility of being the people's elected, with the performance requirements and the expectations placed by voters, parties, and the surrounding society, with travels, debates, and negotiations. These are quite tough working conditions.

Sometimes when we have had tough debates in the chamber and in the media, it is important that we also remind ourselves of the beauty in what actually happens here in this chamber - that we have democracy, that we argue, that we vote and that we establish decisions. In far too many countries in the world, this opportunity does not exist.

In a country with a flag as blue and yellow as our own, people are currently fighting to defend their democracy and their freedom.

Dear Speaker and Deputy Speaker! Thank you for being here, thank you for what you do and thank you for this parliamentary year!

Inspired by our poetry-reading Speaker, I have also this time taken the liberty of formulating a poem as a conclusion to this parliamentary year. May God and this assembly forgive me for the forced rhymes. I call it The Member's Summer Longing.

Conclusion and thanks

The flower time has now come And the desire is quite great To ignore motions And words in the speaker's chair

Now we want to avoid debating, voting, and interpellating Now we want to stroll on the beach and with love dine

But only some week We honestly feel so Then we want to return here and nestle In democracy's beautiful corner

So don't be so angry Dear speaker We are soon back Just want to meet near and dear

So, Speaker, let us now out From the chamber's warm hall For this, dear colleagues Is actually the year's final speech!

(Applause)

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)