Swedish Government Proposes Constitutional Changes for Crisis Management

The constitution serves as a guardian of democracy in Sweden, delineating the distribution of power between the government and the 349 members of the parliament.

In a recent initiative backed by a parliamentary committee, the government is seeking to modify this power distribution. The proposed changes would allow the government to make decisions in extreme situations, which the parliament could later approve or annul.

According to Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer, the primary responsibility of the state is to protect its citizens and ensure their freedom and security. He emphasized the need for the government and parliament to operate effectively and make timely decisions backed by legal authority during crises.

Strömmer criticized the current legal framework for being insufficiently clear during severe emergencies, citing experiences from the pandemic, particularly the need to implement rapid restrictions such as visitor bans in nursing homes.

He explained that the intention is for the parliament to grant the government special powers with a three-quarters majority for a limited time. The exceptional circumstances where the government would assume powers independently would involve situations requiring decisions within hours or a day, such as a nuclear accident similar to the Chernobyl disaster.

Annika Hirvonen, a member of parliament from the Green Party, expressed concerns regarding the government's proposal for increased powers. She raised the question of potential misuse of these powers by a government, arguing that there are not enough robust safeguards in place to prevent such occurrences. Hirvonen contended that the parliament can respond within a few days during crises, and the proposed changes could create risks, particularly in the current climate of rising authoritarianism.

Strömmer countered that the government aims to gain broad political support for the proposal. Social Democratic Party member Ida Karkiainen, who chairs the constitutional committee, acknowledged the need for legal amendments. She noted the complexities surrounding the issue while highlighting the problems of lacking a regulatory framework for future emergencies.

Karkiainen pointed out that under the current system, a government could invoke constitutional emergency powers without any regulations. However, she assured that the new proposal includes built-in safeguards, allowing the parliament to reclaim authority immediately if necessary.

The government's proposal is set to be debated and voted on in parliament this autumn. Given that it involves constitutional amendments, a second vote will be required from the next parliament following the 2026 elections. The new legislation is expected to come into effect on January 1, 2027.

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