A broad majority of the Riksdag parties, except for the Green Party and the Left Party, agree that Swedish citizenship should be revocable in certain cases.
It is clear when the Constitution Committee presents its report on changes to the second chapter of the Instrument of Government.
Today, it is not possible to revoke a Swedish citizenship. However, according to the proposal, it should be possible for individuals with dual citizenship who have provided false information, bribed or threatened their way to citizenship, or have committed crimes that seriously threaten national security.
The Moderate Party, the Sweden Democrats, the Christian Democrats, and the Liberals want to go further
The Moderate Party, the Sweden Democrats, the Christian Democrats, and the Liberals had wanted to go further and have therefore submitted a separate opinion that even system-threatening crimes that seriously harm Sweden's vital interests should be included. In this way, they want to be able to revoke the citizenship of gang criminals as well.
I am concerned about this point. I think it would have been important to have a regulation that also affects those who pose a significant threat to our internal security, but who do not necessarily belong to the violent extremist environment, says Strömmer.
He says that with the limitations now proposed, it will not be possible to take away the citizenship of a gang leader who from abroad "orchestrates murders, shootings, and bombings on streets and squares".
The Social Democrats, and the other opposition parties, oppose this.
It is so vague that we cannot ensure that it would only affect gang criminals, but it could also include other types of crimes. It is not legally secure, says Amalia Rud Stenlöf (S).
Having the concept of "vital interests" written into the Constitution opens up for uncertainty about which crimes could later be included in the concrete legislation, according to the Social Democrats.
We stand by having the Constitution as precise as possible about which crimes should lead to revoked citizenship, says Björn von Sydow (S).
Hoping for unity
Strömmer hopes, however, that the parties will be able to agree on revoking the citizenship of gang criminals in the future.
I do not want to anticipate it, but I hope that it will be possible to reach a majority during the preparation, he says.
Amalia Rud Stenlöf is worried that the government will proceed with the Moderate Party's proposal, despite lacking support in the Constitution Committee for it.
In that case, he will override an old tradition in the Swedish Riksdag, where a broad political majority is required when proposing constitutional changes, she says.
A new provision that establishes each individual's right to a trial in court or another independent judicial body.
The right to abortion is constitutionally protected.
It will be possible to revoke a Swedish citizenship under certain circumstances. This applies if the person has dual citizenship and has provided false information, bribed or threatened their way to citizenship, or has committed crimes that seriously threaten national security.
A possibility to restrict the freedom of association for certain criminal organizations. This concerns organizations that engage in serious crimes for economic or other gain.
Since it is a constitutional amendment, two Riksdag decisions with an election in between are required.
