The Riksdag votes no to referendum on constitutional matter
Published:
On Tuesday 21 October, the Riksdag voted no to the Sweden Democrats’ request to hold a referendum on a constitutional matter pending decision. 257 members of the Riksdag voted no to the request, 70 voted yes and 22 were absent.
On 15 October, the Sweden Democrats requested that the Riksdag hold a vote on a referendum on a constitutional matter pending decision. 38 members from the Sweden Democrats were behind the request.
Stricter requirements regarding amendments to the Constitution
The matter concerns the Committee on the Constitution’s proposal for a decision by the Riksdag to make it more difficult to amend the fundamental laws, which was approved by the Riksdag on 1 October.
In order to make changes to any of the fundamental laws that make up the Constitution, two decisions by the Riksdag are required with an election in between. After the first decision, the proposed amendment is pending decision, and the amendment to the Constitution does not become definite until the proposal is raised and adopted a second time after the election of a new Riksdag.
Today, at least half of the members of the Riksdag need to vote in favour of the proposals on both occasions. Following the proposal adopted by the Riksdag on 1 October, at least two thirds of the members of the Riksdag will need to vote in favour of the second decision for the proposal to be adopted.
The Sweden Democrats requested a referendum
At the request of the Sweden Democrats in the form of a motion, the Riksdag held a vote today, 21 October, on whether to hold a referendum on the constitutional proposal that is now pending a second decision.
For a motion for a referendum to be passed, at least one third of the members of the Riksdag, that is 117 members, need to vote in favour of the proposal. At today’s vote, 257 voted no to the proposal, 70 yes and 22 were absent.
Further information
- The results of the vote: Examination of motion on referendum on a constitutional matter pending decision (pdf, 44 kB) (in swedish)
- Webcast: Examination of motion on referendum on a constitutional matter pending decision (in swedish)
- Request for a referendum (pdf, 455 kB) (in swedish)
- Report from the Committee on the Constitution 2025/26:KU2 Enhanced protection of democracy and the independence of the courts (in swedish)
- Referendums on constitutional matters
- The fundamental laws and the Riksdag Act
Contact
The Riksdag Information Service, telephone: 020-349 000, email: riksdagsinformation@riksdagen.se