Acknowledgements and closing
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
The Speaker states that Sweden is a full-fledged Nato member 1. He argues that the Riksdag's defense decision has given Sweden a prominent defense industry that shapes the future for Sweden, Ukraine, and Europe 1. He emphasizes that the support for Ukraine continues regardless of the election result 1. He points out that the Riksdag has invested in its own preparedness, strengthened security through expanded security checks 1 and worked to strengthen democracy and the committees 1. He thanks the members for their unique contributions and camaraderie 1. Anders Ygeman (S) thanks the staff of the Riksdag Administration for their contributions to a functioning democracy 2.
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 of the Swedish Riksdag! We gather now for the conclusion of the parliamentary session and the mandate period, but it is perhaps not a true conclusion. There will be interpellation debates over several additional days shortly, and in August we gather for debates and decisions on several legislative proposals and also for interpellation debates. During the time in between, no debates are planned here in the chamber, but several committees and the EU Committee will convene. You members will also already then be engaged in election work. I hope that you can wind down for a few weeks, but more than that it is rarely the case – at least not for an election year.
If we are to summarize the parliamentary term, we can look back on four years in which we have had to manage a serious security policy situation.
One morning in March 2024, we marked Sweden's entry as a full member of Nato with a ceremony at Riksplan. In November 2025, the Riksdag hosted the fourth international Speaker's meeting within the framework of the Crimea Platform in support of Ukraine. And recently came the news that the Gripen will patrol the skies over Ukraine.
Sweden is a country with a small population. Despite this, we are able to provide important contributions to both NATO's and Ukraine's defense capabilities. This is due, not least, to the defense decisions that the Riksdag has made during previous parliamentary terms, decisions that have ensured that we today have a prominent defense industry.
The Riksdag is a part of the present, and the decisions here shape the future.
Just like previous defense decisions, our defense capability today will be affected by the many decisions on defense investments and on support to Ukraine that you have made during this parliamentary term, which will contribute to shaping the future for Sweden, Ukraine, and Europe.
"Our time was a time for heroes" it says in Louise Hoffsten's song about the war year 1939. But it also applies in Ukraine ever since Russia's full-scale invasion more than four years ago. The Ukrainian people are fighting for their freedom and all of Europe's freedom. Therefore, the Swedish support will continue, regardless of how the autumn election goes.
The serious security policy situation places demands on all of us – not least on the Riksdag as a central institution in our democracy. The citizens must know that their Riksdag has invested a lot in the Riksdag's own preparedness. We have informed all of you members about security and preparedness from a Riksdag perspective, and the war delegation has developed its work and carried out several exercises.
At the same time, we are strengthening security here in the Riksdag. The balance between openness and security is a constantly present perspective, but it does not have to be a contradiction. Only in a secure environment can the free, open, and at times intense democratic conversation fully come to fruition. This chamber recently stood behind proposals involving expanded security checks and other measures to prevent and counter disturbances of order, particularly in the gallery here in the chamber.
We are also working on increasing the security for the members of Parliament. It involves everything from security advice and security-enhancing measures in overnight accommodations to an intensified cooperation between the authorities responsible for protecting representatives of democracy. It is one of many examples of development work being carried out with the member of Parliament in focus.
A long-term investment that I would like to mention in connection with the conclusion today is the renovation of the Cephalus block. The work is ongoing intensively and is expected to be completed in 2029.
Honorable members! When I took office as Speaker in 2018, I established three guiding principles that would characterize my work: democracy, the committees, and the concepts of history and future.
Democracy has been a theme in my and the Riksdag's external communication. During the mandate period, many of you members have participated in the Riksdag's project of visiting schools to talk about the Riksdag's work, and we in the Speaker's Board have visited all counties to talk, not least with young people, about the Riksdag and democracy. The Riksdag has also developed several exhibitions, the latest of which is currently touring Sweden. "Democracy needs you!" it is called. And recently, at a ceremony, I gave the western courtyard of the Member's House the name The Place of Free Speech to highlight the importance of freedom of speech for democracy. These different efforts feel extra urgent in a time when democracy around the world is challenged by authoritarian forces.
The guiding word regarding the committees has been translated into action to support and strengthen the committee work. The work in the chair conference regarding the exchange of experience on the committees' working methods has continued, and we have also during this mandate period completed a leadership program for committee chairs.
In line with the ambition to be anchored in history but always have our eyes fixed on the future, we have noted several anniversaries, which have given us the opportunity to learn about and from our history and thereby understand where we are today and where we should strive in the future. I am thinking of the democracy anniversary during the previous parliamentary term but also of the 50th anniversary of the 1974 Instrument of Government and this year's observance of the Prime Minister's Office's 150th anniversary.
Many historians argue that Sweden's first real Riksdag took place in Västerås in the year 1527. Next year, the Riksdag will therefore turn 500 years old. We shall celebrate that!
If one looks around here in the chamber, one might get the impression that the Riksdag was established in the 1970s or 1980s, as the interior is characterized by the aesthetics of that time. I have long thought that there should be some object here that symbolically reminds us that the Riksdag is much older than that, and I am therefore pleased to be able to announce that the Riksdag's marshal's staff will, from today onwards, have its place here in the chamber.
It was designed by the Parliament House's architect Aron Johansson and was a gift from Sveriges riksbank to the Riksdag upon the move here to Helgeandsholmen in 1905, and from the beginning it was used on a very special occasion. Until even 1974, the Riksdag's solemn opening, as is well known, took place in the Rikssalen at the palace. When the members marched from the Riksdagshuset to the palace, the gatekeeper went at the head of the procession with the marshal's staff. Now, one of the Riksdag's guards stands with the marshal's staff in the large entrance hall on particularly solemn occasions, and otherwise, the staff will therefore stand here in the chamber and remind us of the long traditions.
Honorable members! Today we have also gathered to thank those of you who are not running for a new electoral period or who have left the Riksdag during the past year. I now want to address you specifically:
The political commitment that forms the basis for gaining the voters' trust to represent a party and constituency in Sweden's Riksdag has carried you through the parliamentary mandate – one of the finest assignments one can have in our country – until the moment when we now honor you and thank you for your meritorious contributions to the Riksdag.
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 the eighth size. Those who leave after at least twelve years of consecutive service can receive the medal in the twelfth size.
Some unfortunately do not have the possibility to be present today, but I ask those of you who are in the chamber to rise when you hear your name and then remain standing, so we will thank you as a group with a collective round of applause.
Diplomas and parliamentary pins are awarded to 27 members: Mats Arkhem, Madeleine Atlas, Sara-Lena Bjälkö, Malin Björk, Ludvig Ceimertz, Dzenan Cisija, Louise Eklund, Torsten Elofsson, Lars Engsund, Rashid Farivar, Cecilia Gustafsson, Göran Hargestam, Malin Höglund, Lars Jilmstad, Kent Kumpula, Ulf Lindholm, Katarina Luhr, Agneta Nilsson, Susanne Nordström, Helene Odenjung, Jakob Olofsgård, Cecilia Rönn, Inga-Lill Sjöblom, Annika Strandhäll, Katarina Tolgfors, Pia Trollehjelm and Jennie Wernäng.
Thank you very much for your efforts for the Riksdag, for democracy, and for Sweden!
The Riksdag medal of the eighth size is awarded to 25 members: Alireza Akhondi, Lars Andersson, Gulan Avci, Emma Berginger, Gudrun Brunegård, Johnny Cato, Malin Danielsson, Lorena Delgado Varas, Jamal El-Haj, Helena Gellerman, Jörgen Grubb, Tony Haddou, Ulrika Heindorff, Kjell Jansson, Tomas Kronståhl, Sanne Lennström, Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage, Mats Persson, Linus Sköld, Magdalena Thuresson, Vasiliki Tsouplaki, Anna Vikström, John Widegren, Mats Wiking and Carina Ödebrink.
Thank you very much for your efforts for the Riksdag, for democracy, and for Sweden!
The medal of the twelfth size is awarded to the following members: Hans Ekström, Marianne Fundahn, Caroline Helmersson Olsson, Malcolm Momodou Jallow, Anders W Jonsson, Ellen Juntti, Maj Karlsson, Serkan Köse, Helena Lindahl, Magnus Manhammar, Ingela Nylund Watz, Mattias Ottosson, Saila Quicklund, Daniel Riazat, Karin Rågsjö, Robert Stenkvist, Jimmy Ståhl, Roland Utbult, Hanna Westerén and Markus Wiechel.
Thank you very much for your efforts for the Riksdag, for democracy and for Sweden!
The medal of the twelfth size is also awarded to eleven members who have served for 20 years or more. To you, I would like to say a few words about each of your times in the Riksdag. I also ask you to rise when you hear your name and remain standing so that we can also thank you with a collective round of applause.
Patrik Björck! You represent the eastern constituency of Västra Götaland County and the Social Democrats. You were elected to the Riksdag in 2006, which is the same year as many of the others we are bidding farewell to here today. During your time in the Riksdag, you have been a member of the Committee on Taxation, the Committee on Employment, and the EU Committee.
Helena Bouveng! You represent Jönköpings län and the Moderaterna and were elected to the Riksdag in 2006. During your time in the Riksdag, you have been a member of several committees such as the Committee on Defence and the Committee on Taxation, as well as a member of the Nordic Council's Swedish delegation.
Gunilla Carlsson! You represent Gothenburg and the Social Democrats and were elected to the Riksdag in 2002. During your time here, you have been a member of several committees such as the Culture Committee and the Transport Committee, as well as vice-chairman of the Finance Committee, the election committee, and the Swedish delegation to the Nordic Council. We collaborated extensively during the previous Swedish chairmanship in the Nordic Council.
Margareta Cederfelt! You represent the city of Stockholm and the Moderaterna and first entered the Riksdag in 1999. During your time here, you have primarily worked with foreign policy, but you and I also worked together in the Committee on the Constitution, to mention another example. You have also been chairperson of the Riksdag's delegation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, vice-chairperson of the OSCE delegation, and president of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.
Jan Ericson! You have represented the southern constituency of Västra Götaland County and the Moderaterna since 2006. You have, among other things, been a member of the EU Committee, the Finance Committee and the Education Committee, and have been chairman of the Riksdag's Council for the National Audit Office.
Ann-Charlotte Hammar Johnsson! You have represented the western constituency of Skåne County and the Moderaterna since 2006. You have primarily been active in the Committee on Industry, but you have also been a member of the Committee on Finance and a whip for the Moderaterna.
Lars Mejern Larsson! You have represented Värmland and the Social Democrats since 2006. During this time, you have, among other things, been a member of the Cultural Committee, the Transport Committee, and the Swedish delegation to the Nordic Council.
Johan Löfstrand! You were elected to the Riksdag in 2002 for Östergötland and the Social Democrats and during this time have been, among other things, first vice chairman of the Committee on Civil Affairs, member of the Committee on Justice and vice group leader for the Social Democrats. You and I have sat together both on the Östergötland bench and in the Riksdag Board.
Fredrik Malm! You have been a member of the Riksdag for Stockholm County and the Liberals since 2006. During this time, you have been, among other things, chairman of the Education Committee, but we are thinking of you primarily as a foreign policy politician. You have also sat on other committees, such as the Committee on Employment and the Committee on Environment and Agriculture.
Helén Pettersson! You were elected to the Riksdag in 2006 for Västerbottens län for the Socialdemokraterna. During this time, you have, among other things, been chairperson of the Committee on Defence and a member of the Committee on Employment and the Committee on Environment and Agriculture.
Olle Thorell! You too have been a member of the Riksdag since 2006. You represent Västmanlands län and the Socialdemokraterna. During this time, you have, among other things, been a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, a member of the Riksdag's delegation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and chairman of the Riksdag's delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean.
Finally, I would like to turn to Lotta Johnsson Fornarve, who during the previous parliamentary term was second deputy speaker. We had a very fine cooperation in the speaker's presidency, and you made important contributions to the Riksdag's work on equality. You have been a member for Södermanland for Vänsterpartiet since 2014 and, among other things, have been a member of the Committee on Defence and chairperson of the Riksdag's steering group for the bilateral democracy-promoting cooperation.
Warm thanks to all of you for your efforts for the Riksdag, for democracy and for Sweden!
Dear friends! When I read the list of members who are not standing for re-election, I spontaneously felt: the Riksdag will not be the same without you. Today we bid farewell to many members with long experience of parliamentary work, many who left their mark on chamber debates with colorful and committed speeches, and many who have carried a heavy load in the committees. I have gotten to know and collaborated with many of you in various contexts. You will be missed.
When we think back to the members who preceded us, who handled difficult issues and made forward-looking decisions, we can be grateful that those members did not shrink back from the difficulties they were faced with during their time in the Riksdag. The same applies to you. You too have been faced with difficult decisions during your time in the Riksdag, and neither have you shrunk back – on the contrary. You have seen the problems that citizens encounter in their everyday lives, and you have tried to find solutions to them from your different political starting points. In this way, you have managed the trust for the Riksdag as a democratic institution that exists for the citizens.
I also want to praise you, members, both those of you who are leaving and those who remain, for how you manage to create a fine atmosphere and good camaraderie across party lines, despite sometimes very long debates with strong differences of opinion. In the last few days here in the chamber, we have seen evidence of this spirit in the form of the many kind words expressed to members who have delivered their final speeches. It shows the fine respect that exists between members, and it is a strength for our democracy.
Your work and your contribution as a Member of Parliament is unique. No other member will ever do exactly the same as you, who are now leaving the Riksdag, have done. Also, the Riksdag House is unique. It is a strong symbol of our democracy, and it carries so much history, culture, and traditions, but at the same time, it is a living workplace where democracy is recreated every day. When you come home tonight and look back on your own unique time in this unique house, I hope you can think: I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have preserved my conviction.
On behalf of the Riksdag: A big thank you to each and every one who is now leaving the Riksdag. Thank you for your service as a Member of Parliament, thank you for your efforts for the Riksdag and thank you for your work for all of our democracy!
I would like to ask those of you who have agreed to join me to accompany me to a reception in Sammanbindningsbanan immediately after the conclusion.
I also want to inform the House that I have awarded the Riksdag medal to some people who are not members of Parliament: committee member Peder Brynolf, committee member Hans Hegeland and security guard Jarmo Rahikainen, as well as docent Katarina Barrling and professor Lena Wägnerud.
I heard there was a spontaneous applause on the way when I had mentioned Jarmo. I think we should let it out!
Honorable members! I want to thank you all for your work in the Riksdag during this special mandate period. I want to thank the Speaker's Presidium and the group leaders as well as the members of the Committee on the Constitution. Thank you for very good cooperation despite sometimes complicated issues to handle!
I also want to thank the Director General of the Riksdag and other employees in the Riksdag Administration for their extraordinary efforts.
The party secretaries and their staff are also important for the political work and are part of everyone who has their daily workplace in the Riksdag's fine house. Thanks also to you!
Let me also conclude by expressing a warm thank you to you all for having given me the trust to be the Speaker of the Riksdag during both this and the previous parliamentary term. It is a fantastic assignment – responsible but also interesting and stimulating. I can promise that I have done my absolute best to be the Speaker of the entire Riksdag, to develop the work in the Riksdag with respect for its history, and to contribute to nurturing and safeguarding our democracy.
I have said it before, but I am happy to say it again: I have loved every second of every minute of every hour of every day of every week of every month of every year that I have been your Speaker. Thank you!
Honorable members! Let me conclude with a summer poem. Then you wonder: Which poet has he chosen? I may perhaps surprise one or another by saying that I intended to read a summer poem by Göran Greider.
You demand too much of summer. Summer demands nothing of you.
Lie down on your back in the grass. The grass carries you and when you rise it waits for a few hours and rises again. It has all the time in the world.
You think you are short on time. This old birch is overflowing with time and shares it when you come onto the garden path.
On the stone bench, a butterfly sits down to rest from all fragrant work. It says: Do as I do, fold your wings and fly through yourself.
You demand too much of summer. Summer demands nothing of you.
Anders Ygeman (S)
Mr. Speaker! After all the bills, interpellations, motions, and simple questions, the parliamentary term is now drawing to a close. The election is at the door, and when the Riksdag reconvenes in September, it is a new Riksdag that will gather in this chamber. Regardless of whether we see each other again or not, I want to send along a few lines by Robert Hurula:
You can become king of California Road strippers in Högdalen We live our lives again Firm in California
Now a well-deserved summer holiday awaits. We may have somewhat different visions of the desired election result, but I still want, in all good intentions, to give the advice to truly utilize the summer for rest and recovery. Regardless of our view on the election result, we are united in parks, in pubs, in squares and in front of TV sets when we cheer for Sweden and hope for a really long and successful football summer in the USA.
On behalf of all members, I would like to thank all the staff of the Riksdag Administration, who, whether they are writing minutes, serving food, guarding, cleaning, or renovating the Riksdag, contribute to a functioning democracy. I would like to thank the Director-General of the Riksdag and the three Deputy Speakers. Naturally, I also want to extend a big thank you to the Speaker.
I want to conclude with a few stanzas by Lars Winnerbäck:
I fly over a land That has been almost my entire world Where everything is so fantastically simple Where everything is so infinitely difficult Long times are hidden from the sun Crown for crown to the top As some want for themselves But most of it is pines and spruce
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.