The rules are being reviewed after three ministers ended up in potential conflicts of interest when they traded in shares and participated in government decisions, as reported by Sveriges Radio's Ekot.
"Several questions have been raised regarding the regulatory framework governing shares. Work has been initiated within the Government Offices to examine the rules and procedures," writes Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson's press secretary Hanna Strömberg in a text message.
The opposition and The Liberals have backed the review of the regulatory framework, and recently received support from Ulf Kristersson (M). However, he does not want ministers to be prohibited from holding shares.
One should not strive to ensure that ministers are not allowed to own shares at all, that would be a bad example, he has said to SVT.
Ekot has revealed that outgoing Education Minister Johan Pehrson (L) failed to report shareholdings as required on at least eight occasions between 2022-2024. He has also made decisions on hydrogen gas while his wife sits on the board and owns shares in a hydrogen gas company.
Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard (M) has owned defense shares and participated in decisions, and Employment Minister Mats Persson (L) has bought shares in Ericsson on the same day as he was involved in financing for a research program requested by the telecom company.
