Moderate MP proposes 10-year citizenship requirement for Sweden’s parliamentarians after Mohamed Ali’s election

Ali became a Swedish citizen in February and was unexpectedly elected to the Riksdag (the Swedish parliament) via a personal vote in September.

Louise Meijer, a member of parliament for the Moderate Party, now wants Sweden to introduce a qualification period for election to the Riksdag. A person must have been a Swedish citizen for ten years, she writes.

"A qualification period gives individuals the opportunity to live as Swedish citizens for a longer period, participate in society and deepen their understanding of the institutions and democratic principles that a member of parliament should represent," she writes in an individual motion.

Such requirements exist in other countries, she continues, mentioning seven years of citizenship in the United States to be elected to the House of Representatives and six years in Argentina to be elected to the Senate.

Since the proposal requires changes to the Instrument of Government, Meijer urges the government to appoint a constitutional inquiry.