The tasks of the Speaker
The Speaker is the Riksdag's principal representative and leads and plans the work of the Riksdag. The Speaker presides over the meetings of the Chamber and plays a central role when a new government is formed. It is when the members of the Riksdag meet for the first time after a parliamentary election that they select from among themselves the member who will become Speaker.
The Speaker has the ultimate responsibility for how the activities of the Riksdag are planned and conducted. The Speaker also presides over meetings of the Chamber and is the foremost representative of the Riksdag.
The office of Speaker is the highest position to which a person may be elected in Sweden. The Speaker ranks after the Head of State – the King – but before the Prime Minister.
As the foremost representative of the Riksdag, the Speaker often represents the Riksdag in various national and international contexts.
The Speaker is not involved in the political work of the Riksdag. He does not participate in the work of the committees or in debates and votes in the Chamber. A substitute is chosen for these duties.
Election of the Speaker
When the Riksdag meets for the first time after the parliamentary elections, the members have the task of deciding which member is to be the new Speaker of the Riksdag and which three members are to be the Deputy Speakers. The Speakers are all elected individually in the following order: Speaker, First Deputy Speaker, Second Deputy Speaker, Third Deputy Speaker. They are elected for one electoral period at a time. It is the party groups in the Riksdag that nominate candidates for the various positions.
During the period up to the following parliamentary election, the Speaker cannot be removed by a decision of the Riksdag.
There are no legal provisions that lay down what party the Speaker is to be appointed from. During the period of centre-right governments in 1976–82, the Speaker was a Social Democrat and thus a representative of the largest party overall during that period. Since 1982, the Speaker has been chosen from the largest party in the Riksdag majority, that is, the party or coalition of parties forming the government. For the electoral period starting in 2018, Andreas Norlén was elected Speaker. He was nominated by the Riksdag's next largest party.
The established practice for the election of the Deputy Speakers up until 2018 was that they were elected in relation to the size of their parties in the Riksdag. Members of the party from which the Speaker is chosen never obtain any of the posts of Deputy Speaker. The principles for the election of the Deputy Speakers are not laid down in law either.
If there is just one candidate
If there is just one candidate for the position of Speaker, the election shall take place by acclamation. This means that the members of the Riksdag in the Chamber answer yes or no to the proposal by means of a roll-call. The same applies to the election of the three Deputy Speakers. This rule applies from 1 September 2018. Previously, the members could demand a vote by secret ballot, even if there was just one candidate, but this is no longer possible with the new rule.
If there are several candidates
If more than one candidate has been nominated to the position of Speaker, the election can be held by secret ballot, if so requested by any of the members of the Riksdag. This means that the members can vote for the candidate of their choice without it being revealed who they have voted for.
If the election of the Speaker is held by secret ballot, the candidate receiving more than half of the votes is elected. If no candidate receives that many votes, another vote is held. If no candidate receives more than half of the votes in the second vote, a third vote is held between the two candidates with the greatest number of votes in the second vote. The candidate receiving the greatest number of votes in this round is then elected. The same rules apply to the election of the three Deputy Speakers.
The elections of the Speaker and Deputy Speakers are held by the oldest-serving member of those present in the Chamber.
The new Riksdag met for a roll-call of the members of the Riksdag in the Chamber in September 2022. After the roll-call, the election of the Speakers took place.
When a new Prime Minister is appointed
The Speaker of the Riksdag has a central role when a new government is formed. It is the Speaker who presents a proposal for a new Prime Minister to the Riksdag. This is set out in the Constitution.
A government may remain in office for as long as it has sufficient support in the Riksdag. There are several reasons why a government may need to resign and a new government be formed. A new government may need to be formed if the previous government resigns following a declaration of no confidence in the prime minister from the Riksdag, or if the prime minister chooses to resign for other reasons. A new government is normally formed following a parliamentary election.
The Riksdag elects a Speaker after each parliamentary election. If the Riksdag elects a new Speaker, it is the newly elected Speaker that presents a proposal for a new prime minister to the Riksdag. In order not to lose time, however, the resigning Speaker prepares the change of government by starting talks with the party representatives immediately after a government has resigned. The resigning Speaker then hands over the task of forming a government to the new Speaker.
The usual procedure is that the Speaker instructs one or several party leaders to jointly examine the possibilities of forming a government which will have the support of the Riksdag.
When the Speaker presents the proposal, he or she also states which parties are to be included in the Government.
The proposal is then put to a vote in the Chamber. It is rejected if more than half the members of the Riksdag vote against it. Otherwise it is approved. Thus, no explicit majority is required for the Speaker's proposal to be accepted.
If the proposal is rejected, the Speaker must hold renewed talks with the party leaders and present a new proposal. The Speaker can present a total of four proposals. If none of them is approved, extraordinary elections must be organised within three months, unless ordinary elections are scheduled for the same period.
Directing the work of the Riksdag
The Speaker directs and plans the work of the Riksdag, in both the short and the long term. Part of the Speaker's responsibilities involve conferring with various bodies in the Riksdag.
The presiding officers of the Riksdag, that is the Speaker and the Deputy Speakers, meet on a regular basis to discuss issues relating to the management of parliamentary business, the meetings of the Chamber and their tasks as representatives of the Riksdag in various contexts.
The Riksdag Board is composed of the Speaker as chair and a further ten members of the Riksdag.
The Riksdag Board may submit proposals to the Riksdag concerning the way the work of the Riksdag should be conducted in relation to EU issues, private members' motions, gender equality in the Riksdag, etc. The Speaker has the right to vote in the Riksdag Board, which is not the case when matters are decided in the Chamber.
The Riksdag Board also directs the Riksdag Administration and has decision-making powers in important matters relating to the international activities of the Riksdag.
The Speaker is in constant consultation with the special representatives - the group leaders - appointed by the various party groups in the Riksdag.
The Speaker also chairs the Chairmen's Conference, which comprises the chairs of the parliamentary committees and the Committee on EU Affairs. The Chairmen's Conference deliberates on issues of common interest.
In the Chamber
The Speaker convenes and presides over the meetings of the Chamber. The Speaker and Deputy Speakers take turns in chairing the meetings of the Chamber. The Speaker and Deputy Speakers take turns in chairing the meetings of the Chamber. One of the tasks of the presiding Speaker is to maintain order in the Chamber.
Before each meeting the officiating Speaker prepares - in consultation with the Secretariat of the Chamber - an order paper determining the order in which business is to be dealt with. The Speaker also determines the order of speaking of members who have given advance notice of participation in a debate.
A party in the Riksdag can request that a debate be held in the Chamber on a specific issue. It is the Speaker, in consultation with the party group leaders, who decides whether to hold such a debate.
The Speaker gives the floor
During a meeting or debate in the Chamber, the Speaker gives the floor to the various participants in the debate and keeps a check on the length of each contribution. Those who request the floor during the debate are allowed to speak in the order they have given notice.
When a vote is taken, the Speaker informs the Chamber of the distribution of the votes and confirms the decision with a rap of his gavel.
During meetings of the Chamber, the Speaker and Deputy Speakers take turns at chairing the meeting, usually for two hours at a time. The chair is not permitted to contribute to the debate. However, the Deputy Speakers do have the right to vote when matters are decided, and otherwise contribute to the work of the Riksdag under the same conditions as other members.
If the Speaker and Deputy Speakers are unable to attend a meeting, the longest-serving member of those present in the Chamber will preside over the meeting. If two members have been members of the Riksdag for an equal period of time, it is the eldest of them that presides over the meeting.
Responsible for maintaining order
One of the tasks of the presiding Speaker is to maintain order in the Chamber. Certain rules of procedure apply. According to Ch. 6, Art. 16 of the Riksdag Act, "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."
If the Speaker considers that a member of the Riksdag has failed to comply with the rules, the Speaker may debar him or her from speaking.
Speakers since the introduction of a unicameral Riksdag in 1971
- Andreas Norlén (Moderate Party) 2018–
- Urban Ahlin (Social Democratic Party) 2014–2018
- Per Westerberg (Moderate Party) 2006–2014
- Björn von Sydow (Social Democratic Party) 2002–2006
- Birgitta Dahl (Social Democratic Party) 1994–2002
- Ingegerd Troedsson (Moderate Party) 1991–1994
- Thage G Peterson (Social Democratic Party) 1988–1991
- Ingemund Bengtsson (Social Democratic Party) 1979–1988
- Henry Allard (Social Democratic Party) 1971–1979