Motion for a referendum on pending constitutional proposals
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
The debate concerns a motion to subject a constitutional proposal regarding requirements for a two-thirds majority for constitutional amendments to a referendum 1. SD welcomes measures for constitutional stability but considers that the proposal for a qualified majority at the second decision is not balanced 1. SD argues that the current system with two parliamentary decisions and an intervening election already provides a strong protection for the constitutions 1. The party considers the proposal to be misguided symbolic politics and that citizens should be given the mandate to take a stand on the issue because it is of such fundamental importance for democracy 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.
Jimmie Åkesson (SD)
Madam Speaker! Good morning, the House! I hereby move that the constitutional amendment proposed by the Riksdag in a first decision regarding prop. 2024/25:165 Strengthened protection for democracy and the independence of the courts shall be submitted to a referendum in accordance with Chapter 8, Section 16 of the Instrument of Government.
The reason for our request is that the Riksdag in a first decision has adopted the proposal that a two-thirds majority shall be required at the second decision in the case of a constitutional amendment. The Sweden Democrats certainly welcome measures aimed at strengthening constitutional stability over time but consider the proposal to subject all constitutional amendments to requirements of a qualified majority at the second decision to be unbalanced.
The democratic interest of enabling elected majorities to develop and nurture the constitutional laws in a changing time must not yield to a certainly laudable but misguided symbolic policy. The Swedish system with double parliamentary decisions, with an intervening election, already offers a strong protection for the constitutional laws. This order has served Sweden well. It ensures that changes occur with deliberation and provides space for societal debate.
The Sweden Democrats consider the issue to be of such fundamental importance for democracy that the citizens should be given the mandate to take a stand on the issue.
The following communication had been received:
Request for a referendum according to Chapter 8, Section 16 of the Instrument of Government
We, the undersigned members of the Swedish Riksdag, hereby move that the constitutional amendment proposed by the Riksdag in an initial decision in matter 2024/25:165 Strengthened protection for democracy and the independence of the courts shall be submitted to a referendum in accordance with Chapter 8, Section 16 of the Instrument of Government.
The reason for our request is that the Riksdag in a first decision has adopted the proposal that a two-thirds majority shall be required at the second decision in the case of a constitutional amendment. The Sweden Democrats certainly welcome measures aimed at strengthening constitutional stability over time but consider the proposal to subject all constitutional amendments to requirements of a qualified majority at the second decision to be unbalanced.
The democratic interest of – in a changing time – enabling elected majorities to develop and nurture the constitutional laws must not give way to a certainly laudable but misguided symbolic policy.
The Swedish system of double parliamentary decisions, with an intervening election, already offers a strong protection for the constitutional laws.
This order has served Sweden well and ensures that changes occur with deliberation and provides room for public debate.
The Sweden Democrats consider the issue to be of such fundamental importance for democracy that the citizens should be given the mandate to take a stand on the issue.
Jonas Andersson (SD) Martin Kinnunen (SD)
Lars Andersson (SD) Kent Kumpula (SD)
Mats Arkhem (SD) Fredrik Lindahl (SD)
Ludvig Aspling (SD) Linda Lindberg (SD)
Carita Boulwén (SD) Christian Lindefjärd (SD)
Mattias Bäckström Johansson (SD) Eric Palmqvist (SD)
Alexander Christiansson (SD) Daniel Persson (SD)
Staffan Eklöf (SD) Magnus Persson (SD)
Chris Dahlqvist (SD) Oscar Sjöstedt (SD)
Matheus Enholm (SD) Robert Stenkvist (SD)
Mikael Eskilandersson (SD) Jimmy Ståhl (SD)
Josef Fransson (SD) Johnny Svedin (SD)
Ann-Christine Frohm (SD) Pia Trollehjelm (SD)
Anna-Lena Hedberg (SD) Henrik Vinge (SD)
Roger Hedlund (SD) Martin Westmont (SD)
Mats Hellhoff (SD) Eric Westroth (SD)
Richard Jomshof (SD) Leonid Yurkovskiy (SD)
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.