The Interparliamentary Union

Serkan Köse (S)

Madam Speaker! Today we are addressing the activities within the Inter-Parliamentary Union, IPU, and the Swedish delegation's work over the past year.

First and foremost, I would like to move for approval of the Committee on Foreign Affairs' proposal that the report be added to the records.

Madam Speaker! The IPU is an organization of great importance for promoting peace and democracy around the world. Since its founding year 1889, when it consisted of a small group of parliamentarians, the organization has grown to become a global movement with 179 members and 14 associate members. It is thus one of the largest international organizations. The IPU has played a central role in the formation of the League of Nations and the United Nations, as well as in the creation of several of the international legal institutions we have today.

Sweden has been an active and influential member of the IPU since 1902 and has always had a strong belief in the organization's important role in promoting peace and democracy around the world. As one of the oldest democracies in the world, Sweden has an important role to play in spreading democratic values and supporting like-minded countries.

Madam Speaker! During the past year, one question has stood at the top of the IPU's agenda – the ongoing Russian illegal war of aggression in Ukraine. The IPU has acted to demand an immediate end to the Russian military occupation of sovereign Ukrainian territory and a restoration of its territorial integrity to its internationally recognized borders. The IPU has also established a working group to facilitate the political dialogue between the parliaments of the Russian Federation and Ukraine.

Madam Speaker! During the past year, the IPU has worked to ensure that decision-making is inclusive and representative of the public. This is crucial for strengthening democracy and increasing trust in parliamentary institutions. But there is a challenge that threatens parliamentarism and democracy in many parts of the world, namely the fact that every year many members of parliament around the world are subjected to abuse and assault or are even killed. This is completely unacceptable and violates the most fundamental human rights.

Madam Speaker! The imprisonment of elected politicians goes against the will of the people, democratic principles, and international conventions on human rights. It is necessary that we work to ensure that members of parliament, regardless of political conviction, can work freely and without fear of abuse. This is crucial to strengthen democracy and guarantee that the voice of the people is heard and respected.

Madam Speaker! We must also address the increasing trend of politically motivated attacks and threats against democratic institutions and processes around the world. We cannot allow our democratic values to be threatened by authoritarian forces and anti-democratic currents.

Madam Speaker! Sweden's engagement in the IPU is an important part of our country's overall commitment to promoting peace and democracy around the world. As a leading democracy, Sweden has a crucial role to play in sharing its knowledge and experience with other countries and at the same time learning from others. We are also proud to be a major contributor to the IPU's work through Sida's development aid.

Madam Speaker! Since the 1940s, the Swedish IPU delegation has consisted of a chairperson from the governing side and a vice-chairperson from the opposition. I am happy and proud to have been the vice-chairperson of the Swedish IPU delegation since November 2022 and want to emphasize that the delegation is non-partisan. The delegation's five members are appointed by the Speaker and primarily represent the Swedish Riksdag. Party politics is left behind in Sweden, because in the international context, there is significantly more that unites us than divides us.

Madam Speaker! I would like to take the opportunity to thank the Swedish IPU delegation for the delegation's efforts during the past year. The delegation has worked hard to promote democracy and human rights and to strengthen the role of parliaments around the world. The inter-parliamentary work is crucial to ensure that democratic values and processes are respected and promoted throughout the world.

Finally, I would like to thank the Swedish Riksdag, the Speaker, the Speaker's Bureau, the Riksdag's International Department, and the committee clerks for their invaluable work in making the inter-parliamentary work possible. We must continue to support and work for the IPU's goals and values to promote peace, democracy, and human rights all around the world.

(Applause)

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

Arin Karapet (M)

Madam Speaker! Honored members! Since November, I have had the privilege of serving as chair of the Swedish IPU delegation. Today, we shall report on the past year for the House.

What we from the outgoing Swedish IPU delegation succeeded in, together with democratic allies, was, among other things, to get a resolution passed in an international context condemning Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. Getting such a resolution passed in an organization where not only Russia but also other non-democracies and dictatorships such as Iran, Syria etcetera exist and have influence shows that the Swedish IPU delegation has achieved a success.

As chairman, Madam Speaker, I must say that I am incredibly proud and satisfied with the composition of our delegation. We have had a well-functioning cooperation with Vice Chairman Serkan Köse and the delegation members Mattias Karlsson from Sverigedemokraterna, Janine Alm Ericson from Miljöpartiet and Linda Lindberg from Sverigedemokraterna. She is now leaving the delegation, and a replacement will be appointed.

The Swedish IPU delegation may be a small delegation in a very large organization, but together with our Nordic allies, we become a very large force. With that force, we succeeded now in Bahrain in getting Mattias Karlsson from Sverigedemokraterna elected to the global high-level council against terrorism. We also succeeded in ensuring that Janine Alm Ericson kept Sweden's mandate in the executive committee.

Madam Speaker! IPU is perhaps for most, even here in the chamber of the Riksdag, an organization that one does not have much knowledge about. One might think it is yet another bureaucratic organization that serves no purpose. I may have been of that opinion myself before I attended my first IPU session. But the IPU session is a forum where, in direct high-level meetings, one can raise issues with countries that are not democratic. Why have you imprisoned opposition politicians? Why do you violate freedom of speech? Why is there no free press and free media in your home country? Those questions can be asked in this type of organization.

A democracy's primary weapon is free speech. It is through free speech that we argue and reach agreements—and do not reach agreements. When one can, in a full IPU session, confront the Islamic Republic of Iran and ask why they murder innocent women and men whose only aspiration is to avoid being forced to wear a veil and avoid being forced to live under Sharia laws, and can see and hear how they react, one knows that the message has been received. It is to give a voice to those who cannot make their voices heard.

It is also an organization where we can ensure that we do not forget our colleagues around the world who are imprisoned for the simple reason that they do not agree with the ruling power in their home countries. We can tell them that it is not only opposition politicians who are imprisoned, but also journalists. That is where we are put to the test and where we can show which values are important for us here in Sweden.

Madam Speaker! IPU is an organization where we stand guard over human rights, democracy, and equality. I am very proud of the IPU delegation that exists now. Madam Speaker was also on the latest trip to Bahrain, where we, at high-level meetings directly with ministers in Bahrain, raised issues that are self-evident for us but very sensitive for them. We can do that, and then we can go home to Sweden and say: Not many people know about this, but we are doing something that many perhaps would not have dared.

This is our duty and our obligation, and we will continue with it. I look forward to the report 2024, for the year 2023.

(Applause)

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

Mattias Karlsson (SD)

Madam Speaker! We live in turbulent times. Much suggests that Pax Americana and the unipolar, rules-based and Western-dominated world order established through the victories in World War II and the Cold War is coming to an end or at least is being seriously challenged by other forces. We seem to be heading towards a more multipolar, more conflict-ridden, and more complicated and unpredictable world order.

In such a scenario, I believe that neutral, multilateral organizations such as the IPU may come to have an increased importance in the future, not least as forums for global diplomacy.

In such a scenario, I also believe it is of the utmost importance that the Western world and our allies around the world refine our strategies, strengthen our cooperation and our forms of cooperation, both to safeguard our own interests and to stand guard over democracy, equality, and fundamental human rights.

It is interesting to note, Madam Speaker, that the work within the IPU has for a long time been organized into continental and civilizational groups. Obviously, culture and civilization trump political affiliation in many cases. I believe that insight can be valuable to carry with one even in other areas.

The Nordic cooperation and the cooperation within the Swedish IPU delegation is, in my opinion, an illuminating example of this. Despite seemingly large ideological differences and high-toned rhetoric in the domestic debate, on the global arena we have significantly more in common than what divides us. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues from Moderaterna and Socialdemokraterna for a very good cooperation during the past operational year.

I am proud of the way in which we have collectively stood up against, among other things, Russian imperialism and the illegal occupation of Ukraine, for a free and democratic Ukraine.

I am proud of how we have stood up for our colleagues in other countries who are illegally imprisoned - parliamentarians who, because they have exercised their freedom of speech, are behind bars and sometimes are also subjected to torture and other degrading treatment.

I am proud that we have jointly stood up for the rights of homosexuals to freedom and safety against religious fundamentalists of all kinds.

I am proud that we have collectively stood up for equality and young women's rights against the mullahs in Iran.

I also want to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues from the Social Democrats and the Moderates for the support I received in my candidacy for the global high-level council against terrorism. My party and I promise to return the favor as soon as the opportunity arises. The more Swedes we have in high positions in organizations such as the IPU, the better – regardless of party book and party affiliation.

Last but not least, I would like to thank the IPU delegation's competent and pleasant officials whose advice and support have been very valuable during the past operational year.

Madam Speaker! Let me conclude by saying that even though the IPU is an important organization, it is worth asking whether it is reasonable that the Swedish economic contribution to the organization lies so enormously above the average support that other countries provide. The economy in Sweden is very strained, and many groups in Sweden are having a difficult time. My and SD's view is that our task and duty as Swedish elected representatives is, first and foremost, to ensure the needs and interests of the Swedish people. Based on the latter, I would like to see a dialogue moving forward on how the IPU delegation can incorporate more of a trade-promoting perspective in its work.

I vote in favor of the committee's proposal.

(Applause)

In this speech, Rasmus Giertz and Markus Wiechel (both SD) concurred.

The deliberation was hereby concluded.

(A decision was to be taken on 10 May.)

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