Swedish government withdraws proposal to lower criminal age to 13

The Swedish government is withdrawing its proposal to allow 13-year-olds to be sentenced to prison, SVT reports.

Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer (Moderate Party) called a press conference on the penal code at 09:45 today. The proposal, which would have temporarily lowered the age of criminal responsibility for serious crimes from 15 to 13, was scheduled for a parliamentary vote on Monday.

Opposition parties had reportedly planned to unite behind a joint reservation to reject the proposal. With the current political balance, just two dissenting votes from the governing coalition could have defeated the measure. The opposition had hoped some Liberal Party members would break ranks, according to earlier reporting by GP.

Social Democrats support lowering the age to 14, while other opposition parties want to retain the current age of 15.