SD is critical of a proposal that is intended to make it more difficult to amend the constitution. The proposal is based on an investigation presented by a parliamentary committee in 2023, with the goal of strengthening democracy.
Recently, all parties except SD voted for the proposal in the first round in the Riksdag. Since it concerns a constitutional amendment, the next vote can take place only after next year's Riksdag elections.
The proposal means, among other things, that a requirement for a two-thirds majority will be introduced at the second Riksdag decision, for a constitutional amendment to be adopted. Today, no requirement for a qualified majority is imposed at decision number two.
This is such an important prerequisite for our entire democratic system that it is important that the Swedish people have the opportunity to say yes or no, says Jimmie Åkesson.
”Gives S veto”
SD has pointed out that the constitutional amendments will be relevant not only in matters concerning how democracy works, but also in matters such as revocation of citizenship.
The party is concerned that the proposal, as it is currently designed, risks leading to changes that are supported by a majority in the Riksdag still being able to be stopped by just over a third of the members.
In practice, we give the Social Democrats a veto over amending the constitution, says Åkesson.
In order for it to actually become a referendum, it is required that a third of the Riksdag's members support the proposal, according to Åkesson.
I have no idea about our possibility of actually getting such a request through in the Riksdag, he says.
Requires a third
SD currently has 72 members, which means that the party needs to get at least 45 more to get a referendum. Jimmie Åkesson is addressing the bourgeois parties in particular, which he wants to "give a new chance" to consider the issue.
Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer (The Moderate Party) tells TT that he thinks the proposed constitutional amendment is balanced. His party therefore has no intention of voting for a referendum.
What is important to me is that we get a balanced order, where it is a bit more difficult to amend a constitution than other laws, but where it is not too difficult to raise constitutional issues so that voters can take a stand in an election, he says.
