Declaration of no confidence
If it no longer has confidence in the Prime Minister or a particular minister, the Riksdag can force the Government’s or minister’s resignation by deciding on a declaration of no confidence.
The procedure for a declaration of no confidence
- Proposal for a declaration of no confidence. For a vote on a declaration of no confidence to be held, at least 35 members of the Riksdag must collectively support a proposal for such a vote.
- Vote. At least 175 members must then vote in favour of the proposal if the Riksdag is to declare that the Government or a particular minister no longer has its confidence. This represents a majority of the Riksdag’s 349 members.
- If a majority says yes. If the Riksdag decides that it does not have confidence in the Prime Minister, the entire Government must resign or call an extraordinary election. If the Riksdag decides that it does not have confidence in a minister, the minister must resign.
14 votes of no confidence have been held
The Riksdag has voted on a declaration of no confidence 14 times. On one of these occasions, the Riksdag voted in favour of a declaration of no confidence. This was on 21 June 2021, when the Riksdag voted in vote favour of a declaration of no confidence in the then Prime Minister Stefan Löfven (Social Democratic Party).
January 2024 – Romina Pourmokhtari
At the request of the Centre Party and the Green Party, a vote on a declaration of no confidence in Minister for Climate and the Environment Romina Pourmokhtari (Liberal Party) was held on 17 January 2024. 66 members of the Riksdag voted in favour of a declaration of no confidence, 172 members voted against and 104 members abstained from voting. 7 members were absent.
June 2022 – Morgan Johansson
At the request of the Sweden Democrats, a vote on a declaration of no confidence in Minister for Justice and Home Affairs Morgan Johansson (Social Democratic Party) was held on 7 June. 174 members of the Riksdag voted in favour of a declaration of no confidence, 97 members voted against and 70 members abstained from voting. 8 members were absent.
June 2021 – Stefan Löven
At the request of the Sweden Democrats, there was a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister Stefan Löfven (Social Democratic Party) on 21 June. 181 members voted yes to the declaration of no confidence, 109 members voted no and 51 members abstained. 8 members were absent.
November 2019 – Morgan Johansson
At the request of the Sweden Democrats, there was a vote of no confidence in the Minister for Justice and Migration Morgan Johansson (Social Democratic Party) on 15 November. 131 members voted no to the declaration of no confidence, 151 members voted yes, 57 members abstained and 10 were absent.
May 2019 – Annika Strandhäll
At the request of the Moderate Party, there was a vote of no confidence in the Minister for Social Security Annika Strandhäll (Social Democratic Party). The party was dissatisfied with the Government’s decision to remove Anne-Begler from her position as Director-General of the Swedish Social Insurance Agency in April 2018. The proposal was rejected by 172 votes to 113 (59 members abstained. and 5 were absent).
September 2017 – Peter Hultqvist
At the request of the Moderate Party, there was a vote of no confidence in the Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist (Social Democratic Party). The party was dissatisfied with the way the Minister of Defence had acted in connection with the security deficiencies that were revealed at the Swedish Transport Agency in summer 2017. The proposal was rejected by 137 votes to 135 (58 members abstained. and 19 were absent).
September 2017 – Stefan Löfven
At the request of the Sweden Democrats, there was a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister Stefan Löfven (Social Democratic Party). The party was dissatisfied with the way the Prime Minister had acted in connection with the security deficiencies that were revealed at the Swedish Transport Agency in summer 2017. The proposal was rejected by 136 votes to 43 (155 members abstained. and 15 were absent).
October 2015 – Magdalena Andersson
At the request of the Sweden Democrats, there was a vote of no confidence in the Minister for Finance Magdalena Andersson (Social Democratic Party). The party was dissatisfied with a number of things including the Minister’s budget proposal, which they considered to be under-financed as a result of costs for migration. The proposal was rejected by 137 votes to 43 (120 members abstained. and 49 were absent).
January 2015 – Stefan Löfven
At the request of the Sweden Democrats, there was a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister Stefan Löfven (Social Democratic Party). The party was dissatisfied with the Prime Minister’s conflicting information about resignation and extraordinary elections during the autumn after the election of 2014 in connection with negotiations on the budget in the Riksdag. The proposal was rejected by 133 votes to 45 (155 members abstained. and 16 were absent).
October 2002 – the Government
At the request of the Moderate Party, there was a vote of no confidence in the Government. The party was dissatisfied with the fact that three weeks after the elections the Social Democrats had still not reached an agreement with the Left Party and the Green Party on their support to the Government. The proposal was rejected by 174 votes to 158 (17 members abstained. and 0 were absent).
October 1998 – Göran Persson
At the request of the Moderate Party, there was a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister Göran Persson (Social Democratic Party), in connection with the opening if the Riksdag session. The party was dissatisfied that he had not chosen to resign after the election the same year that the political majority in the Riksdag had changed. The proposal was rejected by 186 votes to 82 (74 members abstained, and 7 were absent).
November 1996 – Göran Persson
At the request of the Moderate Party, the Liberal Party and Christian Democrats, there was a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister Göran Persson (Social Democratic Party). The parties were dissatisfied with his statements during a visit to China in 1996. The proposal was rejected by 204 votes to 119 (16 members abstained, and 10 were absent).
February 1985 – Lennart Bodström
At the request of the Moderate Party, the Liberal Party and Centre Party, there was a vote of no confidence in the Minister for Foreign Affairs Lennart Bodström (Social Democratic Party). The parties were dissatisfied with his statements on submarine encroachments. The proposal was rejected by 182 votes to 160 (no members abstained, and 7 were absent).
October 1980 – Thorbjörn Fälldin
At the request of the Social Democratic Party and Left Party – the Communists, there was a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister Thorbjörn Fälldin (Centre Party). The parties were dissatisfied with economic policy. The proposal was rejected by 175 votes to 174.