Acknowledgment
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
The debate concerned the farewell of four people who have left their positions in the Riksdag to proceed to the European Parliament or the EU Commission 1. The Speaker thanked Sofie Eriksson (S) for her efforts for the Riksdag, democracy, and Sweden 1. Beatrice Timgren (SD) was also thanked for her work for the Riksdag, democracy, and Sweden 1. Adnan Dibrani (S) was thanked for his long parliamentary experience and his efforts for the Riksdag, democracy, and Sweden 1. Jessika Roswall (M) was thanked for her efforts for the Riksdag, democracy, and Sweden 1. The Speaker wished everyone good luck in their new assignments to represent their constituents and parties in the European Parliament 1.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
TALMANNEN
Honorable members! Today we have gathered to, before the vote, thank four people who have served in this chamber. Two of them are also with us here on site. These four people have worked in the service of democracy and politics and have left their positions.
As Speaker, it is an honor to be able to thank you here today. To be an elected member of the Riksdag is one of the finest mandates of trust one can have in our country: to represent the voters, your party, and your constituency here in the chamber, in the committees, and in all parliamentary work, with the voters' trust behind you.
Usually, we have farewell ceremonies for outgoing members in connection with the summer closing or the Christmas closing. The reason we are gathering like this at the end of February is that those of you who are here today have moved on to an important assignment in another democratically elected assembly, namely the European Parliament. We have therefore tried to find a time for the farewell that works in relation to your new assignment. Today we also bid farewell to a former member who has moved on to the European Commission.
This year marks 30 years since the first Swedish European Parliament election took place. It was on September 17, 1995. Of the 720 members, 21 are today from Sweden, and you belong to them. Here in the Riksdag, you had 348 colleagues from eight parties. In the European Parliament, as mentioned, there are over 700 colleagues from nine party groups. There are, as is known, differences between the Riksdag and the European Parliament, including regarding working methods. In the Riksdag, the tradition is perhaps that one most often follows the party line. A Member of the European Parliament can perhaps take slightly greater freedoms. But the important foundation is the same; you still work in the service of democracy.
According to the Act on the Riksdag Medal, a member who leaves the Riksdag may receive a diploma and a gold-colored Riksdag pin. After at least six years of consecutive service, the member may also receive the Riksdag Medal in the eighth size. The person who leaves the Riksdag after at least twelve years of consecutive service may receive the medal in the twelfth size.
It is now a pleasure for me to thank you with a few words addressed to each of you and at the same time hand over needles, diplomas and medals. Two of the members unfortunately do not have the possibility to be present today, but I will still mention them. I ask you who are in the room to stand up when you hear your name.
The Riksdag's gold pin and diploma are awarded to Sofie Eriksson. You were elected to the Riksdag in 2022 as a representative for the Socialdemokraterna and the Dalarnas län constituency. During your time in the Riksdag, you were a substitute in the Committee on the Constitution and the Committee on Taxation but chose to move on to the European Parliament quite quickly.
Thank you very much for your efforts for the Riksdag, for democracy, and for Sweden!
The Riksdag's gold pin and diploma are also awarded to Beatrice Timgren, who is unable to be present today. She was elected to the Riksdag in 2022 as a representative for Sverigedemokraterna and the Stockholm County constituency. During her years, she was a member of the Committee on Environment and Agriculture, a deputy on the EU Committee, and on the Swedish delegation to the Council of Europe.
I want to thank Beatrice Timgren for her efforts for the Riksdag, for democracy, and for Sweden!
The Riksdag medal of the twelfth size, as well as a gold pin and diploma, are awarded to Adnan Dibrani. You entered the Riksdag in 2010 as a representative for the Socialdemokraterna and Hallands läns valkrets. You have a long and solid parliamentary experience and were, among other things, active as a member of the Finance Committee and the Committee on Taxation, as well as as a member of the Riksdag's Accountability Committee, to only mention some of the assignments you managed during your years in the Riksdag. We also collaborated in a pleasant and positive way on various occasions.
Thank you very much for your efforts for the Riksdag, for democracy, and for Sweden!
The Riksdag medal of the twelfth size, as well as a gold pin and diploma, are also awarded to Jessika Roswall, who is unable to be present today. She was elected to the Riksdag in 2010 as a representative for Moderaterna and the Uppsala County constituency. During her years in the Riksdag, she served, among other things, as a member and chairperson of the EU Committee, a member of several other committees, as well as in the War Delegation, the Judicial Committee, and the Riksdag's Appeals Committee. She was an EU minister before she became an EU Commissioner on 1 December 2024, responsible for environment, water resilience, and a competitive circular economy.
I would like to thank Jessika Roswall for her efforts for the Riksdag, for democracy, and for Sweden.
I would like to conclude this thanks by once again thanking you for the efforts you have made for Sweden, for the Riksdag and for democracy, and to wish you warm success in the important mission of representing your voters and your parties in the European Parliament. Thank you once again!
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.