What happened
Next week, the Riksdag will vote on several amendments to the constitution. The proposals mean, among other things, that individuals with dual citizenship can lose their Swedish citizenship if they have committed crimes that seriously harm the vital interests of the state, or if citizenship was granted on false grounds. At the same time, the right to abortion is enshrined in the Instrument of Government and freedom of association is restricted for criminal organizations. Socialdemokraterna and Centerpartiet are voting yes to the amendments together with the Tidö parties. Vänsterpartiet and Miljöpartiet are voting no, warning of a graded citizenship and criticizing the fact that the amendments must be adopted in a single package.
Our analysis
This is the end of the idea of a single shared citizenship in Sweden. By opening the door to revoking citizenship only for people with dual passports, the Riksdag is in practice creating two classes of citizens. Old Swedes retain their constitutionally protected security, while new Swedes are turned into citizens on probation.
The most remarkable thing is not that the Tidö parties are pursuing this line. What is remarkable is how quickly Socialdemokraterna and Centerpartiet have capitulated and made the anti-immigration logic their own. By bundling the right to abortion with the erosion of citizenship, the parties are forcing through a compromise where the legal certainty of new Swedes is sacrificed so that politicians can appear decisive.
When vague phrasing such as crimes against ”vital interests” is written into the constitution, we know from experience who is affected first when the political climate hardens. Legal certainty applies to everyone, or soon it will apply to no one at all.
Explained
A constitutional amendment requires two identical decisions by the Riksdag with a parliamentary election in between to ensure that citizens' fundamental rights and freedoms are not changed hastily.