Sweden’s parliament is scheduled to hold a decisive vote this Wednesday on a proposed constitutional amendment that would empower the state to revoke Swedish citizenship from dual citizens convicted of offenses that seriously harm the country's vital interests. This vote marks the second time the proposal has come before parliament, a requirement under Swedish law for constitutional changes, which also mandates that an election must occur between the two votes. If the bill passes, the new provisions are slated to take effect on January 1st.
The legislative effort has secured support from a coalition including the Social Democrats, the current government parties, and the Sweden Democrats. While the proposal is expected to pass, it has faced significant criticism from opponents who argue that the amendment effectively establishes two tiers of citizenship. Initially, the Left Party, Green Party, Centre Party, and Social Democrats were against the measure after the government overruled the Committee on the Constitution. The opposition parties contended that the language used in the bill was overly broad and vague, leaving it unclear which specific crimes would trigger the loss of citizenship.
Social Democrat MP Amalia Rud Stenlöf previously characterized the wording as "sloppy and legally uncertain," warning that it could be interpreted broadly enough to include tax or accounting crimes, or even the accidental mishandling of classified documents at a hotel. However, the Social Democrats shifted their stance in January, citing the necessity of the tools to combat rising gang-related violence. In the final bill submitted by the Committee on the Constitution on November 5th, the party expressed support for the current text, noting it includes safeguards against statelessness and ensures compliance with international agreements, such as the European Convention on Human Rights and the UN Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.
Despite the broader consensus, some political resistance remains. The Centre Party, which opposed the bill in May, has indicated that while it maintains its reservations regarding the wording, its members will abstain from this second vote. Conversely, the Left Party and the Green Party have confirmed they will vote against the changes. Beyond the primary proposal, the bill also allows authorities to strip citizenship from dual nationals if it is discovered the status was obtained on false grounds and introduces a new constitutional right to free abortion.
