Rules of conduct in the Chamber

Debates

Members of the Riksdag and government ministers are entitled to speak freely on all matters under deliberation. This freedom of expression is restricted in certain respects through provisions in the Riksdag Act, other legislation, the debating rules that apply to the different kinds of debates, and parliamentary practices. 

• A person who has the floor shall observe the debating rules and shall confine his or her contribution to the matter under deliberation.
• No one may speak inappropriately of another person, use personally insulting language, or otherwise behave in word or deed in a way that contravenes good order.
• The assessment and processing of a court or public authority in an individual case may not be the subject of argumentation or criticism, but may be referred to, for example, to justify legislative amendments. Nor may individuals who can be identified be criticised, unless the individual has such a position that criticism can be regarded to be justified.
• Contributions to the debates are to be held in Swedish. Short quotations or phrases in other languages are, nevertheless, permitted.
• A person who has the floor should direct his or her contribution to the Speaker rather than turn directly to other members or ministers.
• Participants in meetings of the Chamber should not act in such a way that will disturb the ongoing meeting.
• Members and ministers are permitted to applaud one another.

Dress

• Participants in meetings of the Chamber should be neatly dressed (dress code: non-matching jacket or more formal). Traditional costumes may only be worn on the day of the opening of the Riksdag session.
• Outdoor clothing may not be brought into the Chamber.  

Ban on manifestations

• The spoken word is the means of expression that is available in the Chamber.
• Political manifestations may not occur.
• Nor may clothes or symbols with political messages be worn. Pins/badges are permitted. However, they may not conflict with good order in the sense given above.
• Props may not be used with the purpose of conveying or reinforcing a political message.
• Memorial ceremonies and minutes of silence may only be held at the initiative of the Speaker.

Photography

According to the Regulations on photography etc. in Riksdag premises, the following applies to photography in the Chamber:

• all photography in the Chamber must be undertaken with respect for the fact that the Riksdag is the foremost representative of the people;
• photography is permitted from specially allocated places;
• when a meeting is in progress, members, ministers and accompanying members of staff may take also photographs from the floor, provided this does not disturb the meeting;
• when no meeting is in progress, members, ministers and accompanying members of staff may have their photographs taken in the Chamber, except on the platform and at the rostrums;
• otherwise, photography in the Chamber is only permitted with the consent of the Speaker.

Use of technical devices

Technical devices, such as computers and telephones, may only be used in the Chamber if they do not disturb the meeting.

Food and drink

• Simple food and drink is only permitted if it does not attract attention.
• Cans and other packaging must be kept so that brand names and logos are not visible.
• Litter must also be kept out of sight and removed from the Chamber after the meeting.

Access to the Chamber

• During votes, only members of the Riksdag and Chamber officials are permitted in the Chamber.
• Occasionally, or more generally, a member may be accompanied by a personal assistant under the Act concerning support and service for persons with certain functional impairments (LSS), medical staff or someone with a similar assignment. The name of the accompanying person must be reported in advance to the Speaker.
• At other meetings beside votes, employees at the committee secretariats, Government Offices and party secretariats are permitted in the Chamber to provide expertise for members and ministers. Former members of the Riksdag are also permitted in the Chamber at such meetings. There are specially reserved seats for these individuals.
• When there is no meeting of the Chamber, ministers and officials from the Riksdag Administration who have independent access to the Chamber may show the Chamber to visiting groups of up to ten participants.

Sanctions

According to Ch.6, Art.16 of the Riksdag Act:

A person who has the floor shall confine his or her intervention to the matter under deliberation. Should anyone offend against this provision and fail to comply with the Speaker’s admonition, the Speaker may debar him or her from speaking for the remainder of the ongoing deliberations.

No speaker at a meeting may speak inappropriately of another person, use personally insulting language, or otherwise behave in word or deed in a way that contravenes good order. Should anyone offend against this provision, the Speaker may debar him or her from speaking for the remainder of the ongoing deliberations.