Swedish government dismisses legal council warnings at record rate

A new report shows Sweden’s current government is ignoring serious legal objections from the Council on Legislation at twice the rate of previous administrations, with little parliamentary pushback despite the rise in criticism, SVT Nyheter reports.

The study, published Tuesday by the SNS research institute’s Democracy Council, analysed laws passed between 2006 and 2024. During the first two years of the Tidö parties’ coalition government, the share of bills facing severe criticism from the Council on Legislation doubled from 4% to 8%.

“In the long run, there’s a risk that Swedish courts will end up applying poorly drafted laws,” said Jan Teorell, professor of political science at Stockholm University.

The Council on Legislation, a government agency tasked with reviewing major legislative proposals—particularly those affecting constitutional freedoms or individual rights—has seen its warnings increasingly sidelined. According to the report, parliamentary committees rarely address the council’s concerns, and lawmakers typically approve the government’s original proposals without amendment.

“I honestly don’t understand why most parties in the Riksdag want to keep the Council on Legislation if they so rarely act on its criticism,” Teorell said.

Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer (Moderate Party) has previously dismissed the council’s objections, arguing that criminal justice policy—central to the Tidö parties’ election platform—should be shaped by politicians and voters, not legal advisors.

Sweden’s parliament enacts roughly 40 new laws and 500 amendments annually. Historically, about a quarter of proposals draw some level of criticism from the council, with 4% facing serious objections.